No decision about Deer Creek Park sale
By Debbie Lowe Staff writer

Two out of the three Carroll County Commissioners heard from opposing sides about the possible sale of Deer Creek Park at Monday's night meeting. Commissioner Bill Brown was not present. No decision was made and the matter was taken under advisement for additional consideration.

County council member Nancy Cripe appeared on behalf of the council to request commissioners sell the park. She cited the financial crisis of the county and the $57,072.52 spent on both parks, Deer Creek and French Post, in the past three and a half years as reasons for the request.

Cripe said approximately 70 percent of Deer Creek Park's budget was spent on the caretakers and the building.

"The council believes selling the park is in the best interest of the county," she advised commissioners. "The council feels it's not a good use of taxpayer dollars."

However, others in the audience disagreed with the council's recommendation.

Park board member Don Yerkes said the park had been utilized more this year than in the past. He said all of the safety concerns expressed earlier in the year, plus additional ones, have been satisfactorily addressed.

An adjacent property owner said he noticed "a lot of people using the park" this summer.

"We just don't feel it's a necessary expenditure," Cripe responded.

Cripe reported there was a need for new mowers at Deer Creek Park, which would be an additional expense. She said other recreational parks exist, such as those in Camden, Burlington, Flora and Delphi, plus fishing and canoeing opportunities at Knop Lake, on the Tippecanoe and Wabash rivers and Wildcat Creek.

"I believe it is a county asset," park board president Bob Burton said. "If you sell it, it's gone."

Burton said that there is more activity than meets the eye at the park. He said most of the activity is below the hill behind the community building and out of sight to people passing by.

Caretaker Rex Gangloff reported the park has hosted more visitors since a recent Comet article about the park.

"We are in dire financial straits," council member Steve Ashby said. "This is the beginning of more to come."

"The park may do a lot of good," he continued. "But we have a lot of things that do a lot of good that we can't afford."

Commissioner president Loren Hylton invited the public to provide input about the issue. *see this issue's Comet Web poll question concerning this matter.

TLRSD

Opponents to the Twin Lakes Regional Sewer District were denied a request for a special commissioners' meeting.

Opponents' representative Dean Trennepohl said there were "other pressing matters" which needed to be addressed before the next regularly scheduled meeting, but would not disclose what the "pressing matters" were about. Trennepohl said the group wanted to appear before all three commissioners, noting Brown's absence.

"I see no reason for a special meeting," commissioners' attorney Barry Emerson said. "I just don't see the need."

The county leaders were informed approximately 425 petitioners, rep- resented by Monticello attorney Wayne Holmes, filed documents in Carroll Circuit Court to establish a Jefferson Township Conservancy District. Trennepohl said the special meeting was not a discussion of that court action.

"I invite you back on July 2," Hylton told the group.

Wayne Garrison, Carroll County's representative on the sewer district board of directors, said his group would be present at the same meeting with their attorney.

Highway department

Superintendent Ron Francis presented a $7,223 positive change order from the Carrollton Bridge project. The money will be allocated back into the cumulative capital bridge fund.

County resident Carl Perry suggested the county establish truck routes to funnel truck traffic to state-maintained roads.

Sheriff's Office

Sheriff Tony Burns reported the need to purchase 13 furnaces and air conditioning units for the jail facility. He said he purchased one set, which solved the problem of overheating the computer servers. Burns said over the years parts of the system were replaced with non-compatible parts and the airflow is now compromised.

He said more than $3,000 was spent on repairs to the system since the first of the year.

"We're throwing good money away," he said.

Burns also recommended a committee be established to discuss courthouse security.

"I think courthouse security is something we need to look at," he said. "We need to sit down as a group."

Burns said the committee should have representatives from the council, commissioners, judges and elected officials.

He advised he would be asking for an armed bailiff in his 2008 budget to provide the minimum amount of security.

"It's just something we need to get started," he concluded.

Other business

Attorney Jeff Rider, on behalf of client Joyce Shaw, was granted a vacation of an alley in Owasco.

Twin Lakes High School will use the courthouse on April 26, 2008, for a prom.

Claims for $89,449.53 were approved.

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