The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Joy Swearingen - Quill correspondent
The Hancock County dog pound is closed temporarily, and the future of the pound remains uncertain. The decision was made during the board’s regular meeting on Jan. 16.
The county Health Committee reported a lengthy discussion at their meeting Jan. 3, debating if the county is mandated to have a dog catcher. State’s Attorney Bobi James has said that the county is only obligated to do rabies monitoring, but not to take surrendered dogs.
The County board chairman, Mark Menn, was authorized to seek outside legal counsel regarding county’s responsibility for operating a dog pound.
Andrew Asbury, board member from Hamilton and previous chairman of the Health Committee, has resigned from the board. The county Republican committee will make a recommendation to fill the vacancy on the board.
Health Committee member, Patsy Davis, was appointed new chairman of the committee. Dennis Castlebury was appointed to chair the county Highway Committee, replacing Davis in that role. She remains a member of the Highway Committee.
The board acknowledged the passing of Rosalie Bishop, who died Jan. 9. Bishop had served the county as a sheriff’s dispatcher for 28 years, retiring in 2016.
The board passed an ordinance amending the budget for the Hancock County Public Defender, reflecting a state grant of $95,164. The grant is an amount estimated to cover the costs of legal liabilities and necessary expenses of his office.
Steps were approved to repair a county bridge on the Fountain Green Road at LaHarpe Creek, and two township bridges, one on the Fountain Green Road and one in Pilot Grove Township.
The engineering agreement with Klingner and Associates was approved on the Fountain Green Road county bridge for $52,742. Engineering agreements for the township bridges were $66,641 for Fountain Green and for $66,700 for the Pilot Grove bridge.
The board approved half-aid petitions for the township bridge projects. On the Pilot Grove bridge, the county share would be $43,000 and the township share would be $43,600. On the Fountain Green bridge, the county and the township share would be $49,200 for each.
A joint funding agreement was approved, along with resolutions establishing the Connable Road as a Class II truck route and appropriating funds to move forward with improvements to the road. County Engineer Elgin Berry is waiting on the archaeological study results before he can proceed.
The Highway Department has received a safety grant to be used on signs and safety vests for the dept.
Link Appointed LH Fire District Trustee
Christopher Link was appointed as trustee to the LaHarpe Fire Protection District for a term ending Dec. 2025.
County board:
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