Carroll County Commissioners set the stage for construction permits needed for all large confined or concentrated animal feeding operations that want to locate in the county. Those operations will have tighter setback distance restrictions, but they will not have to go before a county governing board or the public to obtain or review the need for a construction permit.

Acting upon a recommendation by the Carroll County Area Plan Commission, commissioners unanimously passed the proposed amended zoning ordinance.

When asked for a recommendation, county attorney Barry Emerson refused stating, "greater minds than mine" reviewed the document. "It would be a disservice to them if I made a recommendation," he said

Zoning administrator Dale Huffer explained the revised ordinance was debated in meetings "for months and months."

"There are a lot of changes," he said. "There is a lot more detail and setbacks are a little farther."

Carroll Manor

Commissioners did not accept the lone bid for renovation to Carroll Manor.

"As it stands, we don't have the money to accept the bid," commissioners' president Bill Brown said.

Dan Kiser of Cornerstone Engineering presented issues designed to "value engineer the project," which would eliminate costs to more closely match the money available for the project.

Commissioners decided to rebid the project in October. Bids will be due at the Nov. 20 commissioners' meeting. Construction could begin the first week of December according to grant administrator Tina Henderson.

Highway department

County highway supervisor Ramzi Awwad announced the Lancaster Bridge project needs more money for inspection services, performed in September and those for the future. Between $15,000 and $18,000 is needed, which will cost the county approximately $3,000 in an 80/20 funding situation.

Commissioners endorsed a letter of request to INDOT for the additional funding.

Awwad said the project has experienced $60,000 worth of additional expenses so far. This amounts to approximately a $12,000 cost overrun for the county.

Bridge #81 on CR150E north of SR218 will be replaced rather than renovated according to Awwad. The structure will be stored by the county for up to 15 years, with the hope of gifting it to a not-for-profit group. After that time, it can be demolished.

A courthouse grounds and sign application by Carol's Candies and Cookies did not receive approval. The business requested the use of the sidewalk on the eastside of the courthouse on Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to noon from May to October in 2007. Commissioners requested the owner supply the county with clarification of insurance coverage and apply to use county property after the first of the year.

Payroll claims for $183,355.99, highway claims for $618,761.70 and county general claims for $60,465.44 and $156,521.64 were approved.

The next meeting will be Oct. 16 at 6 p.m. in the commissioners' meeting room on the second floor of the courthouse.