At Wednesday morning’s meeting, the Daviess County Council appropriated funds received from grants received by the Health Department and Adult Protective Services. The Council also approved a $4,000 expenditure by the Auditor’s Office to upgrade computer software, which will allow other departments to remotely submit invoices and decrease errors. In addition, the Council heard a request from the Sheriff’s Department to add a fourth tower and upgrade the radios of all county fire departments and first responders. Chief Deputy Steve Sturgis told the council that there are still some dead areas in the county where first responders cannot communicate. Sturgis said estimates are that the new tower would cost approximately $598,000, and the radio upgrades would cost $265,000. The council discussed funding options, including asking the township trustees to help fund the radio upgrades. Council members Tom Schaffer and Tony Duncheon agreed to help the Sheriff’s Department look into cost and funding sources for the project. In other business, the Council agreed to a fund transfer request from Superior Court Judge Dan Murrie. Judge Murrie requested a fund transfer of $2,000 to provide uniforms for court staff. The Superior Court is meeting in the Security Center during the courthouse renovation, and Murrie said that many people coming to court are confused between court and jail personnel. At the end of the meeting, County Attorney Grant Swartzentruber updated the Council on the proposed sale of the county salt barn and invited Council members to join with the Commissioners on an on-site inspection of the courthouse project following each Commissioners meeting.
