Actions speak louder than words and in the case of what will happen to Carroll Manor and its residents, the actions of the principal players need to be carefully examined.

The community has heard for months that all the "bad press" and the actions of the county council have impeded population growth. The community has heard what a beautiful facility the Manor is and how wonderfully the residents are cared for inside the brick walls. And those walls contain the new elevator awaiting the chance to carry new residents to their rooms on the second floor. Everyone has heard how staff has taken a self-imposed pay cut to be able to pay the bills to keep the doors open.

However, examination of the money end of things gives the community a very different picture.

Some in the community have heard that the county council, as a body, wants to close the facility. Yet the facility continued to receive funding in 2008. And it continues to receive funding today. That is not the action of a body that wants to close a facility. Instead, it is the action of people who indicated closing the facility is not the desired effect with budget reductions. If it was, the funding would be stopped. It was halted for the museum and animal control. Council members know how to cut off funding.

Instead, the council appropriated funding for the Manor and its residents while making the sheriff and the ambulance service thin out their herds.

The community has heard that superintendent Martha Lewis has worked endlessly to bring in new residents. She was told by the council two weeks ago the number of residents currently housed at the Manor dictated the cost per day would have to be $63 per resident. However, she did not appear at the Aug. 18 meeting to request a rate hike. Her actions did not support her words about wanting to keep the facility open for the residents.

According to "Here's Your Indiana Government," county homes were established to house those who could not afford to live anywhere else. Those are called "indigent" residents and the State of Indiana provides guidelines to determine who is to be considered "indigent."

Lewis said during budget hearings that she has only one person, among 14 residents, who qualified as "indigent." That means that taxpayers are supporting those who, in most other counties in Indiana, would be supporting themselves.

Commissioners approve all new admissions to the Manor. It is their job, according to "Here's Your Indiana Government," to oversee the operations at the county home and the superintendent. When they approve an admission, they do not ensure the person is "indigent." And they do not initiate rate hikes that would enable the continued operation of the Manor.

It is up to taxpayers to demand the actions of those in charge match their words or make a change. Voice your concern to those in charge of how the Manor is managed. You are paying for it.