July 1, 2015
Indiana

Wind turbine conversation dominates commissioner meeting

By Frank Denzler | Rushville Republican | June 30, 2015 | www.rushvillerepublican.com

The Rush County Commissioners met Monday and conducted business to a nearly packed assembly room at the courthouse.

After nearly 30 minutes of handling a variety of issues, the county leaders turned their attention to those in attendance and spent the majority of meeting listening to resident’s voice their opposition to the placement of wind turbines in the county.

Arguments against the project moving forward cited a variety of issues from noise, to flickering and a number of points in between. Many of those that spoke asked the commissioners to look at where the county will be years down the road and not solely at the more immediate financial gains the county could realize if the project moves forward.

In an unrelated matter, the county leaders tabled a request from EMA Director Chuck Kemker to purchase new software for damage assessment. According to Kemker, the software he recommends would be added to the current county mapping program and, in the event of a major weather or other emergency, could save labor hours of physically assessing damage.

The program would cost $4,500 annually plus an additional $3,000 for initial training, or the county could select the same program for $3,000, however in the event of an emergency, a $6,000 fee would be charged per emergency event.

Following a brief discussion, the county leaders tabled the matter until the July 13 meeting.

Carole Yeend of the Rush County Solid Waste Management District (Clean Green Rush) was the next department head to have the floor and wanted to remind county residents that due to July 4 falling on the first Saturday of the month, the July tox-away event will be held 8 a.m. to noon July 11 at the Smiley Avenue Transfer Center.

In a final matter, sheriff Jim Cowan gave his bi-weekly report of activity in the Rush County Sheriff Department.

According to Cowan, currently the Rush County Jail houses 39 inmates. During the previous week, 16 individuals were booked into the jail on various charges. During the past week, county dispatchers received 445 calls and currently deputies have 486 warrants to serve.

The Rush County Fair was not the only thing keeping deputies busy during the past seven days, with deputies investigating one residential burglary, four reports of theft, one deviant sex offense and two stand-offs involving armed individuals.

The commissioners meet bi-weekly and all meetings beginning at 9 a.m. in the Assembly Room located on the lower level of the courthouse. All meeting are open to the public, the next meeting will be July 13.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2015/07/01/wind-turbine-conversation-dominates-commissioner-meeting/