Pubdate: Wed, 03 Jan 2007 Source: Linton Daily Citizen (IN) Copyright: 2007 Linton Daily Citizen. Contact: http://www.dailycitizen.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3277 Author: Nick Schneider, Assignments Editor Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) 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. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman