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Since 1882 ~ Successor to The Poseyville News and The New Harmony Times • New Harmony, IN Posey County’s locally-owned newspaper
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
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Volume 133 Edition 22
Halting Trail Project could come with hefty price tag Expenses for trail groundwork could cost New Harmony residents $30 to $40 thousand By Valerie Werkmeister The Town of New Harmony may be stuck with a $30,000 - $40,000 bill for expenses incurred in conjunction with the trail project, despite the fact that the project has been halted. Former town attorney Nathan Maudlin informed town council members during their meeting Thursday, May 16, that the town would most likely have to foot the bill since the trail project donor will not want to pay for fees incurred due to the town’s refusal to continue with Phase II. During the council’s meeting in April, president Joe Straw stated the town would not annex South Road and the town will not con-
tinue with the project. This action raised the ire of park board officials and other residents who raised many questions about the town’s decision. “If it turns out that the town ends up having to pay some amount of money because the trail project, Phase II has been stopped, and our estimate now is between $30-$40,000, I’m wondering how far in your estimation would that have gone, that amount of money towards maintaining the new trail,” Maudlin asked. Straw was unable to answer the question advising he did not know what it would cost to maintain the new trail.
Maudlin pressed Straw further quoting Straw’s statement made during the April meeting, in which Straw advised of the town’s decision to stop the project was based on the expense required to maintain the trail for 25 years. “Last month you said it was too expensive to maintain the new trail, so I thought maybe you had an idea of how expensive it was,” Maudlin said. Straw stated he was unable to answer the question and did not know the costs associated with building or maintaining the trail. A public hearing was held on the ordinance 2013-4 proposing a water rate increase. The
last increase the town faced was in 1998. Council member Linda Warrum explained the increase is necessary to help close the gap of a $27,206.57 budget shortfall. Former town council president David Campbell questioned how the shortfall occurred. Warrum responded, “A lot of the increase has to do with a lot of the costs increasing to do the things that we have to do.” “So you’re saying that average operating costs are going up by $26,000 a year?,” Campbell asked.
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North Posey School Board to hold next meeting at high school
Gengelbach reception set A Night with Coach “Joe” Gengelbach has been planned for June 22, 2013. The community is invited to celebrate the career of Carl “Joe” Gengelbach, North Posey varsity football coach from 1970 to 2013. A social hour will begin at 5 p.m. in the North Posey High School Foyer, followed by a ceremony beginning at 6 p.m. in the High School Auditorium. A reception has been planned from 8:30 p.m. until 11 p.m. at the Red Wagon Wild Life Room in Poseyville. The public is invited and no reservations are necessary. Appetizers and a cash bar will be available at the reception. The Cost for the reception is $10 per person at Red Wagon.
Salary among items on meeting’s agenda
PCCF annual meeting set Members of the New Harmony American Legion Post conduct Memorial Day ceremonies at Maple Hill The Posey County Community Cemetery on Memorial Day morning. Photo by Dave Pearce Foundation Annual Meeting will be held June 5, 2013 at the Rapp-Owen Granary in New Harmony. At this meeting, the organization will be recognizing the 2013 Grant and ScholBy Dave lieved to have arship recipients. Bryana Schreiber, a Pearce been inprevious Lilly Charitable Endowment Two northvolved in Scholarship recipient, will be the ern Posey three separate County resispeaker. Tickets are $20 and reservatheft cases. dents have On Janutions may be made through the PCCF been arrested ary 31, the office at 838-0288. All members, and charged Posey Counfriends, and supporters may attend. By Valerie Werkmeister with theft. ty Sheriff’s “The Posey County CommissionAccordDepartment Robb Township reunion Attendees of the Robb Township High ers remain hopeful discussion of ing to Posey County Sheriff Greg investigated the theft of copper wirterms and conditions of the proposed Oeth, “Over recent months the price ing and copper grounds from conSchool in Poseyville will hold their Midwest Fertilizer Company project of metal has increased substantially struction trucks that had been parked 38th annual alumni reunion on June 8, 2013, at the Poseyville Community to be located in Posey County will which has made it very desirable for on Freedman Road. The stolen metal Center. For reservations, send $16 for continue and await communication criminals. The rising price of scrap was the property of Miller Construcfrom the company for discussion metal has led to farms, industrial tion of Vincennes, Ind. dinner and dues to Billie Robinson, to resume,” Posey County Com- yards, building sites and domestic Then on May 14, Deputy Seitz 314 Greenfield Road, Evansville, Ind. missioners President Carl Schmitz properties being targeted as thieves investigated the theft of metal items 47715 by June 4. stated. look to recycle metal for profit.” from two individuals on Blaylock “Obviously we were all taken back Oeth indicated that through his Road. The metal items were tracked Annual Summer Social set last week when we received word department’s investigations, they are through a scrap dealer. The invesZion United Church of christ will that the governor had chose not to finding that metal theft is attracting tigation developed two suspects host it’s annual Fried Chicken Supper support our project and pulled state both organized criminals and oppor- which were subsequently arrested and Summer Social Saturday, June 1, funding,” said John Taylor, Posey tunistic thieves. for the crimes. 2013, beginning at 4 p.m. The church County Economic Development Di“There have been a number of arArrested and charged as a result is located at Second and Elm Streets, rector. “I’m still confident that this rests involving individuals that have of the investigations were Daniel T. Elberfeld, Indiana. Adults $8.50, company is committed 100 percent loaded and carried off metal items Gray, age 53, of Poseyville, and Robchildren $4.50 (ages 6-10). Carryout to building this in the county.” without permission to do so,” Oeth in J. Mobley, age 29, of Wadesville. availabe at adult prices. Included in Taylor requested $5,000 in addi- explained. “This past week was anThe two were lodged in the Posey the days’ activities are: Homemade Ice tional county funds to help pay for other example as Detective Tom County Jail. The investigation inforCream, games for children, outside legal fees from teams in Washington Latham and Deputy Dustin Seitz mation has been given to the Posey grill, and inflatables. and Indianapolis who are working to arrested two individuals that are be- County Prosecutor. help move the project forward. He Class of 78 seeks members said he has already incurred $25,000 The North Posey Class of 1978 will in legal fees since November, which hold its 35-year Class Reunion on was paid by the Coalition of SouthSaturday, July 6, 2013. The group is west Indiana. trying to locate some classmates. Taylor called for continued supIf you have the contact information port of the project from the commis(address and or phone number) for any sioners, council and citizens. of the following, please contact Bobbi “This will be something that will truly open doors for us for the next (Strange) Ziliak at bobbiziliak@ gmail.com or Julie (Lupfer) Williams 40-50 years because of the impact this will have on the county,” he said. Daugherty at 812-568-4628. The commissioners approved TayRobert Pfister, Michael Oursler, Jo lor’s request for the additional funds. ann Hisch Monarch, Peggy MontCommissioners opened sealed gomery Cooper, Dean Stratton, Shelia bids that were received to replace Bebout Davis, David Cavins, Carla Cox Mobley, Jeanne Dockery Eagan, bridge No. 239 on Old State Road Bryant Duncan, Alice Farrar Duncan, 62 over McFadden Creek. Russell’s Excavating bid $516,000 and D.K. Geoff Finn, Julie Gates Templeton, Jay Geisler, Becky Gochenour Tim- Parker Construction bid $409,816. mers, Amy Greenfield Coleman, Kent E&H Grading and DK Parker also Heckman, Cary Hopf, Billy Koester, submitted alternate bids. All bids Sharon McCormick Brendel, Becky were taken under advisement to be Montgomery Wade, Kim Morris, Tim reviewed by Posey County Highway Paul, Rick Pharr, Lisa Schley Brown, Superintendent Steve Schenk. He Colleen Smith Voegel, Susie Stierley will present his recommendation to Tapp, Bobby Theobald, Keith Voegel, the commissioners during their June 4, meeting. Linda Whelan Cortopassi, Greg Attorney Bill Bender recommend2013 Mount Vernon High School graduates Rachel Cash and Destiney Yearwood, Sheryl Young, Paula Allen ed attorney Adam Farrar represent Oeth participate in the time-honored Hoop Pole presentation. Photo by Brown, Jimmie Axton, Leslie Bailey, Straw. See hundreds of Mount Vernon and North Posey Graduation Vicki Basham. Continued on Page A3 Zach Photos on The Posey County News’ Facebook Page.
Taylor says Two arrested for Posey metal theft quest for new fertilizer plant is not finished
ThePCN
Inside this issue... Retrospective ................... A4 Community .......... A5 Social ...................... A6 Legals ............................. B6 Deaths ................ A3 Sports .................. B1-4 Classifieds ..................... B6-8 Church .................. A7 Bus/Ag .................. A11
By Valerie Werkmeister If you are one of those people who would like to be informed but haven’t taken the time to make it to a school board meeting in years, if ever, the North Posey School Board is giving you a great opportunity. On June 10, the school board meeting will be held in the auditorium of North Posey High School to allow the community an opportunity to see for themselves how school board meetings are conducted in a non-crowded environment. North Posey School Board member Joe Neidig indicated that the board has done this before with a good number of people who choose to attend the meeting. The board is expected to vote on the contract of North Posey School Superintendent Dr. Todd Camp during that meeting. A public hearing on the performance/contract of Camp was held during the May 13, school board meeting. Attorney William H. Bender explained that according to Indiana State code, 20-26-5-4.3, the board must give notice of when they will meet to hear objections to and support of the superintendent’s contract. A summary of the 2012-13 contract shows that Camp receives an annual salary of $112,500 which includes a 401a contribution of $3,000, a $16,319.36 insurance contribution, a $175,000 life insurance policy and a $600 cell phone allowance. The proposed contract will last three years. According to Bender, the board has gone above and beyond the call of duty in regards to implementation of an evaluation for Camp. Bender stated it is not required by Indiana State law to do so. “All personnel evaluations are confidential. There is no employee of this corporation whose evaluation is a public document,” Bender said. Bender added, “The contracts themselves, of course, are open to the public. Going forward, the corporation will be in compliance with the law and post the superintendent’s contract on the website. The renewal contract will be posted on its website.” Vince Oakley addressed the board with a few questions about what goals are used to evaluate Camp during contract renewal. Camp advised that although they do change, basically his goals are to ensure the school district remains financially solvent, that all state guidelines are followed and that state academic standards are met through students’ testing scores, graduation rates, etc. Susie Crawford asked why Camp’s contract was not on the website as required by law. Camp responded, “Whenever the law was passed, it took effect
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