COMMISSIONERS SUPPORT 'METH IS DEATH WEEK' IN COUNTY

The Greene County Commissioners went on record Tuesday morning
supporting a county-wide methamphetamine public awareness campaign
planned later this month.

The commissioners approved and signed a resolution of support for
what is being billed as "Meth is Death Week" in Greene County.

The campaign is sponsored by Greene United Against Meth (GUAM), a
pro-active grassroots organization that has been involved in
educating the public about the perils of methamphetamine-use in the
community for more than three years.

The campaign is set for Jan. 21-27.

"It presents a more united, county-wide effort," GUAM member and one
of the campaign organizers Nancy Cummings said commenting on the
importance of getting the commissioners to approve the resolution.

Cummings, who presented the resolution for the commissioners to
consider, said the event organizers hope raising the awareness of
the problem county-wide will help provide solutions to help curtail
the local effects of this highly addictive illegal drug that is
manufactured in clandestine make shift labs or shipped in to the
communities for organized crime elements.

Commissioner Kathy Crouch made the motion to approve the
proclamation and said, "I make the motion that the Board of
Commissioners accept and validate the 'Meth is Death Week' in Greene
County to be observed Jan. 21 through Jan. 27, 2007."

County law enforcement officials have estimated that more than 70
percent of the inmates housed in the county jail during an average
month are there because of meth-related use, manufacturing and
distribution or associated crimes committed to provide money to
sustain their meth use habits.

Highlighting the week will be a community vigil at 6:30 p.m. on Jan.
22 at the Roy Clark Community Building in Linton.

The tentative agenda calls for a short welcome, reading of a
declaration, speakers (five minutes each: DCS, Cheri Slover; Greene
County Sheriff Department Terry Pierce; and a demonstration by the
Linton Police Department's K-9 Officer Chad Crynes and his drug dog
Chico; songs; a moment of silence; and a responsive reading/prayer
and closing).

In other matters, the commissioners awarded annual bids in all but
the fuel category. All of the bids submitted were accepted and it
will be up to the discretion of department heads to select the best
and most responsive bid product on the day of the purchase.

The bid from White River Cooperative in the fuel category was
questioned by commissioner Crouch because it did not list an
"escalator price" - like the bid from Hasler Oil of Bloomfield.
Without knowing the escalator a true bid comparison was not
possible. White River Cooperative will be asked to clarify its bid
and will be considered at the next meeting.

Hasler Oil was awarded its bid to provide fuel products for county vehicles.

Other bids were approved for BTI Stones Sales, of Norman - stone and
rock; Lincoln Park Stone, Inc., of Terre Haute - stone and rock;
Hoosier Sand and Gravel Company, of Bloomfield - stone and rock;
Rogers Group, Inc. of Bloomington - stone, rock and asphalt
products; Asphalt Materials, Inc. of Clear Creek, asphalt products;
Dave O'Mara Contractor, Inc., of North Vernon - asphalt products;
Marathon Petroleum LLC, of Louisville - oil products; American
Timber Bridge, of Vicksburg - bridge materials; Wholesale
Drainage Supply, Inc. of Shelburn - pipe and culvert
products; Metal Culverts, Inc. of Jefferson City, Mo. - structural
plate pipes and pipe arches; Vincennes Industrial Supply, Inc. of
Vincennes - piping products; St. Regis Culvert of Indianapolis -
piping products; and CPI Supply of Bedford - culvert and pipe products.

The commissioners also heard from Hashtown resident Wayne Robinson
who wanted to know if an alley near property he recently purchased
has ever been closed. Robinson said he wants the alley open so he
can have access to his property. He also pointed out there is
a utility pole erected in the alleyway where he wants to construct
a garage. Robinson requested that the pole be moved if the alley has
not been officially closed by the county commissioners.

Commissioner's attorney Marilyn Hartman pointed out that it has been
the "past practice" of the commissioners to ask property owners in
similar circumstances to conduct the research themselves, rather
than her office do it.

Adjacent property owner Jamie Corbin also attended the meeting and
advised the commissioners that she has asked for a "stake survey" to
be done to determine the property boundaries and the location of the
alley. Corbin noted that she has a question of where the alley is
located - but does not question whether the alley is open or closed.

Corbin said he expects to have the survey completed in a matter of days.

No formal action was taken on the matter by the commissioners.

In other matters, the commissioners:

- - Tabled action on the purchase of blinds or tinting for the windows
of the new courthouse addition.

- - Learned from attorney Hartman that a meeting on E-911 readdressing
will be at 2 p.m. today with Greene County Sheriff Terry Pierce,
Greene County Sheriff's Department E-911 Coordinator Karen Oliphant,
Commissioner Larry Hasler, representatives from WTH, Inc. of
Indianapolis and Hartman. The purpose of the meeting is to ascertain
what work on the re-addressing project can be completed by local
officials and what work will have to be contracted.

- - Appointed Jane Williams as a member of the Stafford Township
Advisory Board. Last month, Elmer Hostetter was appointed to that
position, however, he has declined the appointment, according to
commissioner Hasler.