County officials are beginning the process to take out a $2 million capital improvement loan to fund three projects.
Commissioner Diana Biddle said repayment would take about five years, funded by property taxes. However, the plan is to do it in a way that taxpayers won’t feel the impact.
A property tax levy that affects the county’s cumulative bridge fund will drop off at the end of this year.
“We’re in a position where we could keep our property taxes neutral if we can get this loan part started before the end of the year. We’ll still have some other conversations, and we need to finalize what we’re going to do with it,” Biddle said.
The first project the loan would address would be an overhaul of the countywide public safety radio service to address “holes” in coverage for police, ambulance and fire workers.
The communication towers on the fire tower in Brown County State Park would be replaced, and one would be added in the Bean Blossom area on the south side of one of the overlooks on State Road 135 North, Biddle said.
“I know five places I am aware of in the county where if I was on duty, I couldn’t call for help,” said Keith Baker, a county councilman and reserve sheriff’s deputy.
“It’s unfortunate. We don’t need that on our deputies,” he said.
Sheriff Scott Southerland estimated that project would cost at least $500,000 to $600,000.
Replacing the system also would allow all fire departments, ambulances and police officers to communicate with each other. Some fire departments and the ambulance service still use an older VHF communication system, compared to the 800 mHz radio police use now.
Grant funding may be available to help with this project through the Indiana Integrated Public Safety Commission.
The second project would be replacing the bleachers at the Brown County 4-H Fairgrounds and making them compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. That project is estimated to cost around $175,000.
Wooden light poles that are in disrepair at Deer Run Park might also be replaced using loan money.
Biddle said the proposed projects have a life span of 30 to 40 years.
“It’s not something we’re going to be replacing every couple of years,” she said.
She also proposed rolling over any leftover money from the loan to the county highway department for additional paving. Baker said that would need to be discussed with the council, since it was not brought up during the county council meeting earlier that week.
“If we’re going to use the other $700,000 for highway, I’d like for us to know about that in advance. That’s not what we’re talking about right now,” he said.
“Right now, I think it’s appropriate to start doing the paperwork. … Get that going, because the emergency needs are impressive.”
