JOURNALPRESS
THE
Dearborn County Register
THEDCREGISTER.COM
TUESDAY, OCT. 2, 2018
156TH YEAR ISSUE NO. 40
Co. council votes to increase local income tax By Denise Freitag Burdette Assistant Editor newsroom@registerpublications.com
Dearborn County council members passed a resolution to raise the county’s local income tax during a public hearing held Wednesday night, Sept. 26, at the Dearborn County Government Center in Downtown Lawrenceburg. About 50 citizens attended the hearing with about seven speaking, most against the tax. According to the resolution, the general percentage, or certified shares portion of the
tax, will remain the same at .6 percent. A .4 percent tax will be added for public safety expenses and .2 percent for correctional or rehabilitation facilities, basically doubling the tax. The additional public safety tax is estimated to raise $5,390,539 in total. Part of those funds will be shared with other municipalities in the county. The correctional or rehabilitation facilities tax, estimated to raise $2,695,269, will stay completely with the county jail and juvenile center. The resolution includes an ordinance that will now go before the local income tax council. The membership of a county’s local
income tax council consists of the fiscal body of the county and the fiscal body of each city or town that lies either partially or entirely within that county. If approved the tax would go into effect Jan. 1, 2019. Before the meeting started, county council president Liz Morris made a general statement stressing that everyone on the council is a public servant who wants what is best for the county residents. She said those speaking would be limited to two minutes, but that was not enforced during the meeting. Patrick Holland was the first to speak. He said he did not like the tax being passed with
out a vote from the public. “There appears to be a lot of financial mismanagement,” he said. Richard Johnston said his property reassessment went “sky high” this year and now the council wants to increase the income tax. “I wouldn’t want some of you handling my checkbook,” said Johnston. It was pointed out later by council that the higher property assessment, which led to higher property taxes for many residents this year, is not related to the proposed increase in the income tax. That is based on the rising value of properties due to the general
See TAX, Page 5
Drunk driver receives max sentence Crash resulted in death
By Joe Awad Managing Editor
jawad@registerpublications.com
Rocky Lee McMurray, 49, Moores Hill, was sentenced Thursday, Sept. 27, to 20 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections by Dearborn Superior Court II Judge Sally A. McLaughlin for a drunk driving incident in January 2017 that took the life of Steven Ahaus. McMurray received the maximum sentence under Indiana law. McMurray had pleaded guilty to operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing death, and to being an habitual vehicular substance offender to determine his sentence. McLaughlin noted the extreme hardship placed on the Ahaus’ family due to McMurray’s conduct, and his criminal history, which includes five operating while intoxicated convictions, one of which also involved a fatality. McLaughlin sentenced McMurray to 12 years with zero years suspended to probation on the underlying operating vehicle while intoxicated causing death charge; enhanced by eight years with zero years suspended on the
Welcome Fall Rocky Lee McMurray habitual vehicular substance offender enhancement. The court also imposed the maximum license suspension of 20 years. “Mr. McMurray represents the worst type of OVWI offender,” said Deddens. “Anytime you have an individual who has shown enough disregard for the extreme risk they put the community at by driving drunk six times is concerning, but when you know that an individual has already killed one person, and continues to get behind the wheel after he’s been drinking that’s a level of indifference that is hard to imagine.” Deddens praised McLaughlin in levying a maximum sentence, and also expressed her desire to see stricter sentencing options for repeat DUI offenders
See DRIVER, Page 5
Greendale sweetens deal to wrap up candy company plant relocations By Chris McHenry Contributor The Greendale Redevelopment Commission has agreed to offer up to $3 million to convince the parent company of Queen City Candy to relocate two additional plants to Greendale. In addition, members voted to spend up to $10,000 to obtain an option on 1½ acres owned by Marvin Chrisman, which would be provided as part of the new location. Executive Director Al Abdon told commission members the company wants to consolidate its three manufacturing plants. The other two are in New Jersey and San Francisco. Abdon pointed out that if the expanded plant comes to Greendale, it will bring 80 jobs in addition to the 80
already here. The enlarged facility also would be one of the largest customers for Greendale’s electric utility. Location elsewhere could mean the loss of the present plant. Use of the Chrisman acreage is of concern to the Dearborn County 4-H Fair Board. Russel Beiersdorfer told commission members that the fair uses the property for tractor pulls and rodeos that bring in about half of its annual income. Abdon suggested Greendale work with the fair and Lawrenceburg to come up with a solution to the problem. Abdon cautioned that although he has been negotiating with the company, there is no guarantee the offer will be accepted. Contact Register Publications
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PHOTOS BY CHANDRA L. MATTINGLY
Posing with one of the many scarecrows decorating top business prize and judges’ award winner Panama Pete’s are manager Angela DeSalvo, left, and stylist Mary Rice, right.
Residents and businesses embrace the season in Aurora cluded: Residential, first place, the Jarvis family, 312 cmattingly@registerpublications.com Fourth St; second, the HolPanama Pete’s, 307 lander family, 147 Market Broadway St., was the top St.; third place, the Miller winner in Aurora Garden family, 403 Third St. HonClub’s Fall in Love With orable mentions, the Lowe Aurora this year, nabbing family, 314 Third St., and both the top business cate- the Drury family, 603 W. gory award and the judges’ Conwell St. choice award. Organization, first place, Winners received cash Aurora Emergency Rescue, prizes for the first three 320 Third St.; second, Hillplaces, plus a decorative forest Historical Foundascarecrow, with the judg- tion, decorated flower bed es’ choice award including at Lesko Park; third, Southa much larger scarecrow. east Indiana Art Guild, Guests were invited to take Second and Main streets. hayrides through town to Honorable mentions: Auview some of the entries rora Police Department, and winners. Main and Third streets; Tri Presented Thursday, Kappa, decorated veterans Sept. 27, as a light driz- area at Lesko Park; St. Mary zle dampened the Aurora School, 211 Fourth St.; First Farmers Market at Gabbard Presbyterian Church, 215 Park, the awards and ac- Fourth St.; United Methodcompanying hayrides were ist Church, 304 Third St. not as well attended as in Business: first place, 2017, the first year of the Panama Pete’s, 307 Broadevent. But sponsors said way St.; second, Aurora there were about 40 entries, Utilities, Main and Importnonetheless. Pat McGraw ing streets; third, The Wood Excavating donated to the Shop, 401 Third St. Honorevent. able mentions: River TreaBy category, the winners sures, 211 Second St., Ruland honorable mentions inBy Chandra L. Mattingly Staff Reporter
The Estridge family took first place in the scarecrow category with this entry, placed on Scarecrow Alley (George Street.)
See FALL, Page 5
The residential category was won by the Jarvis family, 312 Fourth St, with decorations in the yard, on the steps, and on the porch.
INSIDE TODAY: OBITUARIES : Page 3 SPORTS: Page 6,7
Aurora Emergency Rescue won the organization category in the Fall in Love With Aurora contest for the second year in a row.
WEATHERforecast
Today: High: 81 Low: 67 Wednesday: High: 84 Low: 71