Bartholomew County Emergency Management says that if you smell natural gas on the west side of town, don’t be alarmed. Indiana Natural Gas is servicing its station at West State Road 46 and Tipton Lakes Boulevard and you can expect the gas odor to be lingering in the area.

Bartholomew County has adopted a proposed plan for $16.2 million in spending from the American Rescue Plan. County Council voted last night to approve the county commissioners spending outline for the money.

Commissioners explained that the plan was flexible and subject to revision, but promised to keep the council involved in changes to the plan and how the money should be allocated.

However, there was disagreement from Councilman Greg Duke, over a line item for local not-for-profit groups. Commissioners outlined spending $1 million to offset revenue lost during the pandemic to local not-for-profit groups.

Duke said he opposed the idea that the county would be picking winners and losers amongst charity groups by awarding them the recovery money.

Duke also took issue with a penciled in note on the plan calling for $307 thousand dollars in other expenses and premium pay for some county employees, saying the council should not be approving such an open-ended plan.

Ultimately, all the council members voted in favor of the spending plan.

The Bartholomew County Sheriff is urging those with addictions to get help before they overdose and possibly die.

The sheriff’s department reports that deputies found an unconscious man in the back of a vehicle Sunday and both methamphetamine and a syringe were in plain view. But after being revived, the man seemed more concerned about the drugs than the fact that he was actually alive, according to police.

Sheriff Matt Myers says that the community has spent a lot of money to help people get off drugs, including an in-jail treatment program at the Bartholomew County Jail. But he said the bottom line is that it is an individual’s decision to get the help that they need.

He also suggested that family members and friends talk to those who are addicted and need help.

You can get information about treatment options by calling the ASAP Hub at 812-418-8705.

Downtown Columbus parking rules will be back in effect on Monday.

The  city’s Board of Public Works and Safety unanimously approved the reinstatement of the rules Tuesday morning.

The rules have been suspended during the pandemic, but the city’s recently formed parking commission last week voted to put the rules back into place. The commission’s recommendation went to the board of works for final approval.

Councilman and parking commission president Tom Dell says this would include the enforcement and ticketing for violations of the three-hour parking limit in prime downtown parking spots. Every vehicle will have a once-a-year freebie ticket as a warning, but fines would begin to accumulate after that, Dell said.

The city will also be working to educate drivers that the rules are back in effect.

The deadline is coming up next week to make nominations for this year’s Jack Cramer Ideals of Athletic Competition Award, according to the Columbus Parks and Recreation Department.

The award is presented annually to a local male and a female athlete, coach or sports organizer. All nominees must live or work in Bartholomew County and be a senior in high school or adult.

The award is in honor of Cramer, a former local athlete who died in 1978 at the age of 33.

You can find information and nomination forms at Donner Center or at www.columbusparksandrec.com The deadline to enter is June 18th.

Columbus parking rules in the downtown area would be returning to the pre-pandemic normal under a proposal from the city’s recently formed parking commission.

The commission recommended last week that the rules go back into effect for downtown parking. Councilman Tom Dell said that would include the enforcement and ticketing for violations of the three-hour parking limit in prime downtown parking spots.

Commission members said that in the absence of enforcement, employees and business owners, rather than customers, have been taking up much of the available downtown parking.

The commission’s recommendation is set to be heard by the Board of Public Works and Safety when it meets this morning.

Bartholomew County sheriff’s deputies are getting a new police dog to replace Diesel, who died in the line of duty while chasing a suspect last year.

Diesel was chasing a suspect near Interstate 65 in November when he was hit and killed by a vehicle.

Capt. Dave Steinkoenig with the sheriff’s department explains that the cost of more than $16,500 is mostly coming from donations.

Steinkoenig said that the cost includes the dog himself, training and basic supplies for the new dog.

County Commissioners approved the expenditure retroactively at their Monday meeting.

Photo: Diesel receiving his badge at a ceremony in December 2016 at the Bartholomew County Commissioners meeting.

Bartholomew County Commissioners are recommending that county employees who continued work in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic be eligible for bonus pay from the American Rescue Plan.

The county is slated to get just over $16.2 million dollars under the plan adopted earlier this year by the federal government. Among the strings required by the feds is that a plan be developed locally on how the money will be spent. Commissioner Tony London explains:

On Monday, county commissioners, working with county auditor Pia O’Connor came up with their plan that will go to the County Council for consideration.

The largest allocation under the plan is $4 million dollars for rural broadband improvements. O’Connor pointed out that those improvements are one of a few areas specifically suggested under the law and is meant to patch the weaknesses in the broadband network found during the pandemic, when residents resorted to working and attending school remotely. Other large commitments include $1.5 million to rural fire departments, $1.2 million to the jail heating and cooling system and $1.2 million to township assistance.

But the commissioners also opted to set aside $307 thousand dollars for employees who worked in front line roles through the pandemic. London explained that the employee bonus funds, called “premium pay,” are one of a handful of items laid out specifically in the federal legislation.

The exact parameters of who is qualified to receive the money are still to be worked out. Commissioner President Larry Kleinhenz said that decision should be made by the County Council.

County Councilman Jorge Morales said who would qualify for the pay has been contentious in discussions so far.

County Council meets at 6 p.m. tonight at the Governmental Office Building on Third Street.

Indiana State Police detectives are investigating the death of an inmate at the Bartholomew County Jail on Sunday.

The inmate has been identified as 47-year-old Gregory A. Leonard of Columbus.

Troopers say that Leonard was found unconscious in his cell around 6 p.m. Sunday evening. He was provided medical care at the jail and then taken to Columbus Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

State police detectives were asked to lead the investigation which is the normal practice when a death happens inside a correctional facility.

His family has been notified and the investigation is ongoing.

INDOT says that a bridge project in Jackson County is being delayed. Contractors were originally going to close a State Road 135 bridge over Half Mile Creek near Vallonia in Jackson County starting today through mid August.

A new start date has not been set yet. INDOT will make an announcement when a new schedule is available.