Jingle Bell Rock: County OKs Christmas event in Downtown Martinsville
It may be the first week of September but plans for this year's Christmas program on the square are in progress.
During its meeting Tuesday morning, the Morgan County Board of Commissioners gave approval for the annual Christmas Spectacular/tree lighting ceremony to be held on the square in downtown Martinsville.
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The event will be held on Dec. 4.
Court services gets grant approval
The commissioners approved allowing the county's probation department to apply for two grants.
The first grant, for $60,000, comes from the Indiana Office of Court Services/Indiana Family and Social Services Administration.
It will be used to help address the opioid and substance use crisis around the state.
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The second grant is for up to $10,000 from the Indiana Department of Corrections.
It will be used to help pay for salaries of officers involved in juvenile delinquency justice work.
Bottom Road discussion
A resident on Bottom Road expressed his unhappiness with the county's plans to purchase land on the road to reroute a section of the county highway that has had a bad curve.
The curve has been a problem for years due to the traffic hazard it poses.
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The county plans to redo the corner and may have to resort to using court action to get the property it needs.
The resident was unhappy because he felt that past administrations had made promises that have not been kept.
The board plans to discuss the matter at its next meeting.
Other business
The board approved applying for a Community Development Block Grant.
It passed an ordinance removing a stop sign at the intersection of east Morgan Street and Country Club Road. The sign was installed about two years ago due to construction of I-69. Now that the work is complete, the county plans to remove the stop sign. There will be a sign installed letting drivers on Country Club Road know that traffic on east Morgan Street does not stop.
Also the commissioners approved requesting an additional $25,000 from the county council for a public relations/media consultant.
Tort claim question
Kenny Hale said he had never seen a tort claim like the one sent to the county by Bloomington-based attorney Ken Nunn.
A tort claim notifies a government entity of a possible lawsuit that may be filed against it for some alleged loss.
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In this case, a juvenile participating in a football practice at Paul Hadley Middle School in Mooresville was allegedly given a helmet that was too large for him.
The juvenile was allegedly injured during the practice session.
Nunn alleges the school, town of Mooresville, the state of Indiana and the county were negligent in allowing the juvenile to practice in a helmet that was too large for him.
Before voting to send the claim to the county's insurance carrier, commissioner Bryan Collier asked if the commissioners were suppose to check the helmet of all football players before they take the field.
The next meeting of the Morgan County Board of Commissioners is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 19 at the Morgan County Administration Building, 180 S. Main St., Martinsville.
Drainage board
The county drainage board has signed an agreement with Stafford Excavating to clean a section of the Hilldale/Cemetery ditch south of Martinsville. Funding for the work, around $31,000, is coming from the state.
The work is necessary due to work of I-69, which resulted in a buildup of sand and debris in the bottom of the ditch.
Work should begin sometime later this month.
Morgan County Surveyor Terry Brock said the developers for the Hanna Farms development may ask for a section of ditch on their property be taken in and maintained by the county.
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He said if the request does get filed, it will be later this year.
The board gave approval to advertise for someone to remove trees growing in Sartor Ditch.
The ditch area from around the school's baseball diamond south to Gray or York Street has many trees growing in and around the top of the ditch. The bids will be opened at the Oct. 3 board meeting.
Brock said more businesses are coming to the area around the Hendricks/Morgan County line area. He said there will have some drainage issues to discuss later this year for that area.
The next meeting of the Morgan County Drainage Board is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 3, at the Morgan County Administration Building, 180 S. Main St., Martinsville.
This article originally appeared on The Reporter Times: Morgan County gives go-ahead for Christmas event in downtown Martinsville
