Commissioners delay SR75 extension decision
Public input sought
By Debbie Lowe

A lively and well-rounded discussion about the proposed State Road 75 extension led Carroll County Commissioners to table, for two weeks, the decision to submit the completed feasibility study to the Indiana Department of Transportation. In that time, commi s s i o n e r s said they want to hear from county residents about whether to commit to building a road extending SR75 through Camden to the Hoosier Heartland Highway or to back away from the project.

Proponents for both sides spoke at the Monday morning commissioners' meeting.

The study was presented by county highway department supervisor Ramzi Awwad. He warned commissioners if the study is submitted to INDOT, the county needs to be committed to building a road extension.

Awwad said he considered it a positive step that the county is looking at all options. He said the community could explore alternative methods to the standard 80/20 funding formula offered by INDOT.

Economic Development Director Daryl Smith spoke in favor of submitting the study and building the road.

"It will pay for itself in the future," he said. "Iwould like to see us explore ways we could do this."

Commissioners' president Bill Brown cited rising costs to the county as a need to raise county income to cover them.

"There has to be access from the highway for it to do us any good," he said. "The costs are not going to quit. We need development because without it, our property taxes will rise."

However, county resident Keith Mullin presented the other side of the issue. He explained the extension of SR75 would provide access to the highway for those who want to travel to Logansport, but those who wanted to head south from Camden would use SR218 to reach SR25.

"It's distressing to me to spend this much money to gain about one mile," he said. "The gain is not much. The reality is that we have money problems here. It's a matter of what we save for what we spend."

" I t ' s

" I t ' s not what we would save," Awwad stated. "It's what we might gain. If we don't take any pro-active action, there won't be any development."

"If we don't get this exit," commissioner George Mears said, "there's nowaywe can develop the area."

Commissioner Loren Hylton said according to the feasibility study, "successful economic development is a process and not an event."

"We need to look at something," he said.

County council member Ann Brown, noting she was not speaking for or against building the road, questioned commissioners about the total cost to taxpayers for the project.

"How can you lay 20 percent of the project onto the taxpayers?" she asked. "And the cost won't stop with the 20 percent."

The issue was tabled to allow for additional public comment and to consult with officials from Flora and Camden beforemaking a commitment to build the extension.

Jail facility

Spike Shepler of PMSI Inc. distributed a draft of a master plan for the county's jail facility. Shepler said there will be a formal presentation to commissioners at the Dec. 4 meeting.

Shepler announced an additional public meeting is planned for Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. at the Canal Interpretive Center in Delphi. The purpose will be for the public to hear how the report was compiled and how a recommendation was conceived.

The public was encouraged by Brown to review the draft document in the auditor's office prior to the upcoming discussions.

CarrollManor grant

Two bids were opened for the Carroll Manor renovation project. The matter was tabled for evaluation.

Grant administrator Tina Henderson said the lowest bid appeared to be more than $38,000 more than the grant funds would provide. She said timing was important for the project because grantmoney had to be requested by the end of the year. The county council must first approve the appropriation.

Other business

A bid for $22,500 to replace the back-up courthouse boiler was accepted. The new boiler will become the lead unit.

The proposed county-wide traffic ordinance, which included speed, parking, weight limits and signage for all roads was approved. The document will be advertised for two weeks before final adoption.

An agreement with DLZ to obtain a wetlands impact report, required for an IndianaDepartment of Environmental Agency permit, was approved.

The report will be for replacement of bridge #129, on CR600W near SR25. The cost of the report is $3,100 according toAwwad.

"I think we need that bridge," Brown said. "But it costs more and more to do things."

The Lancaster Covered Bridge is open to traffic. Awwad said the 'bridge closed' signs have not yet been removed.

A memorandum of understandingwith the Indiana State Coroners Association was approved. The state group will provide laptop computers and software to 85 of the 92 Indiana counties for fatal accident reporting.

According to E-911 Director J.D. Cree, the agreement states the counties become the owners of the computers, will be responsible for maintenance and upkeep of the computers and must ensure outgoing coroners hand down the computers to their replacements.

Opponents to the Twin Lakes Regional Sewer District in Carroll County provided a copy of a petition against construction of the sewer. The original was given to the sewer district board, according to Jefferson Township resident Pat Robertson.

Petitioners asked the TLRSD board to withdraw from Carroll County because the rates set for county customers were based on construction estimates by the engineering firm, which will profit from the construction. The petition alleges the engineering firm may have provided inflated costs.

The Family Clinic of Carroll County will use the courthouse lounge Feb. 13 during the day.

An E-911 service agreement with Verizon was renewed.

CarrollManor applications for J. Clifford Graham and James L. Roland were approved.

The next meeting will be Dec. 4 at 9 a.m.

Commissioners' meeting agendas can be found online at www.carlnet.org/communities.