Issue 1248

Oct. 1, 2023

 Photo below of Nelson Downard in front of his Wards Tractor. Mr. Downard gets help from his grandson Trevor Downard with bringing tractors in advance of the event on Wednesday. Trevor serves on the board of directors of the Franklin County Antique Machinery Club.

Several tractors have been passed down through the generations and have plaques in memory of an relative or a friend. Photo is a 1950 Cockshutt tractor owned by Gary and Laurel Wilson of Liberty, Indiana. Displayed in memory of Bill Wilson.

Floyd Rockwell of Okeana, Ohio gave a history of the Ford tractor. His father, Russell, was a tractor dealer from 1944 to 1996 in Hamilton, Ohio. In 1961 Ford tractor colors changed from grey and red to blue. However, Ford tractors in England were already painted blue. Ford tractors later became New Holland tractors.

A record number of 10 steam engines were on site this year. Steam engines are very heavy and require a semi-truck to transport them to the machinery show, which can be costly. Several steam engines were put to work powering the saw mill. Walnut and poplar logs were precisely cut into boards.

One of the steam engines working at the sawmill was a 1915 Case 50 horsepower steam engine owned by Linda and Bob Moore of Harrison, Ohio. (Shown below) It was powered by coal and wood. Operating it was Chase Bertsch of Centerville, Indiana, who fell in love with steam engines at age 12 at a prior Franklin County Antique Machinery Show. Chase begged Mr. Moore to let him help with the steam engine. The first year the answer was “no.” Next year, Chase was back and Mr. Moore started teaching him. Now Chase operates the steam engine. In Ohio, a steam engine operator must be licensed.

There was a large crowd for Saturday night’s horse pull under the lights. Photo by Terry Duffy

There were several living history displays of skills and life in the past. Marilyn Wendel and her youngest granddaughter Dorothy cooked over the wood stove in the summer kitchen and promptly served lunch when the 12 noon whistle blew.

Photo below shows an unnamed youngster using the hand water pump outside the summer kitchen.

Peggy Klingensmith of Franklin County demonstrated spinning, weaving and knitting. She is shown here with sheep wool that she dyed to fall colors by using maple leaves and vinegar. She will knit the wool into a shawl. To learn more, Ms. Klingensmith leads free knitting classes at the Brookville Library every Monday from 11 am to 1 pm, followed by lunch at a local restaurant.

Ron Galyen explained how rope was made from plants such as hemp before polyester was invented.

The days were full of activities: tractor pulls, children’s games,

adult tractor games, steam engine block races, mini-horse and horse pulls, entertainment, flea market and steam engine spark shows. Each year, the event issues new buttons and plaques, which become collectors’ items.

Clearview Acres provided a petting zoo.

The 2024 show will feature Case Tractors and Wisconsin Engines. For more information about future shows, go to

https://www.facebook.com/fcamc/

Reported by Sara Duffy

A Look At The Teachers’

Tentative New Contract

 

• Details of the tentative teachers’ contract were announced. Most teachers will receive a 7.88% raise.
• School board members Rick Gill, Kati Holman and Brandy Wilson were absent.
•  

The Franklin County School Corporation and the Franklin County Teachers’ Association reached a tentative one-year contract that covers the current school year. They started closed-door negotiations on September 18 and that same day they reached a tentative agreement that covers approximately 118 “certificated” teachers. The details of the agreement were presented in a special school board meeting on September 27 as required by statute. The contract is posted to the school corporation’s website. On October 4, 2023 at 5 pm there will be a public hearing about the contract and a vote by the school board on the contract.

Indiana law closely regulates what can or cannot be in a teachers’ union contract. Teachers can only bargain for salaries, wages and fringe benefits, such as health and life insurance. Teachers may not negotiate hours of work, class size, school calendar, curriculum, teaching methods and materials, safety issues, evaluations, reassignment and more.

Teacher raises in Indiana are not simple math. The Indiana legislature provided the money for teacher salaries and the legislature also passed laws about how the money will be spent.

62% Rule

Superintendent Chavis explained that the Indiana Code requires 62% of the money received from the state legislature in the “Education Fund” must be spent for salaries and benefits of “certificated teachers”. The remaining 38% is spent on paraprofessionals, substitute teachers, principals and guidance counselors.

No Less Money

The Indiana Code also requires school corporations to spend at least as much money on teachers’ salaries as the prior year. The statute allows for some exceptions. Franklin County schools will request a waiver to the statute, because student enrollment has declined and they lost 10 teachers to retirement. Therefore the schools will not be spending as much money on teachers’ salaries.

THIRD YEAR FOR RAISES

In 2020, salaries were frozen for Franklin County teachers.

In 2021, teachers received a 4.5% raise.

In 2022, returning teachers received a minimum 5.22% increase.

In 2023, most teachers will receive a 7.88% raise.

For the 2023-2024 school year, the tentative contract made increases of 5.88% to the “grid” of teacher salaries. In addition, returning teachers, who have acceptable evaluations, will move on the salary grid. The move will bump up their pay by another 2%. Therefore, most teachers will receive a raise of 7.88%

A teacher can receive a larger increase, if they obtained another college degree or completed more hours toward a degree. They will move again on the salary grid for an added increase of 2.75%. Four teachers will receive a total increase of 10.63%.

The salary range for full time teachers is between $45,000 and $82,290. This is an increase for beginning teachers of $2,500.

Funding Explained

Superintendent Chavis said that an “unprecedented” number of 10 long-term teachers retired after many years of service. They were at the top of the pay scale. Their salaries, accumulated leave and benefits were worth approximately $1 million. These savings were used in part to pay teachers’ raises in an effort to meet the 62% rule.

Cap on Salaries

New in this contract, the “grid” of all teacher salaries is capped at $82,290. If a teacher’s salary would go over this amount in the future due to pay raises, then the teacher would be paid the additional amount as a stipend split into two payments. The additional amount would not be part of the teacher’s base pay.

Insurance Costs Up

Teachers will spend part of their raises to pay somewhat higher premiums for health insurance with Anthem Insurance. They will have more options to select: employee only, employee and spouse, employee and children or a family plan. In one example, a family plan with a $3,200 deductible will now cost $3,947 per year. The school corporation will also contribute more toward the cost of employee health insurance.

Eric Ebrens, lead negotiator for the teachers’ union, said that the teachers who voted were unanimously in favor of the new contract. He said, “They are all happy.” He thanked Superintendent Chavis and her negotiating team for “a very smooth process.” School board members Francis Brumback and Kevin Kaiser were on the negotiation team.

Click to see the tentative teachers’ union contract posted on the school corporation’s website.

Reported by Sara Duffy

First Step Toward A New Tax

For Emergency Medical Services By

County Council

• September 19, 2023

• Council took a first step toward a new local income tax for funding emergency medical services.
• In a split 4-3 vote, council eliminated all funding for part time help, overtime and compensatory time for the county commissioners’ office for the remainder of 2023 and all of 2024. Their remarks targeted one employee.
• No public comments were made about the 2024 proposed county budget.

Local income tax for funding emergency medical services.

Council, except Councilmember Brian Patterson, voted in favor of pursuing the next steps for a new local income tax to pay for emergency medical services (EMS). President Koch did not know the amount of the potential new income tax. He read the timeline for actions:

September 27 Advertise a notice to taxpayers

October 17 Hold a public hearing

October 31 Vote about adopting a new local income tax

Councilmember Patterson objected, “We keep forking out money for projects and we do not even know what we are getting.” He said that an EMS contract could cost $1 million - $1.6 million. He spoke against the funding process and a lack of information. He blamed the county commissioners for the current dilemma over funding for EMS.

President Jeff Koch said, “I keep hearing from people that they want [ambulance service].” He clarified that this vote would only advertise a public hearing. It was NOT a vote to impose a new EMS tax. “It's not a done deal.”

Councilmember Patterson continued to argue his viewpoint with the other councilmembers after the vote was taken.

President Koch replied, “This is public safety. We have to have emergency medical service. We have to.”

Several council members said that they want “better” emergency medical services.

Under legislation passed in 2023, any new local income tax for EMS funding, which is passed by council in early October, will take effect in 2024.

More Funding For EMS

Spending more money for EMS services has been talked about for two years, but no action was taken. Now the issue has drawn the attention of the community and of elected officials. The private, non-profit Franklin County EMS requested more money to cover their contract through December 31, 2023 and more money in any future contract. Franklin County EMS representative Bill Schirmer said that they could not continue to operate at a deficit. In the worst case, Mr. Schirmer said that they would “throw the keys on the dashboard” and FC EMS would have to limit services.

The county commissioners and county council both previously agreed to pay an additional $200,000 to Franklin County EMS in 2023. This is on top of the yearly contract of $300,000.

Cut The Budget For Only One Office

Councilmember Mary Strong asked to cut only the commissioners’ budget. She obtained the commissioners’ secretary’s time cards. She said that the secretary had been working almost 40 hours per week, after the secretary asked to have her regular shift reduced from 40 hours to 32.5 hours per week. Councilmember Strong said, “I could not let it go.” She did not want the commissioners’ secretary Faye Hay to be paid to attend council or any other meetings. “I don't agree with it.”

Councilmember Carroll Lanning commented that council should not micromanage the commissioners’ office. Some councilmembers suggested that council ask the commissioners why Ms. Hay worked 40 hours. Councilmember Patterson said, “No.”

A county employee in the audience weighed with in their opinion.

Councilmember Patterson motioned to eliminate all funding for part time help, overtime and compensatory time for the commissioners’ office for the remainder of 2023 and for all of 2024. Voting in favor were councilmembers Patterson, Strong, Koch and Bob Evans. Opposed to the cut were Dean McQueen, Glenn Bischoff and Carroll Lanning.

Neither the commissioners nor their secretary were present to answer any questions. In a subsequent interview, Ms. Hay said that her previous understanding with county council was that her regular tour of duty would be 32.5 hours per week and she would continue to work additional hours as needed to assist with evening Zoom meetings or other assigned duties. She stated that she is on call 24/7 and has been requested to come to the government center late at night when an alarm drops. At times, the commissioners also ask her to attend routine meetings as their representative. She also oversees human resource matters brought to the commissioners’ attention. The money cut from the budget will also impact the county’s building inspectors.

Ongoing Controversy

There has been ongoing controversy over some offices having funding for their employees to work only 32.5 hours per week versus employees in other offices working 40 hours per week. Each year at budget time, some elected officials make their case to county council to increase the work week for their employees. No change has been made to the 32.5 workweek in the 2024 budget.

No Public Comment About County’s 2024 Budget

President Koch read highlights from the 2024 advertised budget. County Auditor Karla Bauman commented that these were not the final amounts passed by council. There were no public comments about the budget.

• Maximum Property Tax Levy - $4,864,257
• General Fund - $11.1 million. Pays for daily operation of the county
• Cumulative Capital Fund $326,000. Pays for equipment purchases and building repairs
• Total Budget $26.4 million. Includes property taxes, income taxes, federal/state grants, fees and fines.

The property tax levy is estimated to increase by 4% from $4.7 million to almost $4.9 million.

Council will vote on adopting the 2024 budget at their October 17 meeting at 7:00 pm.

Cedar Grove’s 2024 Budget

Council reviewed and approved the town of Cedar Grove’s 2024 budget for a total of $42,450. This is the same amount as last year. Cedar Grove’s property tax levy is estimated to increase by 4% from $5,063 to $5,266.

HELP’s Strategic Investment Plan

Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program (HELP) coordinator John Palmer updated council about four projects funded with $1.6 million from a partnership of the county and the state of Indiana. Council voted in favor of the projects and so did the county commissioners in a separate meeting. Click to see the project’s report.

• $666,000 Refurbish Laurel Community Center for a food pantry and a health care center.
• $600,000 Sewer and water systems at county fairgrounds.
• $350,000 Metamora Community Center with a health care center.
• $30,000 Computer training about how to use new high speed Internet and how to avoid scams.
•  
• Mr. Palmer quashed rumors; there will be no methadone clinic at the Metamora Community Center.

ARPA To The Rescue

The federal American Rescue Plan Act grant has a remaining balance of approximately $360,000, said County Auditor Karla Bauman. Several small problems have cropped up and the council once again tapped into ARPA money. Council approved $17,000 for a new roof at the Andersonville Community Center and $17,000 for emergency drainage work for the government center parking lot.

Payment

Council approved payment of $5,896 to Reedy Group, their financial consultant, for the month of August.

Council’s next meeting is October 17 at 7:00 pm. This will be the public hearing on a new local income tax to fund emergency medical services. Online viewing is available via Zoom and the access codes are on the county’s website at

https://www.franklincounty.in.gov.

Reported by Sara Duffy

Engineer Says Bridge Is “Safe and Stable”

 “As legal counsel for Franklin County, I, Grant Reeves of Barada Law Offices LLC, am providing the following release on behalf of the Franklin County Board of Commissioners:

 The Franklin County Highway Department and Board of Commissioners have become aware of concerns raised by at least one citizen over possible cracking of the approach to the Sanes Creek Bridge and of an animal burrowing into the same approach. The Commissioners take the safety of that bridge and all bridges in Franklin County very seriously, particularly given the terrible tragedy that occurred at Sanes Creek in 2020. 

Franklin County employs a County Engineer to directly oversee its highway department. Additionally, Franklin County retains a third-party engineering firm to inspect bridges in Franklin County on a rotating basis. 

The Sanes Creek Bridge was fully inspected in November of 2022 and found to be safe and stable at that time. In light of current concerns, the Franklin County Engineer examined the Sanes Creek Bridge approach in early September and found that it was still structurally safe and stable. The County Engineer noted surface cracking due to minor settlement that did not pose a structural issue. The County Engineer did not observe evidence of any burrowing animal and also noted that the rocky fill material used as a base for the approach would deter any animal from attempting to burrow into the structural elements of the approach. 

The county's third-party engineering firm also conducted a preliminary review at the location and found no structural issues. The third-party engineer is set to do another full inspection in October. 

While the bridge appears to be safe based on the preliminary professional reviews above, the County will carefully review that final inspection and determine if any remediation is necessary.”

Submitted by the Franklin County Commissioners

September 28, 2023

    Editor’s Note: Franklin County, Indiana. In March 2020, the approach to Sanes Creek Bridge collapsed after flash flooding. Six people died after their vehicles went off the bridge approach and into the creek.

The Batesville Quiltmakers are having an exhibit at the Batesville Memorial Public Library during the month of October. "Paint the Town Pink" will participate with the annual campaign to raise awareness about the impact of breast cancer.

The group will also be hosting a reception on October 3 from 4-6pm. Everyone is invited to view the exhibit. 



Submitted by Amy Buckley

Get Tickets Now For An

Early Christmas Concert

Purchase your tickets now to see, hear and enjoy Indiana legend Sandi Patty, when she brings her repertoire to the Lew Wallace Auditorium on Thursday, November 2, at 6:30 pm. This show will be a Christmas concert and will be sure to put the audience in the Christmas spirit. Tickets are available at The Rileybrook Center at 740 Main Street, Brookville, IN or by calling Patti

Wilhelm at 765-309-1473.

Submitted by Franklin County Arts Council



Around the County

Brookville IGA Cookouts - Fridays & Saturdays

Enjoy a cheeseburger, ribeye or chicken sandwich hot off the grill 10:30 am to 2:00 pm. Proceeds benefit the following groups:



Lakeside Cruisers - October 6

FCHS Track Team - October 7

Franklin County Youth Soccer - October 13

Friends of FC Animal Shelter - October 14

Southeast Indiana Health Center - Free Clinic

We provide No-Cost, primary care services to residents of Franklin or Ripley County, Indiana on Tuesdays at our permanent location in Batesville and on Thursdays in our mobile clinic. No appointment needed. Call 812-932-4515 for times and locations.

1st Thursday of the month Brookville

2nd Thursday Versailles

3rd Thursday Laurel

4th Thursday Milan

Submitted by Bev Metze

Redlife Food Bank in Brookville 

Open every second and fourth Thursday from 4 pm - 6 pm and the third Saturday from 10 am - 12 noon. Please bring your own containers.

Submitted by Judy Drake



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