When an emergency situation strikes Wayne County, the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office rolls out a 2004 Hurricane motor home that’s been converted to serve as a mobile command unit.
Sheriff Randy Retter said he’s lost confidence in the aging vehicle’s ability to function, so he was eager to bid on a purpose-built MCU being auctioned online by the Carmel Police Department. Retter received permission to bid on the unit from Wayne County Council and the county commissioners during their regular Oct. 2 meetings.
The next day, the sheriff’s department’s $121,500 bid won the auction. With a buyer’s premium, the cost is $136,687.50, according to Retter. He plans to transfer unused salary funds from open positions to cover $100,000, then pay the difference from his commissary fund.
The unit has a 30-foot box built onto a 2006 Freightliner chassis with less than 8,000 miles. Retter said it has “everything we would ever need” and should last a couple of decades at least.
An MCU is used for a variety of planned and unplanned situations, such as tactical, lost persons, long incidents, the 4-H Fair, Richmond’s fireworks, training exercises and as a backup 911 center. Matthew Cain, the director of the Wayne County Emergency Management Agency and Emergency Communications Center, said all five dispatchers fit in the new unit when only two or three fit into the older one.
Cain also said the MCU is available for neighboring counties when needed.
Retter also presented commissioners with an ordinance that would allow him to establish and maintain a fund for drug buys during investigations. Commissioners approved the ordinance 3-0.
The ordinance results after the dissolution of the Wayne County Drug Task Force. Retter said he thought a coalition with surrounding county sheriff’s agencies was the proper way to move forward, but his agency still cooperates with Richmond Police Department.
“We continue to investigate narcotics just as vigilantly as we always have,” he said.
CASA cooperation
Wayne County’s Court Appointed Special Advocates, which assists youth court cases, coordinates volunteers to serve Union County, as well.
The two counties are tied through a 14-year-old interlocal agreement that renews annually. Commissioners voted 3-0 to notify Union County that the agreement will not automatically renew for 2025.
Commissioner Jeff Plasterer noted that the relationship does not currently operate as written in the antiquated interlocal. He said it makes no sense entering an agreement that is not followed to the letter.
There was no immediate plan to request additional funding or change the agreement other than to update it to match current procedures. Union County contributes $4,000 toward the annual budget.
Broadband expansion
Mainstream requested commissioners submit a letter supporting their efforts to secure broadband funding from the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program. Indiana was awarded $868 million in BEAD funding.
Plasterer said Mainstream plans a $13 million project to extend broadband to unserved and underserved addresses in Western Wayne. The company is requesting $3 million from the state.
Mainstream also requested the county put in place an infrastructure development zone to assist its application.
Commissioners must make decisions by the middle of the month when Mainstream’s application is due.
Faith & Blue
Commissioners unanimously voted to permit a Faith & Blue dinner to use First Bank Expo Hall without charge Oct. 11.
The dinner brings together law enforcement, churches and pastors for fellowship. It’s a national event in its 50th year.
A version of this article appeared in the October 9 2024 print edition of the Western Wayne News.