Rush County Sheriff Jeff Sherwood told the Rush County Commissioners Monday that his department was unable to locate the owner of an abandoned vehicle on the site of the former Manilla Grain Elevator.

According to Sherwood, the vehicle was tagged seven days ago and he asked for permission to tow the vehicle to a salvage yard as a means to remove it from county owned property.

APC Director Bill Todd added that once the vehicle is towed a salvage title will be required. It is the county leaders’ hope that the salvage yard will accept the monetary amount they collect from the scrap metal of the vehicle and that it will offset the towing cost and storage bill until the salvage title can be obtained.

Sherwood also informed the county leaders for the second week in a row that the inmate population at the county jail was down. Currently, the facility houses 27 inmates, seven of which are females and six that have been sentenced. Three sentenced inmates are waiting for an opening at an Indiana Department of Corrections facility and will transferred when those openings are realized.

In other matters, Todd asked the commissioners for direction regarding the state’s decision to overturn the local interpretation and passage of a special exception for the AirEvac structure located on the grounds of Rush Memorial Hospital.

According to Todd, the air ambulance’s decision to place a base locally, which included modifications to the landing pad and the purchase and placement of a building on leased RMH property for their staff, has been met with what he feels are inconsistencies regarding similar structures by state officials.

“AirEvac wants to be a good neighbor. They have gone to great expense to be a good neighbor and save lives at the same time. They want to have a good reputation in the community,” Todd said.

Todd asked if the county leaders knew another avenue that he could follow to gain clarification as a means to keep the business in the community.

He indicated a building is used for similar applications by INDOT personnel on SR 44 west of Rushville, in Greenfield, and at other locations throughout the state.

According to Todd, INDOT is currently using their building as an office. He continued by saying it is his contention that is a more serious violation than what the air ambulance company is using their structure for.

“Give me some direction as to where to go to find a solution to correct this wrong, but be careful where you tell me to go,” Todd said.

Prior to closing, Todd indicated that in an effort to become compliant AirEvac is going to purchase another structure and after removing the current building replace it at a substantial cost in an effort to become compliant and remain in Rushville.

In a final matter, commissioner Ken Masters informed fellow commissioners Marvin Cole and Tom Barnes that the industrial park project is moving forward. According to Masters, efforts are being made to make road cuts into SR 3.

“This is a huge step and we are looking at vendors that I am not at liberty to discuss at this time for the building,” Masters said.