Dubois County Emergency Management Agency Director, Tammy Humbert, on behalf of Dubois County’s 12 volunteer fire departments asked the Dubois County Council Wednesday evening to reconsider their vote on reprogramming charges of radio equipment.
Humbert stated that radio equipment should be functional at all counts and that radios currently in use had to be reprogrammed due to changes in frequency. Humbert presented the council with reprogramming charge amounts that varied throughout the 12 volunteer Departments that came in at a total of $4,625. The board approved the request in a 6 to 1 vote.
Jasper Redevelopment Commission Board President, John Bell, and Board member, Andy Seger, were given the floor as they explained to the council their efforts of obtaining a grant for the revitalization of the Jasper downtown square.
Seger told the council there are joint efforts by a steering committee that involves the redevelopment commission, the city of Jasper, downtown merchants, and others who are reviewing revitalization and improvement projects.
The redevelopment commission has already spoken to the Jasper Common Council about applying for a grant on the state level which also allows the county to be part of the application process related to Senate Bill 67.
Both Seger and Bell told the council they are about a month ahead of their timeline as they intended to present before the county council project details later on, however the application deadline for the state grant encouraged them to speak to the county council on Wednesday.
Dubois County Council President, Greg Kendall, expressed his appreciation for the work that has been put into the project yet he feels he’s between a rock and a hard place in his decision in taking part in the grant application as he can foresee the disapproval of county departments and employees.
Kendall noted there are other infrastructure and budgetary issues that need to be address and projects that need to be executed.
Jasper City Attorney, Renee Kabrick, explained that she understood the need to address other pending county projects yet she says these downtown improvements will benefit the county as well with the emphasis of attracting talent to the county.
There were no immediate decisions made by the council to participate in the grant application and the topic has been tabled for next month’s meeting.
