A new try to get bids for building the Ringgold County Jail was approved this week by the Ringgold county board of supervisors.

The supervisors are taking bids on lease-purchase proposals for the jail using the last plans from the Durant architects for the facility.

The bids are to be returned by Thursday, July 30, at 9 a.m. at the Ringgold county auditor’s office.

Plans will be available at the auditor’s office or through online services from the architects for the project.

After studying the matter for a number of months, the supervisors decided to seek new bids for the project using the present plans and building site along Highway 2 and 169 at the site of the old Clinton Motel.

Mike Sobotka, who was at the supervisors meeting when the decision was made, said he hoped that there would be competitive pricing on the jail project this time around.

The decision came after a conference call was held with Bob Josten, who the county has worked with for funding of the project Tuesday morning.

The board also approved a new Ringgold County Security Plan Tuesday morning, which sets out security for the courthouse.

In the plan, three new cameras for surveillance of the courthouse will be put in place -- one to replace a camera at the west door of the courthouse, one in the lobby on the first floor and one in the lobby on the second floor.

These cameras will feed color images to the new security monitor in the sheriff’s department. In low light situations, the cameras revert to black and white images.

The security plan also no longer allows for keys to be given to the public for use of courthouse facilities after hours.

Everyone will have to check in through the west door of the courthouse, where dispatchers can allow entrance.

In other action Tuesday, the supervisors renewed contracts for Lizzie Hanawalt and Vic Lilienthal  with the secondary roads department.

A fireworks permit for the Ringgold County Fair was also approved by the supervisors.

Action June 18

In action at the June 18 meeting, the board spent time on county roads, security plan and fireworks issues.

The board met with Dan Coulson, county engineer, and Dave Hightshoe, secondary roads foreman to talk about various issues.

These included bridge updates, pipe work road patching and employees concerns. John Moberg and Dave Gourley were also present for the meeting. Later Lizzie Hanawalt also met with the board to discuss employee concerns.

Fireworks permits were approved for two people seeking them. Bill Goodale and Terry Munyon were approved for fireworks permits for Saturday, July 4.

The board also attended the courthouse security plan meeting held Thursday afternoon and accepted the treasurer’s monthly cash report as presented by treasurer Beverly Noble.

The supervisors are taking bids on lease-purchase proposals for the jail using the last plans from the Durant architects for the facility.

The bids are to be returned by Thursday, July 30, at 9 a.m. at the Ringgold county auditor’s office.

Plans will be available at the auditor’s office or through online services from the architects for the project.

After studying the matter for a number of months, the supervisors decided to seek new bids for the project using the present plans and building site along Highway 2 and 169 at the site of the old Clinton Motel.

Mike Sobotka, who was at the supervisors meeting when the decision was made, said he hoped that there would be competitive pricing on the jail project this time around.

The decision came after a conference call was held with Bob Josten, who the county has worked with for funding of the project Tuesday morning.

The board also approved a new Ringgold County Security Plan Tuesday morning, which sets out security for the courthouse.

In the plan, three new cameras for surveillance of the courthouse will be put in place -- one to replace a camera at the west door of the courthouse, one in the lobby on the first floor and one in the lobby on the second floor.

These cameras will feed color images to the new security monitor in the sheriff’s department. In low light situations, the cameras revert to black and white images.

The security plan also no longer allows for keys to be given to the public for use of courthouse facilities after hours.

Everyone will have to check in through the west door of the courthouse, where dispatchers can allow entrance.

In other action Tuesday, the supervisors renewed contracts for Lizzie Hanawalt and Vic Lilienthal  with the secondary roads department.

A fireworks permit for the Ringgold County Fair was also approved by the supervisors.

Action June 18

In action at the June 18 meeting, the board spent time on county roads, security plan and fireworks issues.

The board met with Dan Coulson, county engineer, and Dave Hightshoe, secondary roads foreman to talk about various issues.

These included bridge updates, pipe work road patching and employees concerns. John Moberg and Dave Gourley were also present for the meeting. Later Lizzie Hanawalt also met with the board to discuss employee concerns.

Fireworks permits were approved for two people seeking them. Bill Goodale and Terry Munyon were approved for fireworks permits for Saturday, July 4.

                  The board also attended the courthouse security plan meeting held Thursday afternoon and accepted the treasurer’s monthly cash report as presented by treasurer Beverly Noble.

School building project items, financing, insurance and auditing decisions were all part of the action for the Mount Ayr Community school board’s long agenda for its meeting Monday night.

An update was received on the building project, carpet and installation bids approved, financing for more bonds to pay for the project set up and bad news received on electrical useage at the elementary school.

A presentation from Indiana Insurance on school insurance,  discussion on a hospital sewer line across school property, approval of the line item budget and technology purchases for the coming school year made, and auditing firms contracts were topics for the board as well. In addition a public hearing was held on the start date for the new school year and the report on school finances made.

School building update

Steve Bennett and Nick Bruck  from Construction Services Inc. gave the board an update on the building project at the meeting.

The crane has been moved to the elementary building and precast panels for the walls of the building there were to begin arriving Tuesday, June 9.

The construction is behind at the high school, where steel joist and roof decking installation has been slowed by the weather.

Roofing materials have been delivered there and work will get into gear on roofing the high school addition.

The floor area at the high school project will need to dry out before final preparation work can begin to pour the slap floors there, it was noted.

Drilling of the well field for the ground water heat pump system is nearing completion, it was noted.

Demolition of the remodeling areas of the elementary school was to begin this week as well.

Bruck said that the project was about two weeks behind because of weather issues and changes found to be needed at the elementary school.

Tying into the existing steel at the elementary building is another issue that will be handled in the next few days.

The board was also asked to pay two change orders -- a $1,533 increase for Camblin Mechanical and a $478 increase for the Jordison firm. The change orders were approved.

More discussion was planned before the latest payment request on the project was approved, it was noted.

Building project financing

Several items needed to set up bidding for bonds to help pay the rest of the cost of the building project were handled at the meeting as well.

The board approved a financial advisory agreement with Piper Jaffrey  to serve as the contracting agent for services for the bond sale.

The board also approved a bid invitation letter, which allows Piper Jaffrey to be one of the bidders for the bonds.

Some $2,885,000 in bonds for an infrastructure loan will be sold with the bonds to be paid off with funds from the school district’s share of the statewide one-cent sales tax funds.

A third item from the Ahlers and Cooney, P.C. law firm working with the bonding officially offered the bonds for sale, allowed electronic bidding for the bonds, and set the opening of bids for noon on Monday, July 13.

The bids will be discussed at the July 13 school board meeting when Matt Gillespie will be on hand.

The bonds have received an A rating, it was noted, after a presentation to a firm from Chicago.

Carpet bidding and installation

Bids were opened and decisions made on carpet and installation for the areas of the current elementary school building that were damaged by the water from heavy rains this spring.

After the low bidder withdrew after discovering a problem in his bid, the carpet bid was awarded to Offsprings of Mount Ayr for a price of $47,820. This price was lower than one from the low bidder on the new school project.

The low bidder for installation of the carpet was Holmes Floor Covering of Kellerton with a bid of $10,275.

It is hoped that the carpet can by received and installed by the middle of July, Reiter told the board.

The carpeting will match the carpet patterns in the new school building.

Electrical service bad news

When the new transformer was put in at the elementary school building site, Alliant Energy found that it had an electric meter that was not functioning correctly and had been under reporting the electrical usage at the building.

Over the last three years it is estimated that the school paid $80,785 less than it should have for the electricity used, Alliant officials have told the school. This means the meter that Alliant installed was only charging one fourth of the energy actually used.

According to the electric tariff, the school may be liable for six months to a year of the amount of energy that was not correctly metered.

An Alliant official will attend a future meeting to discuss the issue with the school board.

Superintendent Reiter noted that the company indicated that the payment could be handled over several months instead of being done all at once.

Remember Lucky Lanes?

That was the name of the bowling alley in Mount Ayr many years ago and that’s the name that will be resurrected along with the bowling alley on the square in Mount Ayr.

A non-profit group, the Ringgold County Bowling Association, has been organized and is accepting tax-deductible donations for the costs to purchase the property, fix up the building and get the bowling lanes back in operation.

The bowling alley in Mount Ayr has been closed for two years and backers of the project feel that the facility is something that will add to the recreational offerings of the community.

It is estimated that it will cost between $90,000 and $1100,000 to get the building purchased, put on a new roof, renovate  the interior and upgrade the lane and equipment, providing automatic scoring as part of the project.

Once the initial money is raised to get the facility back in action, funds will be raised to upgrade the exterior and an endowment fund will be started to provide some operational funds for the facility each year for a total cost of $150,000 to $180,000.

The group hopes to get the facility back in operation by September in time for bowling leagues.

A meeting was held Thursday, May 28, to talk about fall leagues and future plans for the renovations of the bowling lanes. More than 20 people attended to learn more about the project.

It is hoped to get mens, womens and couples bowling leagues organized. A volunteer has also been found to help organize youth bowling leagues as well. Getting the bowling facility open will also mean that the Mount Ayr Community school bowling teams may continue. A vote to drop the program unless the local bowling alley is reopened was made at a recent school board meeting.

It is hoped to have the building open for leagues, open bowling and parties. Mount Ayr Community physical education classes will also use the facility.

The group has secured a loan from the revolving loan fund set up to help with renovations to buildings around the Mount Ayr square, but this will need to be paid back. Several members of the group have also already helped get the building bought.

As well as seeking donations from the public toward the project, the group is applying for a number of grants to help the project move forward.

It is hoped that as the project continues a manager can be hired to run the facility.

People can help with the project in many ways.

Anyone can become a member of the Ringgold County Bowling Association for a $5 fee.

Support of fund-raisers by the group will also be appreciated. A raffle will be held and a half a beef processed and ready to go, donated by Craig and Susan Winemiller, given way in a drawing at Ayr Days.

Larger tax deductible contributions made out to the Ringgold County Community Foundation can be given to Jim Pedersen or Steve Fetty in Mount Ayr. Donations of $100 or more will receive a brick with the donors names engraved in the sidewalk in front of the bowling alley.

Most of the work on renovating the interior of the building will be by volunteers, so people who can help in this way are also being sought. Volunteers to help with the building renovation can contact Rick Fox.

Old carpet will be removed and replaced, the building interior repainted and other work done to upgrade the facility.

Using the bowling alley once it is reopened by joining leagues or coming for open bowling will also be needed.

With a good deal of community support, the area will be “lucky” to have Lucky Lanes reopened as the bowling alley on the Mount Ayr square.