Property owners may pay for driveway and field culvert construction
By Debbie Lowe Staff writer

Carroll County Commissioners heard a request to change the way driveway and field entrance culverts are funded Monday morning. If commissioners follow the highway department's recommendation, property owners will be paying for their own work.

Under the current procedure, as explained by highway superintendent Ron Francis, property owners who want to build a field entrance or driveway are required to apply for a building permit from the Area Plan Commission (APC) office. When the permit is granted, APC calls the highway department to assess the construction site. The property owner is charged for the pipe but the county provides installation and assumes all other costs.

Francis cited personnel cutbacks at the highway department and concerns about county finances when he recommended commissioners mandate property owners assume all costs for work on their land.

"I think it's the right thing to do," commissioner Bill Brown said.

"I don't think your request is unreasonable," added commissioners' president Loren Hylton.

Francis explained many property owners seem to be unaware of the current policy. Driveways and field entrance culverts are built without notifying the appropriate entities. Due to the oversight, the construction does not always meet county standards and can become a problem for the highway department when road work is planned near the properties.

Francis said due to a lack of an enforcement provision in the policy, no sanctions result from non-compliance with the policy.

A typical driveway project costs the county $211 when the policy is followed, according to Francis. Typical field-entrance culvert work costs between $311 and $522. Francis told the Comet Tuesday that since June 2005, 34 driveways and 13 field entrances were installed by the county. There have been 10 requests for similar services in 2007.

A decision about the change in policy will be made at the first commissioners' meeting in June. The public is invited to weigh in on the decision by contacting a commissioner prior to the June 4 meeting or attend at 9 a.m. to voice an opinion.

TIF districts recommended

Carroll County Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Daryl Smith presented an overview of the recent economic history of the county. He reported the unemployment rate decreased in 2005-2006, however there were 12 fewer workers in the county.

"Every job is important," Smith said.

He emphasized the dairy planned for Democrat Township is expected to generate 25 to 35 new jobs and the two recent expansions at Indiana Packers Corporation means approximately 400 new jobs in the community. The new Optima Dairy, planned for Liberty Township, is expected to employ an additional 15 to 18 new hires.

Smith advised Carroll County is the number one hog producing county in the state, is the top corn and soybean producer per acre in the state and is among the top ten overall producers of wheat and corn in the state.

Smith suggested the use of tax increment financing (TIF) districts to pay for infrastructure that would entice businesses to the community. He explained a TIF district would raise money for infrastruc- ture without raising county taxes.

Brown recommended making the area where the Democrat Township dairy would be located a TIF district to pay for reconstruction of CR600S. However, the amount of additional real estate taxes the business would produce is unknown at this time.

Commissioners' attorney Barry Emerson was asked to research and determine the feasibility of the measure. Emerson noted there would be an additional cost to find out about the additional tax revenue from any new business in the community.

Smith said EDC is actively pursuing two companies that use waste to produce power and there are plans to develop a business incubator to aid in growing local businesses.

Lancaster Covered Bridge

The Lancaster Covered Bridge will be dedicated June 16 at 3 p.m. as part of the third annual Transportation Festival.

The original plan was to dedicate Carrollton Bridge, however finish work will not be completed in time.

Traffic ordinance

Amendments to the county uniform traffic ordinance were adopted. Changes will be advertised for two weeks in the Comet prior to the effective date.

Other business

The 4-H Community Building in Flora will be used by Old German Baptist Church Aug 12.

Courthouse grounds sign usage was approved for Delphi Lions June 15 to July 7 and Delphi Rotary Club June 23 to July 7.

Carroll Manor application for Wilmer L. Hodges as approved.

The next meeting will be June 4 at 9 a.m. County drainage board will meet on the same day at 8:30 a.m. A request to approve final drainage plans for the Democrat Township dairy will be discussed at both meetings.