Highway supervisor announces resignation
By Debbie Lowe Staff writer

What started out as a resignation announcement by Carroll County Highway Supervisor Ramzi Awwad turned into a verbal attack on three county council members present at the Monday night commissioners' meeting.

Awwad said "greater opportunities and challenges had presented themselves elsewhere," as he told commissioners he would be vacating the county position in one month.

"We thank you for your service," commissioners' president Loren Hylton said to Awwad. "We wish you the best."

"I think you've done an outstanding job," commissioner Bill Brown said.

However, as the discussion centered on road issues connected with the dairy to be built in Democrat Township, Brown declared the current system of repairing county roads inadequate.

"We're going to have to decide if we want roads in the county," he said. "What we're doing now doesn't work. It is a failure."

Brown then lashed out at council members Ann Brown, Steve Ashby and Ron Slavens, who were in attendance.

"You people on the council - you screwed up," he shouted as he pointed to the council representatives. "He needed a raise," he continued, referring to Awwad.

Commissioners will meet in executive session April 23 at 10 a.m. to discuss a plan to replace Awwad.

Another dairy for county?

Carroll County Economic Development Director Daryl Smith requested support in negotiating with the Indiana Department of Transportation to keep CR 225E. open. The current plan is for the road to become a dead end when the Hoosier Heartland Highway is built.

County resident Grace Woodruff alleged EDC wanted to petition INDOT to keep the road intact because another dairy is being planned in that area of the county.

Smith suggested additional industry in the county would be beneficial. He said he will meet with INDOT officials April 23 at 9 a.m. to discuss the matter.

Woodruff requested commissioners require Vreba-Hoff, funders for the dairy slated for Democrat Township, to contribute monetarily to improve and maintain roads their trucks will use. She said projected truck volume information requested from Awwad several weeks ago had not been received. Awwad has been communicating with dairy representatives about road issues.

Commissioner George Mears said he met with the Vreba-Hoff engineer and county surveyor Wayne Chapman April 4 to discuss drainage in Democrat Township.

"When it's all said and done, the load on our present drains will be better," he said.

Mears said dairy drainage plans will be presented at the May 7, 8:30 a.m. drainage board meeting.

County resident Jerry Carter distributed information about two dairies in Indiana that recently experienced manure spills. He told the county leaders they could expect the same from the Vreba-Hoff dairy.

Woodruff said Vreba-Hoff has had many complaints and violations lodged against its various dairies in other states.

"How can you invite Vreba-Hoff with their record into Carroll County?" she asked Smith. "This (dairy) is not in the best interest of the citizens of Carroll County."

EMS

Increased rates and billing and collections policies and procedures for Emergency Medical Services were approved, effective immediately.

Director Mike Durr said the new fees would not entirely pay for the county service, but they would be more in line with amounts neighboring counties charge. The new rates are consistent with the current Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement schedule.

"Is this enough of a raise?" Brown questioned. "I'd like to see our ambulance service be less of a burden for our taxpayers."

Hylton said he wanted to provide the best service possible to county residents because there is no hospital nearby.

"This is not enough," he said, "but it is a step in the right direction."

New fees are (ALS=advanced life support, BLS=basic life support, ALS2=use of all equipment for life support):

+ ALS non-emergency - $325;

+ ALS emergency - $500;

+ ALS 2 - $600;

+ BLS non-emergency - $225;

+ BLS emergency - $400;

+ Treat/no transport - $75; and

+ Loaded mileage - $10/mile.

Durr said the department has an approximate 27 percent collection rate for 2007. The rate for 2006 was 48 percent and 62 percent in 2005.

Commissioners approved an agreement with Dyna-Linck Inc. to assume billing and collection activities for the department.

Durr said the EMS secretary, who has been responsible for billing and collection efforts, will be retained until the end of the year to aid coordination between the department and Dyna-Linck.

Dyna-Linck will charge the county nine percent of funds collected to provide the service.

Courthouse air conditioning

Craft Mechanical was awarded the contract, pending council approval, to replace the chiller barrel and one condenser in the courthouse for $32,875.

Custodian Sheryl Shockley said the repair can begin approximately six weeks from the time the units are ordered.

Council members will meet in special session Friday morning, April 20 at 8 a.m., to discuss an additional appropriation for the work.

Other business

Commissioners expressed disappointment with how long it took J.M. Barker Engineering to design the construction project for the Wilson Bridge, before they unanimously approved the firm to provide bridge inspection services for the same project.

"I'm disappointed in how long it took to get us to this point," Mears said.

The top three choices of firms to provide design services for Burnett's Creek Arch will be interviewed May 7 at 1 p.m.

Calling the project "very unique," Awwad said interviewing the prospective engineering firms would be "very beneficial."

Butler, Fairman and Seifurt will provide design services for a culvert on CR 200N. for no more than $6,700 and for a culvert on CR 800W. for no more than $7,800. Deck replacement on both and underpinning on the latter culvert will improve the amount of weight each can tolerate safely.

BS&F will provide observation services for $28,100 for Bridge #87.

The 4-H Community Building will be used April 21 by the Flora Volunteer Fire Department.

Family Clinic of Carroll County will use the courthouse lounge July 10.

A sign will advertise an event for Delphi Ladies Fire Auxiliary on the courthouse lawn June 9-23.

Ordinance 2007-02, setting copy fees for county departments, was adopted. The charge will be 15-cents per page for most departments. According to county auditor Beth Myers, the treasurer and clerk's office will charge one dollar per page as dictated by state statute.

Payroll for $177,519.74 was approved.

The next meeting will be May 7 at 9 a.m.