Skup begins fighting crime

Sheriff Randy Retter played tug-of-war with one of Wayne County’s newest crime fighters, and Skup kept a firm grip on his toy ball.

Skup and Deputy Tyler Greene are the county’s newest K-9 team, having completed their training Feb. 21 at Ultimate Canine. So far, there haven’t been any big drug busts, but Skup has assisted with a few searches and has indicated the presence of a narcotics odor in a few vehicles.

“We’re very pleased with what he’s doing,” Greene said.

Greene and Skup visited Wayne County’s commissioners during their March 26 meeting. Commissioners allocated opioid settlement money for Skup’s purchase, training and equipment, which cost nearly $30,000.

Skup was a finalist for a special military unit before Greene chose him as a partner. They were trained in narcotics, tracking and apprehension, with Skup honored as the best tracker among his 10-dog training class.

Retter said that Skup impressed the trainers at Ultimate Canine and that Skup and Greene, who came to the sheriff’s department two years ago from Centerville Police Department, are doing a fantastic job. They give the sheriff’s department two K-9 teams, replacing Barry and handler Deputy Matt Smarrelli, who served Cambridge City Police Department before joining the sheriff’s department.

It’s possible the sheriff’s department could add a third K-9 team, Retter said, but K-9 teams throughout the county cooperate well. If the department does not have a K-9 available, one from another department will respond.

Food and beverage tax

Jeff Plasterer, president of the commissioners, provided an update on a Senate bill that would enable Richmond to enact a food and beverage tax.

Richmond’s request began with a House bill, but it was added to Senate Bill 304 which also includes Marion and Shipshewana’s requests. The Senate bill added a provision that repeals a 2005 act permitting Wayne County and its communities to enact a food and beverage tax. The county does not want that option taken away while a countywide planning process is underway and the legislature is amending the property tax system.

On March 25, Plasterer visited Indianapolis to visit legislators and attempt to keep Wayne County’s and county towns’ options open. Plasterer said an amendment was developed, but he later learned that it included only the county’s towns as able to enact a tax, not the county. He said he has continued discussions with Sen. Jeff Raatz to have the committee put Wayne County into the amendment.

Other items

• Commissioners agreed to extend a farmland lease with James McWhinney for one year. McWhinney will pay $3,550 to farm about 25 acres north of the Wayne County Fairgrounds.
• Matthew Cain, director of Wayne County Emergency Management Agency, received commissioner approval to apply for a $3,000 grant from the Duke Energy Foundation to purchase weather radios. EMA distributes radios to residents most vulnerable to severe storms.
• The speed limit along Webster Road east of Flatley Road to Doe Meadow Path will be reduced to 45 miles per hour for the new Deer Trace Subdivision. The reduction is necessary to provide adequate sight distance for residents exiting Doe Meadow Path, the subdivision’s western road.