Martin County to apply for housing rehabilitation grant

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May 28, 2008

By Sally Petty, Staff Writer The Washington Times-Herald Wed May 28, 2008, 11:03 PM EDT

SHOALS — The Southern Indiana Development Commission will once again apply for a housing rehabilitation grant on behalf of Martin County.

Jenny Dearwester of SIDC told commissioners at their meeting Tuesday night that several homeowners have called her asking for another housing project grant, and she has already started taking applications in anticipation of the grant.

This time, the state has $250,000 available, versus $300,000 in previous years. The amount Martin County could receive would help 13 to 16 homes, she said.

Hoosier Uplands has agreed to provide the required 10 percent match, but the county may still have to put up an additional $2,600 to get enough points to receive the competitive grant, Dearwester continued. They also needed to specify a target group.

Commissioners voted to target the elderly and single parents. Homeowners who have received a grant in the past two years are not eligible, they voted, but those who have received assistance more than two years ago will be put on a priority list.

In other business

POLLING SITE

Clerk Julie Fithian said the old polling site at Indian Creek Hills club house in Mitcheltree Township will not work this year because the phone company will not put in a temporary phone line as they have in the past because of the new 911 system, and cell phones will not work in the area. She proposed moving the polling site to Trinity Springs Church of Christ, which Highway Superintendent Darrell Courtwright said is handicapped accessible. The church doesn’t have a telephone either, but cell phones will work there.

“It can’t be worse than the other polling sites,” said Commissioner Kevin Boyd.

Commissioners approved the polling site change.

HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT

Courtwright asked commissioners to sign a letter to present at the state Department of Transportation preconstruction meeting requesting to put a metal grate floor on the historical Brooks Bridge instead of wood. He thought the project would cost the county about $30,000.

He also said he wants to explore options to replace a 1997 road grader which needs its engine overhauled. Boyd suggested commissioners seek bids to see what their options are.

“We can get bids, but we don’t have to accept any of them,” he said.

Commissioners voted to allow Courtwright to seek bids for options to replace the grader. He plans to open bids on June 24.

Commissioners then approved a promissory note with Peoples Bank to borrow about $240,000 to reconstruct Butler Bridge. Interest on the loan is 3.450 percent.

“We need a better way to build bridges than borrowing money,” said Commission President Mike Dant.

“We’re to the spot where we have to borrow money, or we don’t build bridges,” replied Courtwright.

He then referred to rising prices for fuel and materials, saying, “You guys need to stay on top of the fact that I’m going under.”

Dant said more than $500,000 from logging on county land will be put in the Highway Department budget.

JAIL

Sheriff Tony Dant said M&M; Electric repaired the detox toilet, a flushing system in the flooring of the detox holding cell that had rotted out. The bill came to $3,315.70.

REDEVELOPMENT

Attorney Dave Lett said a 75-year lease with the former landowners has been discovered on property where the county is planning to build a building for SAIC at the WestGate @ Crane tech park. Commissioner voted to have Lett clear the title to the property to avoid any potential hang-ups with the construction.

CONGRESSIONAL SCHOOL FUND

Auditor Frances “Cookie” Taylor asked commissioners to approve the congressional school fund report, showing a sort of trust fund for the county’s school containing $12,957.40 earned $671.30, which will go to the schools. They voted unanimously to do so.

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