Commissioners address courthouse issues

Board hires new

RC EMA director

By BILL RICHMOND

City editor

The Randolph County Board of Commissioners Monday approved a resolution to rescind an amendment to the building corporation lease agreement for the county courthouse.

County Attorney John Tanner said the board resolution takes out the requirement of a reserve fund to be used as a backup to make the bond payment if the original fund falls short. He said representatives of H.J. Umbaugh and Associates said having a reserve fund won't affect the bond value or the ability to market the bonds one way or another, making its value moot.

Tanner said the original lease agreement will remain in full force and effect.

Commissioner-elect Troy Prescott asked if not having the reserve fund would put county EDIT (Economic Development Income Tax) funds at risk.

"The EDIT funds are potentially at risk," Tanner said. "They always have been at risk and still are."

Courthouse project manager Lester "Spike" Shepler, Jr., said the EDIT money is still there, it will just go to the county's regular EDIT account fund instead of a reserve fund.

The commissioners also approved a recommendation by Tanner to hire the law firm of Baker and Daniels to help defend the county and the building corporation in a lawsuit brought by two local businessmen. The lawsuit, filed Nov. 19 in Randolph Circuit Court, seeks to stop the renovation and annex project on the basis of alleged procedural errors.

The suit alleges, in part, that county officials amended the lease with the building corporation without a proper public hearing.

The motion to hire Baker and Daniels was approved by commissioners Kathy Beumer and David Lenkensdofer and opposed by commissioner Ron Chalfant.

When asked to comment specifically on the pending legal action and what it means for the county and the future of the courthouse/annex project, all the commissioners - and Tanner - refused to make a statement.

Prescott questioned whether a motion to expedite the case was filed Nov. 25 in Randolph Circuit Court. Tanner said he filed the motion on the authority of the board of commissioners.

The commissioners said they hadn't addressed the issue as the board did not meet between the time the suit was filed and the motion to expedite. Tanner said he made the decision in the commissioners' best interest on their behalf.

The commissioners approved a recommendation by the EMA Advisory Board to hire Jamey Neeley as the new county Emergency Management Agency (EMA) Director. Neeley will replace Rick Brown who recently resigned from the position to take a job outside the area.

A Union City, Ind., native - Neeley said he will continue to live in the area.

"My career has involved mostly working in emergency services, especially with the Union City and Richmond fire departments," Neeley said. "I look at this as a career and not a job. This is an opportunity I was glad to be chosen for. I look forward to serving the citizens of Randolph County."

He said he would like to get started in the position as soon as possible.

Beumer said she appreciates the work the EMA Advisory Board put in to the search process.