Commissioners hold debate on mega-dairy
By Debbie Lowe Staff writer

If the opponents to a proposed mega-dairy in Democrat Township get their way, there will be no zoning or building permits issued to Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) until the current ordinance is revamped and modified.

Speaking on behalf of the group opposed to mega-dairies, Democrat Township resident Jerry Carter presented a document outlining the group's concerns and a request for a moratorium on the building of dairy CAFOs.

"The need to make changes in the county ordinances must come before this dairy factory farm is granted a permit. We have no assurances that it will be built to blend into the community or the county," the document read.

It continued to describe guidelines for setbacks, bonding, spill containment, landscaping to defray light and sound, vehicle parking, road building, wheel taxes for all company trucks, traffic patterns, lagoon liners, construction inspectors, instituting a milk production tax, air and well monitoring, technology, expansion regulation, and pest control.

Democrat Township resident Susan McKinney, in support of the proposed moratorium, suggested the commissioners gather facts before allowing progress at the facility site.

"There is a lot of emotion around dairy CAFOs," she said. "We want to take the emotion out of this and get the facts."

Mega-dairy proponent and employee Terris Ayres of Democrat Township agreed that facts need to be known, but was not in favor of a moratorium.

"I'm not concerned about coffee shop talk and the rumors going around," he said.

Ayres reported the developing company, Vreba Hoff, does not currently operate a dairy factory as big as the one proposed for Carroll County.

He said the company plans to employ management personnel from Germany and hire immigrants for production. Ayres said job applications will be open to all individuals, however.

Citing no ground has been purchased and no design plans exist for the actual facility, Ayres asked, "Why are we even discussing it? It's none of anybody's business at this point."

Ayres stated that this is not a situation in which Carroll County leaders should be doing any policing.

"I think Carroll County does have an interest in this," replied county attorney Barry Emerson. "They do need to police it."

"The question is," said commissioners' president Bill Brown, "is this Carroll County agriculture?"

"You're messing with our homes," Rockfield resident Tim Dyer said. "These people out here...we don't want it."

Brown asked commissioners Loren Hylton and George Mears for a motion about a moratorium, but none was offered.

Dave Lambert, president of the Carroll County Pork Producers, suggested those who are planning to purchase land and build the dairy should be available to county residents to provide the answers to their questions.

"The people who own this and are going to run this need to come into this room," he said. "Nobody knows what this dairy looks like."

Ayres said Vreba Hoff representatives plan to be in Carroll County the week of the county fair. The fair runs from July 7-14.

T.L. Regional Sewer District

With no input from Jefferson Township Trustee Harold Erdmann, commissioners appointed township resident Wayne Garrison to the Twin Lakes Regional Sewer District Board of Directors as Carroll County's official representative and spokesperson.

Garrison said he considered himself a qualified candidate because he knows the service area.

"I've walked the lake for 12 years," Garrison said.

He asked county leaders what support he would receive from them as representative. Brown clarified that he would be representing "every one in Carroll County."

Hylton made the motion to appoint Garrison. Mears provided the second "in support of Loren." The motion passed unanimously.

Hylton reported that he spoke with White County Commissioners' President John Heimlich about the possibility of having more than one Carroll County representative on the sewer board. He said he heard nothing since the initial conversation however.

Other business

Adoption of the Carroll County Uniform Traffic Ordinance, developed by county highway supervisor Ramzi Awwad and Emerson to unify and document all road limits and speeds, was delayed until the next meeting to give the public an opportunity to review the document.

The proposed ordinance will be available at the county highway department and/or provided upon request. Awwad encouraged interested residents to contact him at (574) 967-4244 for information.

Jon Zink was appointed by flip-of-the-coin to the county extension board and will serve on the Area Plan Commission.

Tina Henderson of Mendenhall and Associates, LLC. announced the Carroll Manor renovation grant proposal received funding.

As grant administrator and project manager, Henderson said her group would spearhead the project and she would be the primary contact person.

Henderson presented a contract for services. She said an agreement was reached with Lester 'Spike' Shepler of PMSIinc. in which he would be a sub-contractor on the project and serve as a liaison between his group and her group.

The Fire Investigation Task Force was made a division of the county Emergency Management Agency. EMA director Justin Darling, who recommended the action, said there would be no additional cost. All task force members will continue in volunteer status.

County resident Brian Stirm and Delphi Historic Trails Chair Dan McCain explained the concept of a regional trail system. The system would connect Carroll County bike and walking trails with those in surrounding counties.

"We've got a beautiful county," McCain said. "And it is something to be proud of."

Stirm announced the updated version of the tourism guide is expected to be distributed in July.

Commissioners will reply in writing to Tippecanoe County Commissioners expressing county interest in the proposed juvenile detention center in that county. Brown said there is a line item in the current county budget of $225,000 for juvenile detention services.

Payroll claims for $178,410.79 were approved.

The next meeting will be July 5 at 9 a.m. in the commissioners' meeting room on the second floor of the courthouse.