Yeoman and Carroll Manor building projects hit a snag
By Debbie Lowe

The timing to submit a grant to build a community center in Yeoman, which would include an Emergency Medical Services Ambulance Garage, was tight. The grant was to be submitted to the same funder as the grant already awarded for the Carroll Manor elevator and renovation project.

However, the rule is that Carroll Manor's project must be under construction before the Yeoman proposal can be submitted.

Only one bid was received for the Carroll Manor project. When it was opened at the Monday morning commissioners' meeting, it was approximately $166,410 more than the engineer's estimate for the job.

Dan Kiser of Cornerstone Engineering recommended accepting the bid, "to keep everything rolling and to get the Yeoman grant submitted."

Grant administrator Tina Henderson of Mendenhall and Associates, LLC advised, after considering all monies available, there could be a $159,000 county shortfall in funding, plus there was no contingency money put aside in case of undisclosed renovation issues.

"There are always unforeseen expenses in renovation projects," she said.

Henderson and Kiser agreed it would not be unreasonable to have between $20,000 and $30,000 in a contingency fund for the project.

County attorney Barry Emerson recommended further study to discover the reason only one bid was received for the project. Emerson recommended the matter be reviewed at the next commissioners' meeting.

Henderson advised the Yeoman grant proposal could be submitted in six months in the next funding cycle.

Carroll Manor

Pat Robertson of Jefferson Township asked for clarification of where the commissioners were in the process to sell the land around Carroll Manor.

"We're considering it," commissioner Loren Hylton said. "We'd like to support them (Indiana Packers Corporation) in their efforts. But we want to be cautious of the protection of Carroll Manor."

"They're here. They're growing," Hylton continued. "We should be thankful that someone in the county is growing."

"This council is elected to represent the will of the people," Delphi resident Galen Perry said.

Perry said he thought the majority of county residents were not in favor of selling the land. He based his opinion on a recent Comet Web pole survey.

Hylton said the Comet survey "may be highly inaccurate." He further stated he received no phone calls from county residents opposed to selling the land.

Carroll County Economic Development Director Daryl Smith, calling it a win-win situation, said IPC "is conscientious about the protection of Carroll Manor."

"Packers is a major employer and tax contributor to the county," he said.

Emerson said that although IPC has first right of refusal for the sale of the land, there is no sale planned currently.

"I think it is premature to criticize the county commissioners about this," he said.

"There are a lot of questions that need to be answered yet," Hylton concluded. Highway department

County highway supervisor Ramzi A w w a d announced that Xenia Bridge and the bridge on SR75 will not close simultaneously for repairs.

Bridge 120 on the Crooked Road to Flora/Delphi was finished under budget.

County residents Carl Perry and Tom Hazelgrove reported that two to three times each year CR800W near CR800N floods eight to 10 inches deep and presents a safety hazard to motorists. Hazelgrove said the road dams the water onto his property and he has lost three buildings due to the flooding.

Awwad was directed to investigate the situation.

Other business

A letter to the state Department of Homeland Security, presented by Emergency Management Agency Director Justin Darling, was endorsed. The letter was in support of an earlier resolution for county compliance with a county emergency management system.

Portions of two alleys in the unincorporated area of West Delphi were vacated by approval of Ordinance 2006-04.

A request by First American Real Estate Solutions for specific property owner data, that would be gathered by Manitron for a cost, was denied.

An Urban Forest grant application for the city of Delphi was endorsed.

The 4-H Community Building will be used by the Flora Volunteer Fire Department Sept. 26 and by Carroll County Chamber of Commerce Oct. 26.

The next meeting will be Oct. 2 at 9 a.m.