Carroll County Council met with James Higgins from London Witte Group LLC, the firm hired to advise the group about how to enact the most effective Local Option Income Tax hike for 2009. No decision was made and no vote was taken.

Higgins reported what the tax revenue would be from one option, which he believed council would adopt. However, all three LOIT options were discussed and weighed against current conditions in the county.

"There's only so much money in the general fund," council member Jerry Hendress said. "And there's only so many places it can go."

"How can we ask taxpayers to pay more?" Ann Brown asked, noting the national economy has changed significantly in the past few months resulting in lost jobs and the potential loss of tax revenues.

Three ordinances will be presented at the Nov. 24 budget adoption hearing. A decision about which options would benefit the county is expected at that time.

Other business

County assessor Doris McLeland was granted permission to replace outgoing first clerk Mary Ann Burton as well as the second deputy who will also move to the recorder's office when Burton assumes those duties Jan. 1.

A resolution to begin the process to explore options to sell the land around Carroll Manor to Indiana Packers Corporation was approved as presented by Carroll County Economic Development Director Daryl Smith. He refused to disclose appraisal information in a public meeting as requested by Hendress.

Ashby said he was against the sale of the land but would consider a land-swap. He said the land around the Manor was the guarantee the county could honor the $500,000 grant which funded recent facility renovations.

"I feel we have to start this process," Hendress said, calling IPC "community people."

Transfers approved:

• Custodian - $1,500 from repair buildings to repair equipment;

• Highway - $5,804.59 from stone, gravel and sand and $38 from trucks to calcium chloride salt; $1,000 from weed spray to tires and tubes; $1,075 and $830 from contractual service to uniforms and testing and safety supplies respectively; and $265 from office records to cleaning supplies; a request for $17,268.15 from trucks to other road equipment for a balloon payment on a road was tabled to receive more information about the proposed transaction.

The council was unable to address all transfer requests due to time constraints. Those items will be completed at the next meeting.

The next meeting will be Nov. 20 at 8:30 a.m.