Sheriff reports equipment upgrades; resident raises safety concerns over backyard shooting; stormwater grant funding uncertain

The Rush County sheriff's office reported several operational updates to the commissioners: an inmate was transported to St. Vincent's and returned to custody; three new county vehicles equipped for 2025 were placed into service; deputies apprehended a suspect identified in the transcript as Richard King; and staff recommended pursuing a 9-1-1 equipment support contract (discussed term lengths of three versus five years).

Sheriff's staff described a state plan to add 800 MHz infrastructure that uses site-trunking and noted the county may need to install a directional antenna pointing at Shelby County towers so dispatch can hear officers if the local tower goes down. The sheriff also warned the board of a temporary closure in the south end of the county parking lot for unloading a storage trailer on June 4.

During public comment, resident Lynn Winkle reported repeated backyard shooting near 1100 North and said the backstops used by neighbors are inadequate and sound like automatic fire. The sheriff said deputies had visited the residences, asked the complainant to call when shooting occurs, noted permits to shoot may exist, and committed to further investigation. The transcript records that complaints about shooting in that area have been made to the department as far back as 2009.

Separately, county staff updated the board on a stormwater grant. The BRIC program funding had been reallocated and state flood-assistance funding for 2025 has not been approved; staff are exploring alternate programs and possible inclusion in a statewide disaster declaration referenced in the transcript as submitted by 'Governor Braun'. Staff warned that current match expectations could be roughly 75.5%, and final program details may not be known until later in the federal budget cycle.