Keith O'Brien of TBird Engineering and Surveying, Lafayette, said with seven years of documentation to back the town up, it is time for Flora to hire an attorney to go to IDEM to have the agreed order removed and amend the town's wastewater permit.

He made the recommendation at Monday night's meeting of the Flora Town Council.

O'Brien said that by state law, every time there is an overflow of the town's wastewater system, McCarty must report it to IDEM. In the last seven years, he has made 90 reports of which only seven created violations.

"The plant is running very efficiently, despite the fact that it exceeds limitations," he said. "However, the plant is unnecessarily treating wastewater that is really ground water entering the system.

Residents of Flora and Bringhurst who have roof down spouts that are tied into the sewer system must correct them and make sure they are discharging out into the ground, he said. It is the property owner's responsibility to prove that their run-off is not infiltrating the sewer system.

Sump pumps cannot discharge into the sewers either, he added.

"This is all water that does not have to be treated," said O'Brien. "We're fighting issues of infiltration and we must get rid of any known problems."

McCarty is available to work with property owners to come up with solutions to infiltration problems.

Economic Development Corp.

Carroll County Economic Development Director Daryl Smith shared highlights from a strategic directions study for the county which the town helped finance. He cited three strategic imperatives that were identified in the study to grow and diversify the county's economy and tax base. They are: 1) build on leadership in agriculture; 2) create a real estate development plan; and 3) raise the money.

Smith said the CCEDC will ask the county council to consider raising the Economic Development Income Tax (EDIT) which is currently .1% to Carroll County's maximum capped rate of .25%.

This should provide needed funds for the initiatives to move the county forward that are proposed in the study, said Smith.

"Carroll County is behind the curve," added Bret Hanaway, president of the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce and one of Flora's representatives on the CCEDC.

He explained that they are looking for county-wide support to initiate projects that will create new jobs, retain current jobs, and help the county diversity its economic base.

Hanaway suggested that the council write a letter to the county council stating its support of raising the EDIT.

Electronic copies of the strategic directions report can be obtained by calling the CCEDC office at (765) 564-2060

The recent death of Charlie Meade has created a vacancy on

the CCEDC. Meade was one of Flora's three representatives, begins engineer along with Hanaway and Bret Rinehart.

Anyone interested in completing Meade's term is asked to contact a council member before the next meeting, March 3, when a replacement is expected to be named.

Rinehart suggested that past management experience is a plus for those serving on the CCEDC.

Carroll County YMCA

Rinehart, representing the Carroll County YMCA, said that for the bank to proceed with a 20-year mortgage, it wants the Y property rezoned to general business.

Town attorney Dick T. Bishop will create a letter of intent to start the rezoning process that will be an amendment to the town's master plan.

Other business

Council President Josh Ayres reported appraisals for properties the town is considering purchasing on East Main Street for a future fire station. For the property at 108 W. Main St., The Appraisal Shop estimated $46,000, while Jack Cross estimated $43,000. Estimates for the property at 112 W. Main St. were $18,000, The Appraisal Shop, and $17,500, Jack Cross.

Councilman Vince Seward recommended that the council table the decision until seeing the plans because then it may be clear whether or not the town needs to purchase one or both of the properties.

McCarty requested town officials put in writing the following: 1) giving him the authority to sign paperwork, 2) approving him the use of a town truck to drive home in the event of a snow storm, and 3) allowing wastewater treatment employees who are on call on weekends to drive a town vehicle home. It was noted that the electric and water employees who are on call on weekends are allowed to drive town vehicles home for the weekend.

"What's fair for one is fair for all," said Albaugh.

All three requests were approved.

Ron Fritz has been hired by the town as a lineman apprentice. He began his employment on Jan. 28.

Utilities crews have started trimming trees out of power lines and that work will continue through spring.

The plan commission approved a building permit to DK Construction for alteration of the former Sayco building on SR 75.

Town officials renewed the farm lease for two years at a cost of $4,450 per year (24 acres at $180 per acre).

The police department's report for January included: 9 arrests/ misdemeanors, 5 felonies, 19 citations, 1 parking violation, 17 warnings, 130 calls for service, 4 accidents, and 3 warrants served.

The council transferred $50,000 into the town's Rainy Day Fund.

Town officials will attend a legislative reception Feb. 13 in Indianapolis.

The town office will be closed Feb. 18 in observance of President's Day.

The next meeting will be March 3 at 6 p.m.