Council approves updated interlocal agreements to formalize Batesville City Court fees with neighboring towns

Batesville — The City Council voted to approve updated interlocal agreements allowing the Batesville City Court to continue handling ordinance violations and low‑level traffic infractions for neighboring towns while formalizing how fines and court costs are distributed.

City staff member Blaine told the council the updates were prompted by recent court modernization, including a new online filing system that now allows attorneys and court staff to e‑file with the Batesville City Court. “Attorneys can actually e file on to Batesville City Court now,” Blaine said, noting the modernization highlighted the need to update agreements that date to about 2018.

The agreements cover how the court allocates fines and filing fees when the Batesville court hears matters filed by residents of Oldenburg, Sunman (Sunman), and Milan. Blaine said the Batesville court is unusual locally because it holds jurisdiction across Ripley and Franklin counties and that the updated drafts aim to clarify revenue sharing and costs associated with case processing.

Council made the motion to approve the drafts for submission to the three towns; the motion was moved and seconded and carried on a voice vote. Blaine said the city will wait for feedback from each town; if any municipality proposes material changes the drafts will return to council for additional review.

The council did not record individual roll‑call votes in the transcript; the approval was taken by voice vote. The agreements were presented to the council for review so the towns can approve them and the new allocations can take effect alongside the court’s upgraded technology.

The council also noted that town attorneys — John Kellerman for Oldenburg and Sunman and Lynn Flutterman for Milan — have been circulated drafts but had not provided formal feedback by the meeting.