Federal assistance of almost $400,000 received by Morgan County residents for March 31 storms
During their meeting on May 15, the Morgan County Commissioners heard a report from federal officials providing financial assistance to county residents who suffered losses during the March 31 tornado.
According to officials, county residents have received nearly $400,000 in assistance. The office is in the 4-H building at the Morgan County Fairgrounds. Officials are scheduled to be on-site until the middle of June.
Other business
The commissioners approved renewing the county's insurance policy. The cost for the county's insurance is around $1 million.
The commissioners approved the Health Department's Emergency Operation Plan. The plan is intended to help guide the county's response to disasters, both natural and man-made.
The commissioners approved the Build-Operate-Transfer agreement with the company building the new judicial center. The cost of the new building is around $45 million.
The commissioners approved an agreement with SRI Services, the company that conducts the county's tax sale. The agreement raises the county's cost per parcel by $25 to $150 each.
The commissioners approved an agreement with Columbus Regional Hospital Training Institute to allow the school's students to train on county ambulances. Commissioners hope when the students graduate, they will consider working for the county's ambulance service.
The commissioners accepted a study done by USI Consultants Inc. of four roads affected by the construction of I-69. Traffic on those roads, Centennial, New Harmony, Godsey, and Hadley, was reviewed to see what, if any, changes needed to be made. There was a discussion on installing new speed limit signs, installing a solar powered speed detector, and new stop signs.
The commissioners appointed Bryan Collier to the newly formed finance committee.
They approved an agreement with IRA/SBS Portals, LLC, to scan the old records of the county and put them into an electronic format. The cost for the service is around $9,000. The commissioners hope that in the future, members of the public will be able to look up information from past meetings on the county's website.
The commissioners approved a request to use the parking lot around the courthouse for a 5K run benefiting Stability First. The event will be on June 24 and will begin and end at the county fairgrounds.
Tort claims
The commissioners sent several tort claims to their insurance carrier. Three claims were filed by two residents who alleged their civil rights were violated by the county while "conducting lawful business" on the courthouse square.
The fourth claim was filed by Stewart & Stewart over a crash involving a Mooresville school bus that occurred in January. According to the claim, the complainant's child was on the bus being operated by a person employed by the Mooresville Consolidated School Corp., which "was traveling on East Neitzel Road in Mooresville, Indiana, when the school bus hit a tree that was in the middle of the road tipped into a roadside ditch." The claim alleges that in addition to treatment of injuries the minor received in the crash, the minor has "more than likely sustained permanent physical and mental injuries." The family is requesting the maximum amount allowed by law in damages.
The next scheduled commissioner meeting is June 5 at 9:30 a,m. at the county administration building.
This article originally appeared on The Reporter Times: Almost $400,000 in federal aid given to Morgan County residents
