HAYDEN J EMRAH
WZBD.com
It was a fairly light agenda for the Adams County council’s May meeting on Tuesday. While councilmember Fred Velez was absent for the meeting, the rest of the council spoke with Bi-County Services over its annual financial report, the highway department regarding paving efforts around the county, as well as a retirement of a deputy in the sheriff’s office.
First up for the council was a funding request and financial report from Tim Ramsey, President/CEO of Bi-County Services. Ramsey presented his report, stating that his agency did not require an additional appropriation of funds, as last year’s budget increase to $45,408 would still be sufficient for operating in 2025.
“Last year was a difficult year for us but things have been improving. Our staffing is better, our turnover is down, we’ve increased our wages, our occupancy rate has increased […] We are going in the right direction, we’re feeling positive, and we are financially sound,” shared Ramsey regarding the state of his agency.
He added that while Bi-County Services was still operating in a deficit of approximately $208,000, this is down from the previous year’s deficit of $633,000, showcasing that the agency is generating income. Currently, the agency supports 53 individuals in Adams County and 69 in Wells County.
Bi-county Services plays a vital role in both Adams and Wells counties, as the agency predominantly serves adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities by providing housing, education, therapy and a plethora of other resources to help their clients become more active members of their community. The agency also works in conjunction with Dream Team T-Ball and the Wells County Foundation to further advance their goals.
The council expressed their appreciation for the work Bi-County Services provides for both Adams and Wells counties, and voted unanimously to accept the report and to approve the amount requested, which will be made official upon budgeting later in the year. Ramsey thanked the council for its time and added that the Wells County council will receive the same presentation and financial request in early June.
Next up for the council were discussions with County Engineer Nate Rumschlag, who showed the council the highway department’s project to repave roads around the county, and the methods in which grant money will be received to help fund the project.
The roads which will be paved are 500 W between State Roads 218 and 124, as well as 350 E, from 700 S to 900 S. The project in total will cost around $2.2 million, in which the state, through the community crossroads grant program, will provide up to $1.5 million to help cover the costs.
Rumschlag noted that the cost of asphalt has dropped, from approximately $150/ton to $100/ton, which may help to reduce estimates for the project bids, which will be due by June 4th.
Lastly was the announcement from Sheriff Mawhorr that Deputy Larry Butler will be retiring at the end of the month. Butler has served the county for 24 years, and has played an integral role in the emergency response services of Adams County.
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