COVINGTON, Ind. — The Fountain County Commissioners don’t believe they owe Watermark Engineered Product Sales of Noblesville any more for the parts for the new lift station at the ambulance building on the east side of U.S. Route 41.

Commissioner Don Hesler said Monday night that the county should stand by its original payment.

“The material they sent had to be modified, and they agreed to pay the sub-contractors for that work,” Hesler said. “We are not going to pay them any more money.”

Brad Boyer of Watermark complained at the Feb. 4 meeting that they were not paid enough.

“I expected charges of $3,000 to $4,000,” he said. “We got a check for $38,000.”

The total amount originally was $53,000 before any deductions.

In other business, commissioners:

• Hired Malden “Alan” Jones as the new highway superintendent. He replaces Rusty Peevler, who was not retained when appointments were made in January.

The commissioners received seven or eight applications, but Jones was the only one interviewed in an executive session prior to Monday night’s meeting.

Jones has worked with the highway department since October 2000.

• Heard concerns by Covington resident Linda McGurk about trash on county roads.

“Is there a pickup procedure?” she said. She asked if persons in the Community Corrections could assist this situation.

“We would be happy to help,” McGurk said of a small group of residents. “But we don’t have a lot of manpower.”

• Referred McGurk to the Solid Waste Board concerning the recycling of batteries and fluorescent lights.
• Approved an invoice of $24,744 from the town of Veedersburg for the sewage lift station at the new ambulance building. Veedersburg will reimburse the money to the county when industry locates on the adjacent land.
• Named Hesler as a trustee for the employee benefit trust fund. The council will appoint a member along with the auditor and the payroll clerk.
• Learned that three of the Emergency Medical Services personnel have passed the paramedics exam.
• Appointed Rodger Foster to the Alcoholic and Beverage Commission.

West Lebanon, Ind.

Council signs agreement

The town council signed an agreement with the Kankakee-Iroquois Regional Planning Commission for the water grant for the new water line system.

In other business, councilmen:

• Purchased a new computer and setup for the town hall from RahmTech of Veedersburg for $1,400.
• Looked at an ordinance on who is responsible for trees — the individual or the town.

What’s next

The Fountain County Commissioners will meet at 8:30 a.m. EST March 4 at the courthouse.