The Rush County Commissioners met Monday and tended to a brief agenda.
The first order of business was to address cleaning up county owned property in Manilla. The site (Manilla Grain Elevator) was once a thriving business located on South Cross Street and in recent years has been in disrepair.
A growing concern for nearby residents and county officials is that the location has become an illegal dumping site and frequented by individuals seeking a place to party. Structures on the site have been deemed unsafe and to pose a health risk.
During a recent meeting it was decided that the county would allow a business or individuals access to the property as a means to clean it and remove the buildings. It was further decided by the county leaders that those who undertook the process would receive any and all of the salvage fees of scrap metal recovered as payment for the cleanup.
During Monday’s meeting a group of individuals from the Morristown area in Shelby County expressed interest in undertaking the project. The county will provide the cost for a disposal dumpster during the cleaning process as a means to collect and remove wood scrap and other items deemed unsalvageable.
When asked if they were up to the task and had the means to remove the outlying structures on the property the spokesman for the group responded in the affirmative. A response regarding discarded tires on the property from commissioner Tom Barnes drew smiles and a few chuckles from those in attendance.
“Do you have the means to remove the tires found on the property and dispose of them,” Barnes asked Thomas Karnes. Not missing a beat, Barnes then asked, “Legally?” Karnes again indicated that request would also be complied with.
It is anticipated that the cleanup project will be completed in a couple of weeks.
In other matters, Rush County Sheriff Jeff Sherwood informed the county leaders that for the third time in recent months a person wanted locally on criminal charges has been located out of state.
As a means to return the unidentified individual to Rush County, Sherwood informed the commissioners that he has sought the service of an outside company for the task. According to Sherwood, this approach is more cost effective to county taxpayers than him sending two deputies from the department to North Carolina to transport the individual back.
In a final matter, Area Plan Director Bill Todd informed the commissioners of his decision to employee the services of Coon Excavating to complete the razing of a building in Arlington that a recent storm began.
According to Todd, strong winds associated with Friday’s storm that passed through the county caused a portion of the former Arlington Grocery on CR 700W to collapse and fall onto the street.
Todd contacted the company to put the remainder of the building on the ground.
“It was completely unsafe. We (the county) are fortunate that no one was in the area when the front of the building fell, it could have killed someone. The part of the building that remains standing is in the same condition. It too is unsafe, the beams that gave the structure stability have been removed. It is not even safe to enter,” Todd said.
He continued by saying that there are other safety issues associated with the property.
“There are issues with the basement. I feel the building should be taken down,” Todd said.
According to Todd, the property owner intends to repair the structure that was originally built in 1902, although the APC director has reservations about the restoration project.
In 2006 the commissioners forced the owner to remove an outside staircase and board up windows and doors on the property that collapsed Friday. The county leaders will revisit the situation in a future meeting.
Frank Denzler can be contacted at (765) 932-2222 ext. 106 or via e-mail at frank.denzler@rushvillerepublican.com. To add a comment to this story visit our Web site at www.rushvillerepublican.com.
News
Manilla grain elevator property to be cleaned
- News
-
-
RCCF Education Fund Grants awarded
The Rush County Education Fund Grants Committee recently met to review grant applications for the 2012 grant cycle and to make their recommendations to the Rush County Community Foundation's Board of Directors.
-
Commissioners hear of feasibility study
The Rush County Commissioners met earlier this week and heard a report regarding a feasibility study currently underway regarding the city possibly running an ambulance service out of the Rushville Fire Department.
-
Pool open
Waggener Community Pool will be open from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday. The pool will be closed Monday and Tuesday and then open again Wednesday as was originally scheduled. Information: 932-7100.
-
Farmers Market
The Rush County Farmers and Artisans Market kicks off the 2012 season at 9 a.m. Saturday in the 100 block of East Third Street in downtown Rushville!
-
Good Samaritan recognized for heroic efforts
The lives of three complete strangers became intertwined the morning of Oct. 25, 2011.
-
Lion Project showing community pride
If you've been paying attention, you'll have noticed that new concrete lions are showing up all over town.
-
Waggener Pool opening Saturday and Sunday
In an update to this story, the City announced plans today to open Waggener Community Pool earlier than originally planned due to expected high temperatures over Memorial Weekend. Mayor Mike Pavey has asked that the pool be open this coming Saturday and Sunday. Hours will be noon to 6 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday. The pool will be closed on Monday for Memorial Day and Tuesday, and open again Wednesday, May 30, as was originally scheduled.
-
Why do young white women risk cancer to be tan?
A CDC report out this month found that nearly one in three white women aged 18 to 25 had used a tanning booth in the previous year. White women aged 18 to 21 went the most often, averaging 27.6 sessions per year—that’s over two sessions per month—while nearly 70 percent said they had gone at least 10 times in the last year.
-
Collision lands driver in Indy trauma center
A Milroy woman sustained serious injuries in a single vehicle accident on SR 244 west of Milroy that was reported shortly after 1 p.m. Monday.
-
Todd resigns
Bill Todd (center) is pictured during a recent meeting of the Rush County Commissioners at which he formally announced that he had turned in his resignation as the Rush County Area Plan Director. Todd has served in the capacity of APC director since 1998.
- More News Headlines
-
RCCF Education Fund Grants awarded



