Commissioners grapple with budget cutbacks
By Debbie Lowe Staff writer

Most, if not all, county departments suffered 2008 budget decreases announced by the Carroll County Council last month. One of those offices was the Carroll County Commissioners.

Commissioners were faced with an additional round of woes at the Monday night meeting. They faced the problem of adjusting services to match allocations in Emergency Medical Services, county parks and animal control.

EMS director Mike Durr explained the modified service plans developed for Jefferson Township, plus Clay and Democrat townships.

There will be a chase, or non-transporting, vehicle available in Jefferson Township that will decrease building and utility costs for the county, Durr explained. He said the vehicle will be equipped with the highest level of service items on it, except a cot. A transportation vehicle will be dispatched to the scene of the emergency if needed. Durr said Monticello EMS will provide additional coverage.

"I still feel comfortable that we can still give good care," Durr told commissioners.

Durr said he thought the council had the best in mind for the citizens when they were developing the budget reductions.

"I think we have the best that we can have, given the money available," he said.

Durr said an annual contract for $9,124 with the volunteer Rossville Ambulance Service was not funded for 2008. He said his plan was to strike a deal with Rossville to continue to provide coverage in conjunction with Carroll County EMS.

Commissioner Bill Brown said he did not want to lose the Rossville service. He said he did not agree with the council's decision to not fund the contract when, at approximately $600/run and a collection rate of 60 percent would return more than the amount of the contract to the county.

Commissioners encouraged Durr to strive to provide the most service possible to county residents with the 2008 funding level.

Carroll County Parks Board President Bob Burton asked for a commitment to not sell Deer Creek Park. He said he wanted to "work something out with the custodians" for which funding was removed in the 2008 budget. He said it would be futile to work out an agreement with them if the county was going to sell the park.

Burton said one suggestion was for the board to charge for fishing privileges.

Commissioners' president Loren Hylton said no decision could be made prior to the November joint meeting with commissioners and council.

"I'm opposed to selling the park," Brown said.

Commissioner George Mears suggested building a boat ramp to attract canoeists.

No action was taken to establish a fee schedule.

A third department head requested modified services due to 2008 funding reductions.

Sheriff Tony Burns said the Carroll County Animal Control Commission met last Wednesday. He presented a registration ordinance from Montgomery County and suggested commissioners adopt a similar document as soon as possible to help fund the service to all county townships.

"I think it's something we need to look at," Burns said. "The need is evident and verifiable with records in my office."

Burns said there have been 14 dog bite cases in 2007. He stressed that each township should participate in the modified services. He said every township has had at least one animal control call this year.

No action was taken to establish an ordinance requiring pet registration for a small fee, much like the one the state recently discontinued.

Highway Department

Highway superintendent Ron Francis announced the 2007 installment of Major Moves money was recently received. He said highway workers were "taking care of small projects" while they waited for the money to arrive. Francis said he will accomplish as much as possible of the 2007 road plan this season now that funding has arrived.

A contract with American Structure Point for the rehabilitation of the Burnett's Creek Arch was signed. He said the cost to the county was approximately $350,000 in match for a $1,000,000 rehabilitation grant. According to auditor Beth Myers, the county share will come out of the cumulative bridge tax rate included in local property tax assessments.

Francis said the bridge is the oldest stone arch to be used as a road in Indiana.

Francis said there were workers on call in case a tree fell on a county road. Residents can call the sheriff's department for the workers to be dispatched to the scene after hours.

Francis encouraged those who want to report potholes to call the highway garage in Flora at (574) 967-4244 or to e-mail him at

Other business

Burns said he became aware of an opportunity to secure office furniture as a donation for county departments. Filing cabinets and conference tables were mentioned as items available. He said department heads could contact him with a list of needs.

Mears requested conference tables for the commissioners' meeting room to replace the one table used by the council for meetings.

Conservancy district proponent Terry Dill presented color photos depicting algae in the Hardy Ditch, which is a discharge site of the Twin Lakes Regional Sewer District (TLRSD) Waste Water Treatment Plant in Idaville.

Dill predicted a worse scenario when Rattlesnake Creek begins to receive discharge. He said TLRSD would change the ecosystem of the creek. He suggested that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would eventually require Carroll County to clean up "the green creeks" in the future.

Delphi Ladies Fire Auxiliary will have a sign on the courthouse lawn Oct. 20 to Nov. 4, Delphi Lions will advertise the 2007 Christmas Parade from Nov. 3 to Dec. 1, and a pancake breakfast Nov. 17 to Dec. 1 with signs on the lawn.

The next meeting will be Nov. 3 at 9 a.m.