Focusing on the cost of an empty bed in conjunction with the desire to enhance the population count at Carroll Manor, Carroll County Commissioners adopted an ordinance to add a mid-step payment rate between state reimbursement and private pay. The action was made retroactive to May 1, 2008.

Manor superintendent Martha Lewis reported some residents have too much income to qualify for state assistance but are not able to pay the private rate of $56/day. She said four residents left the home last spring due to the increase in private pay rate and no way was provided for them to pay anything other than the rate set based on the cost of services provided.

Commissioner Bill Brown clarified that commissioners were charged with the evaluation of the county cost as well as resident's ability to pay. He said commissioners were responsible to provide a home for those who could not pay for care elsewhere.

Lewis said the measure could possibly help to fill more beds at the facility. She requested the ordinance become effective retroactively because some residents, who would benefit from a negotiated rate, stayed at the county home without paying the private pay rate for several months in anticipation of the change.

County road extension

A request for $5.4 million in earmark funding for the project to connect SR75 with the Hoosier Heartland Highway, via a new county road, between Rockfield and Burrows, to be sent to Senator Evan Bayh was endorsed. According to commissioner George Mears, drivers would be forced to gain access to the highway at either Rockfield or Burrows without the project.

Commissioners' president Loren Hylton said successful county economic development depended in part on the county road project.

Boerman Carroll Dairy

Democrat Township resident Jerry Carter reported the dairy under construction on CR600S. appears to be sitting idle. He said according to state statute the construction company is obligated to provide erosion control. Carter distributed photos of the area which were approximately two days old and depicted no erosion control measures in place.

Carter requested commissioners act on the information provided. He predicted county drain tile would be clogged without the use of erosion control. He urged the drainage board and county surveyor to enforce the code.

"We should not be letting this happen," he said.

Drainage board president Mears said he would review the situation with county surveyor Wayne Chapman.

Carroll County EDC

Mears announced all three county appointments to the Carroll County Economic Development Board of Directors will need to be replaced. The positions are currently occupied by Carroll County REMC CEO Ron Kennedy, who is leaving that position; county extension agent Paul Marcellino, who has already left that position, and Mears, who will be leaving that board Dec. 31.

No decision about the matter was made.

Highway Department

Outgoing highway superintendent Ron Francis introduced three department foremen, one of whom is Keith Barnes, who will assume leadership duties at the department until commissioners choose a formal replacement. Francis said Barnes joined the department in 1989. He recommended Barnes as his replacement with the county.

Letters of interest from four firms to provide engineering services for the county road extension of SR75 were opened. The letters will be discussed at the Nov. 3 commissioners meeting.

Leo Rumschlag was chosen to provide bridge inspections for the next four years.

The 2007 annual operational report for local roads and streets for the Indiana State Board of Accounts was approved. Copies of the document can be obtained at the county highway garage in Flora or can be viewed at the Comet's Delphi office.

Francis said the highway department was plagued with equipment problems which prevented expected progress with the chip and seal portion of the 2008 road plan. He said although repairs were made, work was halted due to adverse weather conditions.

Francis gave an emotional farewell to commissioners at the end of the highway department report saying it was a pleasure to work for them. Mears said Francis did the job under "less than ideal conditions." Barnes said highway department workers had become a team under Francis' leadership.

"He's a great guy, a great boss," he concluded.

Other business

The second round of bids for the Yeoman Community Center/EMS Garage project was opened. Six firms submitted proposals, which will be tabulated and evaluated by the Yeoman Town Board and the town engineer. A recommendation will be submitted to commissioners at the Nov. 3 business meeting.

Grant coordinator Amy Miller said all bids were "well within the project budget."

Mattox and Associates Architectural Services will prepare specifications, assist with the bid process, provide estimated cost and assist in the construction phase of the repair of the courthouse roof and tuck pointing. Cost for the design and overseeing service was set at $5,500 for the roofing and $5,000 for tuck pointing.

Emergency Medical Services Director Mike Durr explained ambulance service resources were strained with the number of calls received in conjunction with fewer employees and vehicles. However, he said two recent incidents in which response times were criticized were within reasonable time limits.

Durr emphasized that ambulance personnel do an excellent job of providing quality services, however he also emphasized there were not enough of them.

"This is a critical issue," he said.

He explained further budget reductions were under consideration by the county council.

Commissioner Brown called any decision to reduce additional funding for the department "stupid."

"I don't know what more can be said," he said.

Commissioners updated an EMS account write-off policy for accounts which were uncollectible.

Courthouse grounds signage approved: Delphi Tri-Township Volunteer Fire Dept. Auxiliary, Oct. 21 to Nov. 2, to advertise a fundraiser; Presbyterian Church, Oct. 30 to Nov. 8, to advertise a dinner.

The county health department will host a flu-shot clinic in the courthouse Oct. 25.

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