The seats were filled and the walls were lined with opponents to the Twin Lakes Regional Sewer District's providing service to Carroll County residents in Jefferson Township. After hearing from many who explained their positions and some who offered alternatives, Carroll County Commissioners voted two-to-one to request, from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, exclusion of Jefferson Township from the district. The action took place at the Monday morning commissioners' meeting.

Reading from a petition in favor of exclusion, signed by approximately 250 county citizens, Jefferson Township resident Pat Robertson stated, "I believe that our elected officials have a legal and moral obligation to the citizens they represent..."

The opponents' petition called for commissioners to present a petition or resolution to IDEM Commissioner Thomas W. Easterly with the e x c l u s i o n request.

"I have a degree of feeling for the people right on the lake who need a s y s t e m , " commissioners' president Bill Brown said. "But I would endorse signing on to this (petition)."

"I feel there's got to be a cheaper way to deal with sewage," commissioner George Mears said.

Jefferson Township resident Terry Dill said, "I'm proud to be a citizen of Carroll County. I appreciate the openness of this meeting."

"But this has to be considered a tax because you can't shut it off like a public utility," he added. "If you don't pay, they will sell your property at a sheriff's sale." Both Brown and Mears voted in favor of the request. Commissioner Loren Hylton took a different view. "I can't agree with it 100 percent," he said. "I don't want to throw the project out."

When pressed by audience members to agree with the action, he explained his position more fully. "This was put in by way of the law. We're supposed to follow the law. Laws are to be followed." Hylton explained.

"We're not asking you to change the law," shouted one audience member. "We're asking for justice."

"I make a motion we support this letter," Mears said.

When no second came from Hylton, Brown provided it. As the motion passed, audience members gave applause. Highway Department

An inspection report for bridge #87, located on Meridian Line Road, south of CR218 and east of Camden over Deer Creek, revealed a need to increase the load rating but no justification was found for deck repair work.

Acontract for $16,000 with The Troyer Group was approved for engineering and filing of the appropriate permits to proceed to construction.

County highway supervisor Ramzi Awwad recommended rebidding for the Xenia Bridge, #25. He said the pool of available contractors changes. Commissioners approved the recommendation in the hope of receiving several competitive bids.

2006 Road Plan

Awwad explained that as a result of an error by the state in the road funding formula, the

county will receive approximately $200,000 less than expected this year from fuel taxes. That amount is the amount used for major road projects. The result is only eight major road projects will be done this year by the highway department.

Approximately $300,000 will be available from LOHUT (wheel tax) which will help to make up the deficit, according to Awwad. There could be an additional $475,000 realized from the state's Major Moves initiative, but that is not being factored into the county's funding equation at this time.

"I'm totally disappointed that this is all we can do this year," Brown said. "Our roads are unacceptable."

"You cannot build roads on air - and we are to that point," he continued. "Our county council needs to look at this. Many counties put some property tax money towards roads, but we don't."

The concept of road-specific funding by residents was addressed.

County attorney Barry Emerson cautioned the money would have to be paid in advance by residents before any county work was done to repair the specific roads.

Other news

A rezoning request by Ed Rhine in Burlington Township for 3.89 acres was approved.

The courthouse will be used on June 24 from 9 to 11:30 a.m. by Oak Road Multi Media for an independent film project.

Highway claims for $163,763.08, county operating claims for $233,720.41 and payroll claims for $170,004.50 were approved.

The next meeting is May 15 at 9 a.m.