Courthouse fencing signals new project

Signs of another project have appeared like spring flowers around the Wayne County Courthouse.

Fencing has been erected near the courthouse’s east entrance in preparation for rebuilding the plaza leading to the entrance. Steve Higinbotham, the county administrator, updated Wayne County Council about the project during council’s April 2 meeting.

The project, which was projected to cost nearly $450,000, will add stairs and a ramp to the plaza, ensuring that it meets Americans with Disabilities Act standards. The ramp north of the doorway will be built first, ensuring access to the east entrance is maintained throughout plaza construction.

In the original plans, the east entrance was to be closed during construction, with the main entrance shifting to the courthouse’s south door. The change saves some money in the project; however, a 4-inch bed of concrete was discovered underneath the current brick plaza. Removal of that concrete offset the savings from the entrance and resulted in a change order totaling $11,038.50.

Commissioner Jeff Plasterer suggested that expense come from the general fund line item filled with money saved when American Rescue Plan Act dollars were spent on general fund expenses. Commissioners and council members must agree on which projects to use that money.

Council voted unanimously to take the $11,038.50 for the change order and another $6,657.60 to clean debris from a courthouse flue from the ARPA replacement line item. The flue must be cleaned then removed for installation of a new elevator in the courthouse.

WUR update

Plasterer explained to council actions taken during a joint meeting of the commissioners, Union County Commissioners and Wayne Union Recycling board in Liberty.

All three boards accepted the plan to distribute WUR’s assets, and Ron Cross, the county attorney, subsequently sent a letter to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management about the dissolution of WUR and the fact Wayne County opts not to be part of a solid waste district.

During the afternoon commissioners meeting, commissioners unanimously approved cutting checks to Union and Wayne counties for their respective 10% and 90% shares of WUR’s cash assets. Plasterer said the balance was $258,192.43. Wayne County’s check would not include $50,000 in a certificate of deposit that does not mature until Sept. 10.

The Wayne County money will be put into a newly created recycling fund for use on recycling endeavors. The county plans to continue WUR’s collection efforts through 2025 and is discussing the future of the county’s recycling with Richmond Sanitary District, which has expressed a desire to expand its curbside recycling program outside Richmond.

This year, tipping fees at the New Paris Pike Landfill that have financed WUR are not being collected; however, the county could reinstate them next year.

One of WUR’s projects has been assisting Seton Catholic High School with an e-waste collection. That collection will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 1 at Seton, 233 S. Fifth St., Richmond. Electronics will be collected for free, except for televisions and computer monitors, which carry a $20 charge.

Other actions

• Council approved transferring a public health nurse in the health department from a county position to a contractual position and transferred $55,703 to the proper line item to cover the cost. 
• Council also approved paying a part-time nurse from a health department grant that’s no longer active but has remaining funds; $24,500 was transferred to cover that cost.
• Wayne Township Assessor Gary Callahan had previously requested a pay increase for his chief deputy, saying the increase was overlooked when county positions received increases. Council approved the $5,924.16 cost of that pay increase.