Budget shortfalls facing Bartholomew County are likely overstated. That’s the message from county officials.

The County Council met Tuesday night and the upcoming budget dominated much of the meeting. Talk was focused on early figures released by the state’s Department of Local Government Finance, which estimated that tax caps will have almost twice the impact as they did this year, resulting in an approximate $1.5 million shortfall in 2017. Barb Hackman, County Auditor, explained that those figures relied on false data that assumed that the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. would eat up additional tax dollars. She told the body that she spoke with BCSC leaders, who assured her that the school corporation’s tax-rate will remain largely unchanged.

Council President Bill Lentz then began talking about the possibility of hiring a financial advisor. He explained, that in anticipation of next week’s budget sessions, an advisor is needed, especially after the recent retirement of the county’s previous advisor. Some members of the council, Mark Gorbett in particular, wondered aloud why the body was waiting until “the last-minute” to take care of budget issues. He hearkened back to the budget mess faced by the council last year in finalizing a budget and said that he was worried that history may be repeating itself. Councilman Chris Ogle agreed, going so far as to take his share of the blame in not recognizing the need to hire an advisor much sooner.

Lentz explained to the council that he had been in contact with a number of firms about taking on the job. There was some concern among members about the short notice, but former Columbus Mayor Kristen Brown, who was in the audience, assured the council that a qualified firm can help the county establish better budget parameters than the county could do alone.

The council voted 5-2 to approve the hiring of Reedy Financial to aid the county. Lentz explained that this was the least-expensive option. This vote was taken over the objections of Hackman, who explained that she would have appreciated having some input on who the county contracts with, as it is her office that the firm will be dealing with on a daily basis. Gorbett and Ogle were the “no” votes. They agreed that the Auditor’s Office should have a seat at the table in determining who they will work with. The pair also argued that this vote should not have been taken, as members were not aware that a vote would be held.

Once the vote was passed, a visibly upset Hackman chided the council. “I thought you had more respect for me and more respect for the Auditor’s Office. Obviously, I was wrong,” she said. Hackman went on to say that Reedy Financial will present the same information to the council that her office will present once budget hearing commence.

The council begins budget hearings on Tuesday. Councilman Jorge Morales says that these hearings will last all-day, five days a week, for several weeks. He, along with Gorbett, indicated a desire to put the county’s employees “at the front of the line” in this year’s budget. Morales says that he would like to see the council establish pay raises first, before determining how individual department budgets are structured.

A North Vernon resident was arrested early Monday morning on a heroin charge, among others.

The North Vernon Police Department says that, at 12:38 a.m., officers received a tip about possible drug use in the 100 block of North State Street. When officers investigated, they reportedly found 28-year-old Jamie Wilhoit.

North Vernon authorities say that Wilhoit was arrested on preliminary charges of Possession of Heroin, Possession of a Syringe, Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Stolen Property.

The execution of a search warrant on a home in Jennings County Tuesday morning lead to multiple arrests for dealing heroin.

Officers with the North Vernon Police Department served a search warrant in the 2000 block of Country Manor Blvd. and seized heroin and methamphetamine, along with syringes and other paraphernalia, said department spokesman Sgt. Andrew Richmond. He says that the operation began at about 9:30 a.m.

Police say the search was the result of information gathering which ultimately led to Det. Nick Megel being granted the warrant. Sgt. Richmond says that this warrant was served by members of the North Vernon Police Department Emergency Response Team, along with deputies with the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department. Once the residence and occupants were secure, officers allegedly found approximately two-grams of packaged heroin bundles, approximately one-gram of methamphetamine, multiple syringes, digital scales and packaging materials.

Those arrested, and their preliminary charges are:

Charles F. Williams, 35, of North Vernon –
Dealing in a Controlled Substance – Level 5 Felony
Possession of Controlled Substance – Level 6 Felony
Possession of Syringe – Level 6 Felony
Possession of Paraphernalia – Class A Misdemeanor

Robert L. Anderson, 29, of North Vernon –
Dealing in a Controlled Substance – Level 5 Felony
Possession of Controlled Substance – Level 6 Felony
Possession of Syringe – Level 6 Felony
Possession of Paraphernalia – Class A Misdemeanor

Raven L. Grider, 23, of North Vernon –

Dealing in a Controlled Substance – Level 5 Felony
Possession of a Controlled Substance – Level 6 Felony
Possession of a Syringe – Level 6 Felony
Possession of Paraphernalia – Class A Misdemeanor

Mattie J. Kendall, 25, of North Vernon –
Possession of a Controlled Substance – Level 6 Felony
Possession of a Syringe – Level 6 Felony
Possession of Paraphernalia – Class A Misdemeanor

Clarence Howard, 25, of North Vernon –
Possession of Controlled Substance – Level 6 Felony
Possession of Syringe – Level 6 Felony
Possession of Paraphernalia  – Class A Misdemeanor

Sgt. Richmond says that North Vernon Police were assisted by deputies of the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department, Indiana State Police and Jennings County Animal Control.

Note: All photos are courtesy of the North Vernon Police Department.

Drake Maddix became Columbus’ newest police officer when he was sworn in by Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop during a Board of Public Works and Safety meeting Tuesday morning at Columbus City Hall.

Lt. Matt Harris, Columbus Police Department Spokesman, explains that Maddix is a 21-year-old native of the city and a graduate of Columbus

North High School. Information released by CPD says that Maddix attended Indiana University in Bloomington where he will earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice in December. While working towards his degree, Maddix became a sworn police officer with IU Police Department, where he has served as a cadet and part-time police officer.

Harris says that once Maddix completes a short orientation period, he will begin his formal training.

Bartholomew County Council is already facing bad news before the council begins its budget hearings next week. County auditor Barb Hackman said that tax caps will have almost twice the impact next year as they did this year, cutting revenues to county coffers. Hackman explains:

08-09 Barb Hackman-1

The tax caps only allow property to be taxed at rates of one, two or three-percent of assessed value, depending on the type of property. The final impact won’t be known until the assessed values are finalized.

The council begins its 2017 budget hearings on Tuesday.

Columbus firefighters believe the cause of last night’s fire at the Fox Pointe Apartments was a discarded smoking material.

Investigators say that residents in the Creekside Way apartment were using a handmade plastic container in a patio area to store used smoking materials. The container was up against an outside wall of the building and that is the point where the fire started, says Capt. Mike Wilson, spokesman for the fire department.

When residents noticed the fire it had already climbed the vinyl siding and was burning up into the eaves.

Columbus firefighters battled a blaze last night at Fox Pointe apartments.

Capt. Mike Wilson, spokesman for the fire department, said the first call came in at 7:30 p.m. and smoke from the fire was visible for several miles. When firefighters arrived on Creekside Drive they discovered that heavy flames were showing in the 8-unit apartment building.

Fire was burning through the attic space and firefighters searched six of the eight apartments before the roof collapsed over two more, Wilson said. Firefighters began battling the blaze from the outside and got the fire under control by about 9 p.m. Four apartments were seriously damaged by the fire, while two others suffered smoke and water damage.

14 tenants escaped the blaze and none of them were injured. The Salvation Army was on scene providing aid for the displaced residents.

The Bartholomew County REMC will be conducting line work in the Rocky Ford Road area of Columbus on Thursday.

The REMC says that a planned power outage has been scheduled for 8:30 a.m. that morning for approximately two hours, affecting 700 REMC members in the area. Residents of Presidential Park, Sycamore Bend, Prairie Stream Estates, East Ridge Manor and Villas of Stonecrest will be among the affected residential areas. The REMC says that phone notifications will be sent to affected customers.

Officials say that the work being done must is a part of the Rocky Ford Road Improvement Project.

Police in Jackson County are on the lookout for a man pretending to be a police officer.

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Department says that, early Sunday morning, dispatch received a phone call from a woman who claimed to have been pulled over by a man in an unmarked vehicle near the Jackson/Lawrence County line. The woman told authorities that she was heading west on U.S. Highway 50 when she noticed flashing strobe lights behind her. When the woman pulled over, she said that her vehicle was approached by a man wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt with the hood pulled over his head. The woman said that the man had no uniform or badge. She added that the man identified himself as a Jackson County Police Officer and instructed her to continue down the road and pull over in a less-dangerous spot. When she continued driving, the woman called 911 and did not pull over again. Moments later, she says that the man passed her in a reddish pickup truck, heading west into Lawrence County.

Jackson County Deputies and Lawrence County authorities say that they searched for the man, but could not locate him, or his vehicle. The suspect is described as a white male with short hair, skinny face and “buggy” eyes.

Anyone with information on who this man might be is asked to contact the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department. Tips and information can be left anonymously.