County Commissioners accept bid for purchase of County Home

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Published: Friday, 09 June 2017 17:50

The Pulaski County Commissioners accepted a bid of $26,000 from a Delphi area buyer for the purchase of the 136-year-old Pleasant View Rest Home (also known as the County Home) at its June 5 meeting.

Local auctioneer Dwain Davis reported to the commissioners that Tristan Clark was the high bidder for the County Home and 4.5 acres of the county property auctioned on Saturday, June 3. It has been reported the Clark plans to make apartments in the building. The smaller stone barn sold with the property, but the larger barn did not. 

The historic county home sits on about six acres of the original county farm plot just west of Winamac on CR 60S. The west section of the building was constructed in 1881, while the north and south wings were built in 1897

In 2014, the Pulaski County Historical Society nominated the Pleasant View Rest Home for designation to the National Register of Historic Places. The IDNR's Historical Preservation and Archaeology Committee voted in January 2015 to nominate the landmark facility to the national register.

The vote to accept the auction bid was 2-0. Commissioner Bud Krohn Jr. was not present at the meeting.

In other business, the commissioners approved a $32,000 to install and ADA elevator in the courthouse. Maintenance supervisor Jeff Johnston presented an addendum to the agreement from November 2015 to reflect a change to complete the project. The contract includes the architectural, structural and electrical engineering fees for the elevator.

Johnston also reported on justice center repairs and other repairs within the county governmental offices.  

Pulaski Circuit Court Judge Mike Shurn appeared before the commissioners to request an additional $30,000 from the county general circuit court fund to cover the costs of civil pauper counsel.

The judge reported there have been about 20 cases this year requiring these additional funds. He expects this additional will get him through to the end of the year.  The commissioners approved the request.

Gibson Insurance representatives along with local agent Dave Bennett presented quotes for the 2017-18 health insurance plan with several options in mind.  ApexBenefits, R&R Benefits/Risk Management, and Consolidated Union insurance companies have yet to submit quotes. The commissioners tabled the decision for further review of the information.

The Pulaski County Advisory Plan Commission presented an application to rezone property located at CR 700 W and CR 300 S, in Jefferson Township (about 10 miles southwest of Winamac) from an A-1 General Agriculture District to an A-2 Intensive Agriculture District to allow the construction of a confined feeding operation. The purpose is to produce a wean-to-finish pig operation. It would be operated by the Brown Family Farms of North Judson. Tom Fritz, and John and Sara Green approached the commissioners in protest of the considered re-zoning request because of the potential decrease in the value of their respective residences. The commissioners tabled the issue until a later date.

The commissioners received a request from Jim Greeson, Indiana State Fire Marshal for an agreement between Pulaski County and IU Public Policy Institute for GIS Information. The commissioners agreed to accept and sign the agreement.

Sheriff Jeff Richwine reported he is in the process for housing federal prisoners and now needs part time people to help transport. He will collaborate with the Auditor's Office for the funding of this project.

The sheriff also requested fund transfers as follows:

• County General, Animal Control - From:Operating Supplies($1,100) and Vet Services($700) To: Schools and Seminars       $1,800
•  County General, Sheriff - From: Dispatch Salary($15,000) To: Part-time Dispatch($15,000)
• County General, Sheriff - From: Jailer Salary($11,000) To: Overtime Jailer Salary($11,000)
• The commissioners approved the requested transfers.

The commissioners approved the following conference requests:

• Sheri Gaillard – 2017 EMAI Conference, Indianapolis in October ($1000)
• Jason Woodruff – Diver Training, June (free)
• Phil Foerg – Stops Instructor at Johnson County, in September ($499)
• Christi Hoffa – ADA Compliance sponsored by AIC, in June ($60)
• Christi Hoffa – 2017 Trial Court and Clerk Employee Conference, Indianapolis in July ($80)
• Laura Wheeler – 2017 County Council Members Conference, Shelbyville, in June.

A joint meeting of the county commissioners and county council will be at 6 p.m., Monday, June 12.

The next meeting of the county commissioners is at 8 a.m., Saturday, June 17.