Residents voice displeasure
Staying the course…Phase I Road Plan approved
By Debbie Lowe Staff writer

Amid verbal protests from local residents, which at times included shouting, Carroll County Commissioners unanimously approved Phase I of a two-phase road plan at the Monday morning meeting.

Outgoing highway supervisor Ramzi Awwad said funding for Phase I included the county's Local Option Highway User Tax, more commonly referred to as "wheel tax," state-reimbursed fuel tax and $250,000 of 2006 unused Major Moves money.

Awwad recommended the county not use the 2007 Major Moves money, approximately $475,000, until the Indiana Department of Transportation makes a determination about CR225E. The current INDOT plan calls for the road to be made a dead-end. However, leaving it open as an access point for the Hoosier Heartland Highway is being considered.

Awwad said he did not have an expected date for the INDOT decision and, although he was pressed for an answer by commissioner Bill Brown, would not provide a date to make decisions about Phase II spending.

Resident Frances Flora, who lives on CR100S, said that after at least 45 years of being a hard-surfaced road, her road was turned to gravel last week. Flora said she felt betrayed by the county because "suddenly a blacktop has been destroyed."

"There is a misconception that Carroll County can maintain the same amount of road as Tippecanoe County does on much less money," Awwad said. "We can maintain 80 percent hard surface roads," he added, "But they won't be good roads."

Awwad said the highway department's goal was to "build a transportation network to move goods and services."

Brown suggested the county look at financing packages to build roads and infrastructure to enhance economic development.

New highway head Ron Francis said the reason roads are being turned into gravel is "because they were unsafe to drive on." He said there were threats of lawsuits that influenced road-work decisions.

Flora said out of 14 county townships, 42 percent of roads destroyed so far have been in only two townships.

"If we do something that upsets one person to the benefit of hundreds, that's what we have to do," Awwad responded.

Other audience members expressed considerable disagreement with how the highway department manages the upkeep of county roads.

"It's not these two guys' fault," Brown said in support of Awwad and Francis. "It's a lack of funding."

The approved plan provides for 6.5 miles of county road to be reconstructed in 2007 with a total cost of $609,000. Those roads include:

+ CR700N from CR700W to CR900W;

+ CR725N from CR1150W to Springboro Rd.;

+ Prince William Rd. from Bridge #25 to South County Line Rd.;

+ CR400S from CR150W to CR350W (not accomplished in 2006); and

+ Pyrmont Rd. (not accomplished in 2006).

Approximately 29.75 miles of road, for a cost of $208,250, will receive chip and seal. Those roads are:

+ CR550S from Division Line Rd. to CR800W;

+ CR800W from SR18 to CR800S;

+ Bicycle Bridge Rd. from the Delphi City limit to CR1200W to the south county line;

+ CR650N from Rockfield to CR75W;

+ CR700N from Rockfield to CR700W;

+ CR275W from CR850N to the Lockport Bridge;

+ Towpath Rd. from Meridian to CR400W;

+ The town of Deer Creek; and

+ CR150S from CR9E to CR200E.

A comprehensive list of roads, the cost of each and the number of miles to receive work can be obtained and/or viewed at the county highway garage in Flora. The garage telephone number is (574) 967-4244.

Speed limit ordinance

Revisions to the recently adopted speed limit ordinance were presented. Commissioners' attorney Barry Emerson will review the revisions and prepare them for adoption at the May 21 commissioners' meeting.

Changes include 30 mph in residential neighborhoods, 55 mph on un-posted roads, 55 mph on the Carrollton Rd. and 25 mph on the Adams Mill Bridge Rd. from CR500S to CR400S. Awwad said the goal is to post all gravel roads at 45 mph.

Weight restrictions

Brown asked county sheriff Tony Burns to formulate a plan to enforce the county's traffic ordinance. It was suggested the frost law be enforced to help decrease the amount of road damage done by large farm equipment and trucks used in residential development.

"I really don't know what the answer is," Burns said. "Right now, I don't have the staff."

Finance committee

Brown gave a report of his meeting with the county council initiated finance committee. He reviewed the list of recommendations set forth by council committee members Ann Brown, Steve Ashby and Ron Slavens. Recommendations included to raise rates at Carroll Manor and for Emergency Medical Service (ambulance runs), account for all county museum monies and 'cut all new projects.'

Brown said he was unable to ascertain from committee members what "cut all new projects" meant.

"I don't feel like any of these recommendations really fix the problem," he stated. "I do not believe it (the problem) has a thing to do with the treasurer and the auditor not balancing out. There is nothing wrong with the accounting system."

Courthouse parking

Commissioners' president Loren Hylton requested auditor Beth Myers send an e-mail to all courthouse employees urging them to use parking facilities other than those around the perimeter of the courthouse. Hylton said when courthouse employees occupy those spots, customers of local businesses, as well as those visiting the courthouse, are inconvenienced.

Other business:

A one-year contract with Maximus was approved. The firm will provide government reimbursement consulting services to the county.

Emergency Management Agency Director Justin Darling was granted permission to submit a Homeland Security grant for $17,902.

Land was re-zoned south of the Sportsman Restaurant on Lake Freeman for a planned unit development.

Shafer Freeman Lakes Environmental Conservation Corporation was granted permission to participate in a feasibility study to raise the Tioga Pedestrian Bridge on behalf of Carroll County.

Marion Hathaway was appointed to Camden-Jackson Township Library Board.

Commissioners will meet in a work session May 21 at 1 p.m. to discuss Economic Development Income Tax distributions. The public is invited to attend.

The next commissioners' meeting will be May 21 at 9 a.m.

Drainage Board

Vreba-Hoff Dairy representative David Gerdeman P.E. presented a final detailed drainage plan for the proposed facility in Democrat Township. He reviewed plans for a retention basin and manure lagoons with concerned citizens. He said soil from the excavations will be used onsite for construction of the facility.

"We have the advantage to significantly improve the drainage in the area," Gerdeman said noting the county has no drainage ordinances to satisfy.

County surveyor Wayne Chapman said the dairy would affect the John Brook and George Primer drains. Clean runoff will eventually empty into the Middlefork drain.

Gerdeman said there would be no negative effect to surrounding land or water areas.

"There will be no impact on wetlands," he said. "If I'm not telling you the truth, my license could be pulled."

He explained a four-foot deep exploratory trench will be dug completely around the perimeter of the dairy to discover hidden tiles. Those discovered will be rerouted.

Chapman said the drains outside of the facility will become the responsibility of the county to maintain while those inside the facility will be maintained by the dairy operator.

Drainage board members commissioners Brown, Hylton and George Mears took the plan under advisement. No approval was issued. The matter will be discussed at the next drainage board meeting scheduled for June 4 at 8:30 a.m.