Dearborn County register
Meet San ta!
TONIGHT December 12
• 6-8 pm
US50 • Greendale •
812-53
at Haag For7-d 3000
theREGISTER thedcregister.com
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2013
WINTER WONDERLAND ON PARADE
187TH YEAR
Criminal code, tax changes, more on legislators’ minds By Denise Freitag Burdette Assistant Editor
newsroom@registerpublications.com
Personal property tax, criminal code reform, soil productivity factor, state funding shortfalls and riverboat revenue were some of the topics discussed during the Dearborn County Chamber of Commerce pre-legislative luncheon Tuesday, Dec. 10, at Hollywood Casino, Lawrenceburg. State Rep. Jud McMillin, R-Brookville, State Rep. Randy Frye, R-Greensburg, and State Sen. Johnny Nugent, R-Lawrenceburg, all spoke during the luncheon along with a representative from the law firm of Lewis & Kappes, Indianapolis. McMillin was the first to speak, addressing some of the
PHOTOS BY CHUCK FOLOP
Above: The Lawrenceburg Fire Department Color Guard leads the Lawrenceburg Main Street Winter Wonderland parade down Walnut Street Saturday afternoon, Dec. 7. Below: Santa and Mrs. Claus are at the end of the parade riding in Lawrenceburg vintage 1940 Seagrave Pumper, driven by Zach Powell.
Venture Crew 604 based at Hamline Chapel-United Methodist Church, Lawrenceburg, has a rugged parade float. Crew members keep warm with a fire, however.
Above: Liberty Tax Service hands out foam crowns. It was one of several businesses participating in the parade. United Community Bank’s float featured a toy box and toys that came to “life.” Right: Youngsters enjoyed seeing their names carved into ice. For more Winter Wonderland events in Lawrenceburg check thedcregister.com or thinklawrenceburg.com. Aurora also has plenty of fun planned during Miracle on Main. See more on Page 5A.
I N S ID E TODAY COMMUNITY...............6-7B OPINION...................... 6 A SPORTS................1-3B, 8B
WEATHERforecast
Today: High: 25 Low: 12 Fri: High: 37 Low: 26
SEE DEALER FOR DETAILS! www.mywarrantyforever.com Lifetime Powertrain Warranty included with virtually every New/Used purchase*
www.hirlingerchevrolet.com • 800-964-8336 New W. Harrison I-74 Exit 169 • Pre Owned Harrison I-74 Exit 3 1. All rebates, in lieu of any special financing. 2. Must show proof of current ownership and trade a 1999 or newer vehicle. 3. Covers only scheduled oil changes with filter & tire rotations according to your new vehicle’s recommended maintenance schedule for up to 2 yrs or 24,000 miles, whichever comes first. Does not include air filters. Max of 4 service events. Excludes Silverado 2500 & 3500 vehicles. See dealer for details. Take delivery by 1/02/14.
legislation he hopes to introduce successfully during the 10-week short session, slated to begin Monday, Jan. 6, at the Statehouse in Indianapolis. The short session is held every other year. The long session is held when the biennial state budget is created. McMillin said he will be working on criminal code reform. He wants to bring proportionality back to criminal sentences, he said. Everyone wants to put away people who are a danger to society. But some people are just being warehoused which is costly to taxpayers, he said. The way the number of people is growing in the prisons something has to be done or the state will have to build another prison, he said.
See CODE, Page 6A
Aurora utility board gets council meeting preview; red paper for EMS fee An ice sculpture also serves as a ring toss. Unlike in previous years, the sculptures are still frozen solid and on East High Street.
© REGISTER PUBLICATIONS, 2013
ISSUE NO. 50 $1
CONTACT REGISTER PUBLICATIONS News..........................................(812) 537-0063 Classified..................................(812) 537-0063 Sports........................................(812) 537-0063
$750 $2,000 $1,500
$5,250
By Chandra L. Mattingly Staff Reporter
cmattingly@registerpublications.com
Much of what the Aurora Utility Board discussed at its December meeting was a preview of agenda items for city council's 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 16, meeting at city hall, Third and Main streets. Since the utility board consists of council members, that's probably not surprising. But the board also approved the purchase of a “giant shop vacuum” for around $45,000; gave utility superintendent Randy Turner discretion on wording a letter to utility customers about a new optional fee for emergency medical service; and postponed a decision on whether to “buy back” utility employees' vacation time. Turner, who also is Aurora clerk-treasurer, said he will bring a request for an an additional appropriation to city council Dec. 16. If approved, the $530,199 appropriation will include $50,000 for roads and streets, $65,000 for work on Lincoln and Winter streets, $60,619 for the new water line placed under Hogan Creek to service the Hanover area, $154,580 for water line work on Hanover Avenue, and $200,000 toward garbage pickup. Most of the roads and streets money will cover what the city spent repairing Fifth and Main streets during and after their use as a detour during the first phase of the state highway project on Ind. 56 downtown, said Turner. Turning to vehicles, Turner said the city's budget includes a $50,000 line item for a new car for the mayor. “He didn't want to get one; he took one of the old police Durangos,” said Turner. “We're going to use the city money for a police car and a salt truck.” He explained he plans to seek an encumbrance of the mayor's car funds at the Dec. 16 council meeting to use for a 2014 police car after Auro-
#9385
ra Police Chief Bryan Fields gets a quote. The department has been getting one new car each year and retiring its oldest one. The city also might use some of that money toward a truck for plowing, as the 1998 Dodge plow truck has frontend problems, said Turner. Meanwhile, street supervisor Debbie Peters will apply for a grant from the Rising Sun Regional Foundation in January for a tractor with a tiller and broom, said Turner. Zimmer Tractor bid $32,600 to supply the tractor; Booth Machine bid $34,800. If the grant is awarded and a tractor purchased, it will be used to clean the Aurora portions of Dearborn Trails, both at Lesko Park and east from Manchester Landing, as well as for other work in the parks.
'Giant shop vac'
In related utility business, Turner told the board utility employee Kevin Gerke, who also is a utilities board member, recommended purchasing a vacuum excavator. Dillsboro bought one in 2002 and used it to dig a sewer out for Aurora near Burger King on U.S. 50, said Turner. Its use allowed the city to access its line under the highway without tearing up the road, said Aurora City Attorney Jeff Stratman. “It's like a giant shop vac. … It has a grinder that grinds the soil and the rock,” said Turner. It can be used to find buried cables and lines and to pump out clogged sewer lines. “There's a million and one uses for it,” said Gerke. The machine would pay for itself within a few years. Turner said the city could purchase one for around $45,000. Councilman and board chairman John Borgman asked how often it would be used and Gerke replied “often.” It could be used for line work in people's yards rather than the little excavator the city now uses, which tears up people's yards.
See PREVIEW, Page 6A