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Brett W. Todd

Brett W. Todd has 915 articles published.

Brett W. Todd is the managing editor of Clinton County Today. Clinton County Today is a community-focused website to provide individuals of Clinton County Indiana and surrounding areas with information impacting their lives. Clinton County Today is a service of Progressive Partners of Indiana, LLC where Brett W. Todd is its managing member.

Frankfort to Prepare Replacement Plan for Street Warning Signs

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The "School Zone" sign in the photo could become one of the 3,500 street warning signs that would be replaced if the city receives a Highway Safety Improvement Program grant from the Indiana Department of Transportation. (Photo/Brett W. Todd)

FRANKFORT, Ind. (April 24, 2024) – Frankfort Street Department Superintendent Jason Forsythe is hopeful the next few months of work will result in a $1million grant to replace warning signs – stop signs, yield signs, white and yellow signs – throughout the city.

Forsythe was given approval by the Board of Works (BOW) Monday to begin the process to work with representatives from Butler Fairman & Seufert (BF&S) to inventory all those signs and develop a cost associated for their replacement – something that presents a challenge as the project future start date could be four to five years out and the need to project what signs might cost in the future.

The grant is made available by the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) via the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP). The grant is 90-percent, 10-percent – leaving the city to budget for the 10-percent.

“This is a long process,” said Chris Milne, GIS Manager for BF&S.

Milne noted the application is due by the end of November 2024, early December 2024 with announcement of the awarded grants in Spring 2025 with programs beginning four to five years out.

Milne provided the city has “a significant amount of signs.”

After the meeting, Forsythe shared he thought the number of signs that would be included in this grant to approach 3,500 with a sign replacement cost of $1million to 1.2million with the city needing to budget approximately $100,000 for its contribution after the grant is applied.

The completed grant application will also include BF&S developing a web-based sign management asset tool allowing the city to track replacement of signs moving forward regardless of the grant being awarded.

The BOW unanimously approved moving forward with the grant application and web tool with BF&S with an upfront cost not to exceed $10,000 which will be billed hourly.

Frankfort Summer Concert Series Dates and Sapphire Bay Opening Announced

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Frankfort Summer Concert Series Dates and Sapphire Bay Opening Announced

FRANKFORT, Ind. (April 22, 2024) – The City of Frankfort has announced its full list of free concerts and events for all ages activities for the Summer 2024 season – kicking off the concert series on May 9th.

The Frankfort Parks Department has scheduled Memorial Day weekend for the opening of the Prairie Creek Park Splash Pad, the TPA Park Aviary & Petting Zoo, and Sapphire Bay at TPA Park.

Summer Events include:
• 5/09/24 Downtown TuneNight – Grace Scott Band
• 5/11/24 Summer Concert – Will Cullen followed by Cadillac Groove
• 5/17/24 Summer Concert – Josh Melton
• 5/18/24 Circle Park Bicycle Race @ Circle Park
• 6/07/24 Movie in the Park – Elemental
• 6/13/24 Downtown TuneNight – Nauti Yachtys
• 6/22/24 Summer Concert – Gem City Driffers followed by Gone 2 Paradise
• 6/29/24 Summer Concert – 90 Proof followed by Cook & Belle
• 7/04/24 July 4th Festival at TPA Park with Midnight Redeye and Levi Riggs
• 7/12/24 Movie in the Park – Wonka
• 8/02/24 Movie in the Park – Aquaman 2
• 8/08/24 Downtown TuneNight – Feudin’ Hillbillies
• 8/17/24 Summer Concert – Johnny Russler & the Beach Bums
• 8/24/24 Summer Concert – City Lites followed by Southern Accents
• 9/12/2 Downtown TuneNight – Moon Cats
• 9/13/2 Movie in the Park – Coco
• 9/21/24 RAICES Festival – Experience Latin America
• 9/28/24 Summer Concert – Oh Yes followed by Malachi Jaggers

Judge: “Prosecutorial immunity is absolute,” “even if… acts are alleged to have been done maliciously or corruptly”

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Clinton County Prosecutor Anthony Sommer and Clinton County Sheriff Richard Kelly
Clinton County Indian Prosecutor Anthony Sommer (L) and Clinton County Indiana Sheriff Richard Kelly pose for a photo after the December 2018 swearing-in of elected officials held inside the Clinton County Indiana courthouse. (Photo/Facebook)

FRANKFORT, Ind. (April 20, 2024) – A Special Judge overseeing a lawsuit brought by Richard Kelly and his wife Ashley against Anthony Sommer – in which the Kellys allege, in-part, Clinton County Prosecutor Sommer provided “falsified documents” to a journalist “with intent to defame them” – has been dismissed.

Special Judge Bruce Petit reasoned Prosecutor Sommer – through “well established” “case law in Indiana” – “enjoys absolute immunity from civil liability” as the “actions taken by (Sommer), whether corrupt or not, directly fall within the function of the Office of Prosecuting Attorney.”

The seven-page order handed down by Judge Petit Friday afternoon details the Kellys’ suit, that “due to a political falling out between the parties, (Sommer) initiated criminal investigation of (the Kellys) by reporting the operation of the Jail commissary to the Indiana State Board of Accounts (SBOA)” which garnered media coverage.

One such media report on October 7, 2021, posted to “RadioMom 91.1/91.5”, drew the attention of Sommer who asked for a meeting with the journalist of the article.

The Kellys allege during an October 8, 2021, meeting between Sommer and the journalist,
“(Sommer) took issue with the facts as reported in (the journalist’s) article and insisted that (the journalist) revise his article to include additional income earned by Mrs. Kelly.”

Also during the meeting, “(Sommer) provided a document to (the journalist) which (Sommer) represented as a Jail Commissary Report prepared by the Clinton County Jail and as a result, were documents created by (the Kellys).

“This report alleged to contain accounting and mathematical data showing the transfer and disappearance of millions of dollars. It is (the Kellys’) contention that this report was falsified, (Sommer) knew it was a false report and provided it to (the journalist) in an attempt to harm the reputation of the (Kellys).”

Judge Petit called the alleged “falsified documents” the “most significant issue in the case.”

Adding, “(The Kellys) claim these documents contained false evidence that (Sommer) knew to be false which gave credibility to the allegation that (the Kellys) had committed criminal offenses.

“This is very disturbing to this Court and certainly could expose (Sommer) to possible criminal prosecution and/or severe disciplinary actions if proven.”

The Kellys have filed a disciplinary complaint with the Indiana State Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission according to an April 22, 2022, WLFI report. There has not yet been a public outcome provided at the time of this article.

The Kellys, who each face four Felony 6 charges, are set to stand trial beginning October 7, 2024, according to online court documents.

Note: The journalist referenced in the above case is the author of this article.

Annex Basement Wall that Failed Had Previously Passed County Inspection

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Annex Basement Wall that Failed Had Previously Passed County Inspection
The north-side basement wall of the new Clinton County Annex failed when concrete leaked from the form. Photo taken April 9, 2024, showing work taking place to remove the wall to allow for a repour. (Photo: Brett W. Todd)

FRANKFORT, Ind. (April 17, 2024) – The north-side basement wall of the new Clinton County Annex that failed when concrete escaped the form – not allowing the wall to meet standards – had previously passed county inspection prior to the concrete pour.

During Tuesday’s commissioners meeting, commissioners President Jordan Brewer stated “the wall did not collapse.” Commissioner Bert Weaver previously stated it had when speaking during the April 9th County Council meeting.

Brewer added, “a form was not properly installed and it had a little plug that allowed for the concrete to leak out. It leaked out all weekend – we received the rain which then put pressure on the uncured portion of it and continued out.”

After the meeting Brewer was asked if there had been a determination that led to the issue.

“Human error,” Brewer responded. “I’ll just be honest – it was done on a Friday afternoon. If I am being really honest about it – we got lazy and wanted to get done as soon as possible and didn’t double check our work.

“I don’t believe there’s any inspection of the forms – like the inspection doesn’t come until after they’re pulled off and they inspect the work of the concrete. If I understand correctly.”

Clinton County Area Plan Commission executive director Liz Stitzel stated that her office inspected the rebar and forms prior to the concrete pour.

“When you inspect a wall – you inspect the forms and rebar to make sure everything is tied together before concrete is poured,” commented Stitzel. “So, we did that inspection. They poured the concrete and the pour failed. We were notified and we went out and documented it.”

The County is able to perform its own building inspection of the Annex despite the structure being built within the City of Frankfort via an inter-local agreement between the City and the County Area Plan Commission.

The north-side wall will be removed and repoured to correct the issue.

Both Brewer and County Council President Alan Dunn each stated taxpayers will not be asked to pay more as this additional cost is covered by Envoy – the company overseeing the project via the Build, Operate, Transfer procurement ad build process where overages that are deemed the result of Envoy will not be passed on to the county.

The $16+ Million, three-story building being built at the corners of Main St and Washington St is slated to be completed in early 2025.

Victims’ Mother Questions School and Police Response in FMS Band Teacher Alleged Misconduct

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FRANKFORT, Ind. (March 29, 2024) – Over 30 days has passed since a Frankfort mother found messages on her son’s phone – messages she alleges are “sexual” involving her middle school age son and Frankfort Middle School band teacher Austin King. She reported this to Community Schools of Frankfort Superintendent Dr. Matt Rhoda who in turn notified Frankfort Police Department Chief Scott Shoemaker.

Although King has resigned from FMS and the FPD has an open criminal case ongoing, the mother says the public is not being told the “complete truth.”

The mother reached out to Clinton County Today wanting to share information so the public can be better informed and understand the importance of cyber safety.

Due to the fact that the victims are minors, CCT is not using the name of the mother to protect the identities of the victims.

When the mother found the messages

The mother found the messages on February 18th within an application called Discord, a free app that allows users to communicate privately or in groups through text, voice, video, media, and files. She reached out to individuals whom she thought would have Dr. Rhoda’s mobile phone number.

According to a recording of a March 8th meeting provided to CCT, Dr. Rhoda acknowledges the mother’s attempt to reach him and that he called the mother on February 18th and established a meeting the next morning.

The mother tells CCT she informed Dr. Rhoda on the February 18th call the messages were “sexual” in nature and during the February 19th meeting with Dr. Rhoda, chief academic officer Eric Farley, FMS principal Kelly Berenda, and FMS assistant principal Josh Marshall, showed the messages and provided information showing how she confirmed the conversations were from King.

The mother shared how she determined it was King: “in another chat when it was just [King] and my son they talked about a playing test he needed to do at school.”

The mother said Dr. Rhoda stopped the meeting at that point.

“At that time Dr. Rhoda said he didn’t want to know anymore – that their process would be to contact Frankfort Police Department, from there the police department would handle it and then his team would handle the personnel side of it.”

FPD initial investigation

The mother said FPD arrived at her home approximately an hour after leaving the meeting with CSF staff.

“[An FPD officer] came by my house – he took some pictures of what screenshots I had on my phone and he said, ‘well, I have already talked to my chief and we don’t think there is enough information to criminally charge him so we are going to go ahead and close the case. But, you should expect a call from DCS (Indiana Department of Child Services) because I am a mandatory reporter.’”

The mother was surprised to hear the case would be closed so quickly.

“I didn’t even know what to say. No one had talked to my son. No one had taken the phone to go through it to make sure that was it.”

She told the officer of a time King was alone with her son once after school – stating the officer replied, “oh definitely inappropriate but nothing to criminally charge.”

On February 20th the mother spoke to a FPD school resource officer (SRO) looking for “an explanation on what the laws are and why we couldn’t criminally charge.”

The mother shared with the SRO there was another boy in the chat in addition to her son and the SRO said he would take her concerns to the investigator. However, the mother says the SRO told her after speaking with the investigator, “the investigator hadn’t heard anything about the case.”

The mother said the SRO looked at the computer case file and she had to sit down and explain the images to the SRO that were attached to the case.

“The pictures weren’t even in the right order – conversations didn’t make sense until he sat down with me and I explained.”

She adds the SRO said: “the big part is implication.” The mother continues by sharing the question she asked of the SRO: “But if I am implying the same thing you are implying – that is the same thing that anyone who reads these is implying – then doesn’t that warrant an investigation?”

After the conversation with the SRO, there is a pause in the mother hearing anything from CSF or FPD.

But, she does receive a message from King on February 20th.

The King message

On the March 8th recording, the mother is heard addressing the February 20th message from King sent to all FMS pep band members via a third-party communication app called Talking Points.

The mother asks Dr. Rhoda: “Did you know that [King] sent out a Talking Points [message] that Tuesday (February 20th)?”

Dr. Rhoda’s reply to the mother: “What’s Talking Points?”

The mother explains Talking Points to Dr. Rhoda as well as describing the message, “he would be out of the building for a few days and so they would not be doing the pep band game that Wednesday.”

King’s message of being out of the building for a few days conflicts with what Dr. Rhoda said earlier to the mother during the same March 8th meeting as well as comments attributed to Dr. Rhoda in the March 6th edition of The Frankfort Times newspaper.

Understanding the timeline of King’s administrative leave and resignation

During the first four minutes of the March 8th meeting, Dr. Rhoda explained how King was confronted with the messages inside the FMS building on February 20th prior to students entering, resulting in his resignation.

Dr. Rhoda is heard on the recording saying: “Mrs. Berenda and Mr. Marshall met with him before the school day started that next day – it would have been Tuesday morning – and confronted him with the string of messages that [FPD] sent me. [FPD] was able to send me those messages.

“I think there were a few more – most of them were [mother’s son], Mr. King, and another boy – but that could never be confirmed by police as to who that was.

“… Mr. King was confronted with that information and he resigned.”

The Frankfort Times reported on March 6th, “According to Rhoda, the teacher in question was immediately placed on administrative leave, with assurances that he would not be in contact with students during the investigation process.”

The mother asked Dr. Rhoda about the CSF internal investigation during the March 8th meeting.

“You didn’t have to do any more internal investigation than saying, ‘is this you?’ And he said, ‘yes.’”

Dr. Rhoda’s reply: “That’s it.”

She also asked if there had been previous complaints alleged against King. The recording shows a three second delay between the question asked and Dr. Rhoda’s reply.

“Not, not in this, not in this sense that you are talking about. So, not in the sense that we’re communicating, communicating with kids in this manner.”

The mother asks about any allegations of inappropriate comments made in the classroom by King.

Dr. Rhoda remarks: “Haven’t heard any word about it. That is what I am saying. We haven’t had any things said about him saying inappropriate things in class.

“We saw this person as a person who had success with band stuff, And, we saw he had great relationships with kids. Unfortunately, it was inappropriate.”

CCT asked Dr. Rhoda for clarification of the administrative leave and resignation dates after the March 12th School Board meeting given the agenda for that meeting did not include King being placed on administrative leave, only his resignation.

When Dr. Rhoda was asked if the resignation took place on February 20th or 22nd, he said King did not resign on the 20th that King was given time to make his decision.

“He did not resign right at that meeting. So, when they met with him they asked him – they shared that information with him and he had a decision to make, so he made a decision to resign as of Thursday the 22nd. So, we gave him time to make that decision.”

Dr. Rhoda clarified King was placed on leave on the 20th.

“He was on paid administrative leave as of the time that he left the office… he was escorted out of the building.”

Dr. Rhoda confirmed there was no additional internal investigation that took place between the 20th and 22nd stating, “No. We had what we needed.”

When Dr. Rhoda was asked about any previous allegations of wrongdoing he said King was “a popular teacher.”

The reopening of the criminal case

“Actually, the case only got reopened because I called DCS when I never received the call from them that the Frankfort Police Department told me I should expect,” the mother told CCT.

Dr. Rhoda, while speaking to the mother on March 8th regarding the reopening of the criminal case said, “[I]t was reopened again, but that was based on – because you pursued that.

So had you not pursued that, would it have come open again? … It’s hard to tell on that part, but the point is it is open again. You had control over that. You called. You advocated for your kids. You advocated for other kids, potentially.”

The mother contacted DCS on February 23rd and received a call from a DCS social worker.

The mother recounted her conversation with the DCS case worker: “So, I called and filed my own report which made it through the screening immediately and got a call back from a case worker who was very concerned that the Frankfort Police didn’t see a need to investigate.

“I asked, ‘has it even been reported?’ And, she said she would be the only one to handle it and it hadn’t come across her desk.”

The mother continued, “So, either none of the mandatory reporters reported it or they didn’t give enough information for it to pass screening.”

The mother adds, “I don’t know that no one reported it… I reported the same information I gave the superintendent, the assistant superintendent, and both the principal and assistant principal at the middle school.”

What is a mandatory reporter?

According to Ind. Code § 31-33-5-1, [A]n individual who has reason to believe that a child is a victim of child abuse or neglect shall make a report as required by this article.

The Indianapolis Bar Association has written, “The law does not restrict the reporting obligation to people who know about child abuse or neglect. If you have any reason to believe a child is abused or neglected, you must report, and you must report immediately.”

FPD Detective contacts mother

The mother said she received a call from an FPD Detective on February 26th who came to the house the same day to retrieve her son’s phone. She added the detective said to her, “unfortunately having that week for people to delete whatever has probably hurt the case.”

Since the reopening of the case the mother says the son who was in the Discord chat with King has gone for a forensic interview at Quinton’s House per the request of FPD. The interview was conducted by members of Heartford House Child Advocacy Center of Lafayette. According to the Heartford House website, they provide a “process for talking with children [that] utilizes a method that helps minimize additional trauma that victims experience when asked to repeat details of a crime.”

The mother was not allowed to watch the interview. She said an outcome from the interview was FPD asking for the phone of a second son as well as asking that he be allowed to be interviewed. The second son has been interviewed.

Mental health impact on the victims and mother

The mother shared with Dr. Rhoda during the March 8th meeting the mental health impact that this has taken on her boys.

“I had a teacher stop me in the parking lot to tell me how worried he was about [son 2] that he seems depressed. That he is not the same goofy kid that he has always been in his class that he has to tell to quit talking.

“This is the only support I have for them right now. And right now I have one teacher that reaches out to tell me what he’s noticed. He pulled [son 1] because he was teary in the lunchroom, that’s not [like] him. I just want you to know this is what I noticed and I will let [the counselor] know.”

Dr. Rhoda tells the mother he will follow up with two counseling services to see if he could facilitate a more timely intake for both her and her sons adding “they take all insurance.”

CCT asked Dr. Rhoda on March 12th if the district has a policy in place to provide mental health care to students who are victims of actions carried out by CSF staff.

His reply: “We’re fortunately – with the communication that we were privy to – it’s pretty limited number. And, then we’ll do whatever we need to do on our end to be able to help facilitate any kind of mental health services that need to take place.

“I don’t know of, unfortunately, this has happened in other places, you know, what is our liability on that, when that happens. Do districts pay for that – for the mental health piece of it or not?…

“In any type of traumatic situation, we want to at least be a facilitator of that.… I think we want to be able to do what we can to make things right whatever that might be; it just depends on individual situations….

“I think we’re fortunate, unfortunate-fortunate, in this that we’re not talking masses. So, we’re very limited in number.”

Conclusion

CCT asked the mother to share her thoughts after meeting with Dr. Rhoda

“I felt like he was going to try to smooth things over and make me just think that he did everything that he could and I left thinking, he thinks he smoothed everything over.

“I’m still angry – I’m still frustrated at the fact that we’re just letting it go. That he seems so sure that it’s just my boys that were affected and he is okay with just letting it go with that. And, not trying to find out were there other kids involved.

“I think I came out angrier because there was a little bit of hope that he did an internal investigation, but knowing what that internal investigation actually was just made me that much more angry.

“I know he has his pillars of excellence… but one of his is building our school population by one percent – figuring out why we have kids that live in Frankfort district, but go to Clinton Central, Clinton Prairie, Rossville, wherever it is they go.

“And, I can’t help but think how he felt this would affect that pillar if it came out.”

FPD reply

CCT asked FPD Chief Shoemaker for an update on this case. He sent the following:
“Still waiting on the phones to be downloaded. No new news on the case. We sent them March 8 so it should be soon.”

CCT informed Chief Shoemaker the mother had given an interview and asked if he would comment. CCT has not heard back.

If you know of or suspect child abuse or neglect, DCS operates a toll-free hotline, 1-800-800-5556, that accepts reports of child abuse or neglect 24 hours a day. DCS allows these reports to be made anonymously.

Clinton County Coroner Ed Cripe Named President of Indiana Coroners’ Association

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Clinton County Coroner Ed Cripe has been elected president of the Indiana Coroners' Association. (Photo provided by Clinton County government)

FRANKFORT, Ind. (February 14, 2024) – Clinton County Coroner Ed Cripe has been elected president of the Indiana Coroners’ Association. The not-for-profit organization supports coroners across the state through education, training, and the provision of resources essential for effective death investigations.

Cripe, who served as the association’s Vice President last year, assumed the presidency January 1. In his new capacity, he will oversee all association meetings and serve as the Legislative Chairman, advocating for coroner-related issues at the state capitol.

“It is an honor to be entrusted with the presidency of the Indiana Coroners’ Association,” Cripe stated in a media release. “I am committed to upholding our mission and ensuring that coroners across the state have the necessary resources and support they need to carry out their vital responsibilities.”

With a tenure spanning over two decades, Cripe’s dedication to the coroner profession is evident through his active involvement in organizations such as the Association of Indiana Counties, where he serves on the Legislative Committee. He is also an instructor for the Indiana State Coroners Training Board. Cripe, who previously served as Clinton County Coroner from 2005 to 2012, resumed office in 2021 and is currently on the Republican 2024 primary ballet for coroner.

Long to Leave FHS for Indiana Association of School Principals

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Frankfort High School principal Cindy Long shown in a video frame from her November 10, 2023, address announcing the creation of the Frankfort Virtual Academy. Long will leave FHS June 30, 2024, for a position with the Indiana Association of School Principals. (Video frame / Community Schools of Frankfort, Facebook Page - 11/10/23)

FRANKFORT, Ind. (February 14, 2024) – Frankfort High School principal Cindy Long has accepted a position with the Indiana Association of School Principals (IASP) and will leave FHS June 30, 2024.

The Frankfort School Board accepted her resignation at its Tuesday evening meeting.

Long has been employed with the Community Schools of Frankfort (CSF) for 23-years as first a teacher, then FHS assistant principal and since August 2019 FHS principal.

At IASP, Long will join a former FHS principal, Dr. Todd Bess. Dr. Bess serves as the executive director.

CSF Superintendent Dr. Matt Rhoda described Long’s new role with IASP as an “assistant director and work with law makers to help impact laws that affect public education.”

He shared Long has been a “great leader at the high school and will be missed.”

Dr. Rhoda is hopeful to have a candidate selected to fill the position in time of the May 14 school board meeting noting June is a busy hiring time for schools and wanted the new person to be in place by June to “(work) with Cindy” and have “the opportunity for any open positions to be able to hire.”

County Commissioners Forced to Find New Insurance Coverage

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County Commissioners Forced to Find New Insurance Coverage
Archive photo of the Clinton County Indiana Courthouse located in Frankfort, Indiana. The Clinton County Commissioners selected a new insurance carrier for properties and assets. Great American was selected during a special meeting Thursday, February 1, 2024. (Photo Brett W. Todd/September 2023)

FRANKFORT, Ind. (Feb. 2, 2024) – The Clinton County Commissioners were presented with only two insurance companies willing to insure county properties and assets during a special meeting of the commissioners held Thursday at the Clinton County Courthouse.

The force to find new coverage was the result of being served with a 60-day non-renewal notice from Tokio Marine, the county insurer for the past three years. The county received the letter on November 27, 2023, stating Tokio Marine was withdrawing from the market place.

Todd Jackson with McGowan Insurance Group, the county insurance broker, made the presentation and commented only two companies presented offers – Trident and Great American. He recommended the commissioners select Great American with a 15 percent premium increase over 2023, while Trident was 22.7 percent.

Jackson shared only “ten to twelve” companies work to insure public entities with the “least desirable being counties due to landfills, county homes, and jails.”

The new coverage comes with an additional “$9 million in property value that needed to be done to maintain replacement cost on everything” according to Jackson.

The coverage went into effect Thursday – running February 1, 2024 through January 31, 2025.

The 2024 premium at the time of signing on February 1st was quoted at $636,457 which will fluctuate with additional assets purchased or new employees due to workers compensation coverage.

The premium includes the Great American coverage as well as carriers for workers compensation, cyber security, and liability coverage for the county home – the county home property is covered in the Great American policy.

Jackson explained the “real rate” increase to be closer to “ten to eleven” percent.

“I would say the property bump, exposure we added probably accounts for three-and-a-half to four percent of that and pull the payroll rate back and we are at ten to eleven percent,” Jackson said.

The county had budgeted an insurance premium cost increase during its August 2023 budget sessions.

Commissioner Jordan Brewer shared his thoughts on the increase and what might be a “silver lining” in all of this.

“We list the prior premiums and it looks like a large jump, but that prior doesn’t include what an increase would have been if Tokio Marine would have stayed,” Brewer said. “The silver lining is – I don’t know if this is a good thing or a bad thing – we budgeted enough so we don’t have to go back and ask for more from council.”

Frankfort School Board Approves Middle School Renovation Bids, Construction To Begin April 2024

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Construction bids for the renovation of the Frankfort Middle School came in $1.76 million under budget. work will begin April 2024. (Photo: Brett W. Todd, design rendering October 2023)

FRANKFORT, Ind. (January 10, 2024) – Construction bids for the renovation of the Frankfort Middle School came in $1.76 million under budget.

Community Schools of Frankfort Superintendent Dr. Matt Rhoda called the news a “blessing.”

The ‘blessing’ now allows CSF to approve the bids for the originally planned-for renovations as well as approval of select alternate project bids.

At the top of the alternate list – a new walkway allowing access to second floor space and construction of three new classrooms in this open space.

“To come in, in this market, with increasing construction costs – it’s nothing more than a blessing to come in $1.76 million under budget,” Dr. Rhoda said. “That’s a testament to our architect and to Tecton.”

“A lot of times when people bid on projects if there is guess work in it for the people bidding, they tend to pad [their bids]. What Tecton has done is taken a lot of that guessing game out so that we can get hard numbers and people are not padding their numbers.”

Dr. Rhoda shared how the savings will be used and the costs of those alternates.

“We knew if we had money available that we would go down that list. The big one is getting that walkway that is up in the wrestling area. By getting that walkway in – it’s about $200,000 to put a walkway in with a roof over it – that will give access to three additional classrooms upstairs. Those classrooms come in around $1.3 million.

“By being $1.76 million under budget we’re able to get those two things in and allow us to move our art classrooms and business classroom up and allow [the architects] flexibility of putting in another classroom or a place to expand.”

The art and business classrooms were initially designed to be on the first floor.

Prior to an April 2024 renovation start, CSF will need to receive the construction documents for school board signatures as well as prepare for the issuance of the finance bond.

The $25 million renovation will allow for secure entry into the building, expanded cafeteria space, the addition of a new performance arts wing – allowing for choir, band and orchestra to have its dedicated space plus a public auditorium, the expanding of existing classroom space to name a few of the overall items.

As previously reported, the renovation of FMS will not cause an increase to tax payers as the bond used for the construction of Suncrest will be paid for in 2024. Dr. Rhoda provided an explanation in a November 2022 interview why the retired debt would negatively impact CSF in the future should a current project not be available. “Our tax rate goes down, which means that if we want to do any big projects in the future, we would have to go the referendum route to raise that tax rate again in order to be able to generate those funds. And so we want to stay tax neutral so that we are able to continue to use debt drop off to be able to fund future projects without going to the public to ask for a tax increase.”

In addition to Tecton, CSF worked with KJG Architecture Inc and Fanning Howey to bring this multi-year project to the construction phase.

The planned construction is to begin April 2024 and have 14 classrooms renovated by August 2024 to mitigate the moving around for students during the school year with a Summer 2026 completion date and final punch list complete by December 2026.

Clinton County Sheriff’s Office Motorcycle Patrol Presence Leads to Arrest of Crawfordsville Man on Multiple Outstanding Warrants

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Michael Walker, 35, of Crawfordsville was arrested on outstanding warrants for FTA Possession of a Synthetic Narcotic (Montgomery County), Dealing Methamphetamine (Howard County) and Carrying a Handgun without a License (Howard County) on Wednesday, January 3, 2024, at approximately 3:30p.m. in Clinton County Indiana after a brief foot pursuit. (Photo: Clinton County Sheriff's Office)

CLINTON COUNTY, Ind. (January 8, 2024) – According to the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO), Michael Walker, 35, of Crawfordsville was arrested on outstanding warrants for FTA Possession of a Synthetic Narcotic (Montgomery County), Dealing Methamphetamine (Howard County) and Carrying a Handgun without a License (Howard County) on Wednesday, January 3, 2024, at approximately 3:30p.m.

CCSO Sergeant Tom Farlow and Sergeant Thomas Pelling were returning to the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office on their Harley Davidson patrol motorcycles following the completion of a funeral escort, when they observed a suspicious vehicle in the area of County Roads 500N and 300E. The vehicle, a Black 1995 Dodge Dakota pickup truck pulled into a residence familiar to both sergeants. After notifying the homeowner, they learned the vehicle did not belong at the property. Deputy Nick Light and Deputy Nevin Creasy were also returning from the same funeral escort in their fully marked Tahoes and arrived on scene to assist.

Upon pulling into the residence, Sergeant Pelling observed a male subject fleeing the vehicle on foot. At this time, Sergeant Joey Mitchell (K9 Rip), Deputy Nevin Creasy, Detective Mark Pinkard and Detective Jon Greiner responded, along with Frankfort Police Department Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Operator Officer Brett Waggoner.

Officer Waggoner deployed his UAV and quickly located the suspect. During the investigation, deputies determined the truck had been reported stolen out of Montgomery County.

Deputies have requested additional charges of Theft of a Motor Vehicle, Possession of a Syringe and Possession of Marijuana; formal charges are pending review by the Clinton County Prosecutor’s Office.

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