Commissioners seek federal SR75 extension funding
By Debbie Lowe Staff writer

A request by American Structurepoint to apply for federal appropriations from Congressman Joe Donnelly's office on behalf of Carroll County was unanimously approved at Monday's meeting of the Carroll County Commissioners. The funds would be used to build an extension to SR75 north from Camden to the proposed Hoosier Heartland Highway. The fee for the service is $15,000, but will only be paid if funding for the project is secured and used by the county, according to commissioners' attorney Barry Emerson.

Commissioner George Mears said a significant amount of the state's total production of corn, soybeans and hogs is produced in Carroll County. He said the road was needed to aid in getting goods to market in the most efficient manner.

According to Hoosier Heartland Corridor Lobbyist Mark Davis, there is no current INDOT plan for an extension connection to the new highway. However, Davis is in favor of Carroll County seeking federal funding to build the extension. He said it is conceivable INDOT would alter the project plan to include a junction where SR75 would meet the road.

"It is a good idea to extend SR75 to connect to the new highway," Davis told the Comet Monday afternoon. "The commissioners are pursuing this in the correct way. It is the logical next step in the process."

Animal control

Tricia Davis, owner of Tricia's Dog House and Pet Savers, a no-kill animal shelter on Range Line Rd. asked commissioners to intercede with current county animal control policy. She said the county no longer accepts litters of puppies at Dr. Lawrence Stauffer's facility, which provides shelter services to the county.

"Unwanted puppies should never be brought into this world," Davis said as she detailed what happens to puppies when they are not wanted after being born.

Davis explained she had a good working relationship with Stauffer for five years, but recently the county policy changed and she is no longer able to continue the working relationship as it was. She said her shelter accepts between 400 and 600 animals each year from county residents for no cost to the county.

Davis requested commissioners insist pet owners spay and neuter their animals to prevent further overpopulation and to let Stauffer work with her facility again. Additionally, she asked that every county resident be taxed $1 for free or reduced-cost spay and neuter services. She said she hosts similar services each Friday in Lafayette.

Commissioners Bill Brown referred Davis to the county council to request an additional tax be levied. He suggested funding sources after the shelter receives a federal identification number for tax exempt donations and grants. Highway department

Bid acceptance was delayed for rehabilitation of Bridge #36. Bids received significantly exceeded engineer's estimates, according to highway superintendent Ron Francis.

Francis gave three solutions to the problem that included rejecting all bids and re-bidding the project, using money left over from the Lancaster Covered Bridge project or delaying the project until 2008 to accumulate more appropriated funds in the bridge account.

"What direction would you like me to go?" Francis asked.

Brown moved to accept the low bid from Jack Isom Construction pending council approval of a transfer of $40,000 from the Lancaster Bridge fund. Mears, who provided the second to the motion, said he was "slightly concerned" about the bridge not being planned for widening.

"If we spend that kind of money, it (the bridge) should be a minimum of 20 feet," he said.

Upon hearing Mears' concern, Brown withdrew his motion and moved to table the matter until the Aug. 6 meeting.

CR1250W and CR1200W, south of CR725 near Oakdale, will be rebuilt with the chip and seal method of road repair.

Area plan

A re-zoning request by Jonathon and Jean Randle for their Wells Street property in Delphi to be zoned agricultural was denied.

Commissioners urged the property owners to install appropriate fencing to contain livestock used as 4-H projects.

Sheriff's department

T & M Heating and Cooling of Flora will repair and replace air conditioning and heating equipment at the jail for $42,288.30. Sheriff Tony Burns said he does not have adequate funding in his budget for the work.

Commissioners accepted the bid "pending council approval" of a transfer of $35,000 from the cumulative capital improvement projects fund.

According to Mike Wirt of Terra Environmental Corporation, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management directed the owners of Bassett and Talbert on Main St. in Delphi to provide additional monitoring of wells near the corner of Main and Wabash streets.

Terra Environmental, a subcontractor for Bassett and Talbert, was given permission to dig a 12-15 foot deep well on jail property for additional monitoring. Wirt explained there would be no cost to the county, but the measure was necessary before a clean-up could be performed. He said IDEM required an additional monitoring well be implemented for additional data collection.

Other business

Emergency Management Agency Director Justin Darling was granted permission to transfer a Jeep Cherokee from Emergency Medical Services to EMA for the fire investigation unit. Darling will dispose of an ambulance from that unit.

An application to Carroll Manor for Inese Ukstins was tentatively approved.

Electric service wires for the renovation project at Carroll Manor have to be moved. The decision to place them above or underground was tabled until a cost analysis is done for the work. A consideration in the analysis will be the cost of lost crops by the farmer who cashrents the ground from the county in which the lines will be placed.

Ordinance 2007-07 was adopted pending council approval. The ordinance reduced the amount paid for veterans' burials from $1,000 to $250 each. Forty burials were funded at the $1,000 level in 2006.

County resident Galen Perry requested investigation of a manure spill that happened approximately two weeks ago on CR350E. Perry said adequate clean-up of the area did not happen and manure is still standing on the ground.

Perry said the site is near the Wildcat Creek. He predicted manure would be washed into the creek in the event of a rain.

Loren Hylton announced letters of support are still needed for the Yeoman/EMS garage project and can be sent to the auditor's office.

Perry also requested commissioners provide sound amplification in the commissioners' meeting room because it is difficult for all proceedings to be heard by the audience.

Payroll claims for $182,630.97 were approved.

The next meeting will be Aug. 6 at 9 a.m.