Unexpected bridge costs socked to county
By Debbie Lowe Staff writer

The last thing Carroll County needed to hear at the Monday morning commissioners' meeting was that two former bridge projects were not quite paid for. But that's exactly what faced county leaders when highway superintendent Ron Francis gave his report.

An outstanding change order for the Lancaster Covered Bridge, completed in 2007 for $35,569.77, was presented to commissioners for approval to pay. Francis said although the change order is 600 days delinquent, according to the Indiana Department of Transportation, the highway department had no record of it. Francis reported Aceon Engineering advised him the county's financial obligation to the project had ended and no money was encumbered into the 2008 budget for the bridge.

In addition, a disputed change order for $15,811.24 from 2000 for the Maxwell Bridge was recently resolved by INDOT. Francis said it was determined the money was owed by the county to the engineering firm hired for the project, which was finished in 2001. Francis said he did not know where the change orders for either project could be located in order to check facts.

Francis recommended he request an additional appropriation from the cumulative bridge fund to pay for the Lancaster Bridge bill and a transfer from Bridge 129 for the Maxwell Bridge issue at the upcoming Wednesday morning council meeting. He said failure to pay the designated amount to INDOT for the Lancaster project would result in no more federal funds for the county until the bill was paid.

Although commissioners' attorney Barry Emerson explained transfers would be more "palatable" to the council for consideration and recommended transferring both amounts out of the Bridge 129 account, Francis said he wanted to preserve money in that account to be able to share the cost of raising and rehabilitating the Tioga Bridge as a walking bridge. Francis said some who donated money to the Tioga Bridge project "would be upset" if county funding for the project was interrupted or stopped.

Bill Brown moved to approve Francis' recommendation to request an additional appropriation for the Lancaster Bridge and a transfer for the Maxwell Bridge.

Flood update

Francis reported the highway department made 162 trips with debris to various landfills. The cost so far to dump the refuge is $10,791. Fuel costs have not been computed.

Francis said he will ask the council for an additional appropriation to pay the dump fees until reimbursement is possibly received from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

It was determined by consensus that Feb. 8 will be the last day the department will haul debris to a landfill.

"I think you've done an outstanding job," Brown said. "But it can't go on forever."

Carroll Manor

Grant administrator Tina Henderson presented a claim from Cooley Construction for $74,188 for the renovation/elevator project at Carroll Manor. She said that was the last claim for the project from the contractor.

Concern about the lack of progress by the contractor was expressed by commissioners and council member Steve Ashby. Ashby said the project was supposed to be completed by Dec. 31 and Carroll Manor was already given one extension to the end of February to complete the project because the contractor "was not showing up." Henderson said she could ask for another extension if needed. Henderson said the county is required to maintain the facility, or an eligible activity, for five years after the project is completed and a monitoring period begins.

Commissioners approved payment to Cooley for $6,002, which was the amount remaining from the $500,000 grant to spend. They withheld $68,186, the balance of the claim. The matter is to be discussed at the next commissioners' meeting with the contractor, the design engineer, superintendent Martha Lewis and Henderson.

EDC

Carroll County Economic Development Director Daryl Smith presented a report of strategic directions outlining a five-year strategies plan for EDC. Three imperatives for future growth were emphasized. They were: • Build on leadership in agriculture; • Create a real estate development plan; and • Raise money.

Smith said EDC must "tackle controversy" in order to build on current agriculture leadership and reach out to agrelated businesses and services to become located within the county.

EDC plans to purchase options to buy or lease land suitable for development and at least one parcel within a month as part of the real estate development plan. He said target locations included land adjacent to the Hoosier Heartland Highway near other businesses for expansion and attraction.

Carroll County Chamber of Commerce Vice President Dick Bradshaw explained the need for funding to enhance the economic development of the county. He said the economic development income tax "is the perfect vehicle to make these things happen."

EDC and chamber projects to fund included: • Acquire shovel-ready sites which could include the purchase, lease, rent or option on land, accept land donations, utilize land already belonging to Carroll County, assist private parties to obtain land and funding for grants and legal expenses related to land acquisition; • Promote the county with comprehensive signage; • Develop a countywide database; • Create, maintain and improve local government Web sites; • Erect a welcome center near the HHH; and • Support the comprehensive land use development plan with funding, monitoring the plan and promoting an updated zoning ordinance.

Other projects included training for business owners, marketing the county by networking and supporting nongovernmental groups to promote economic development in the county.

Bradshaw said a formal request to the council to raise EDIT from .10 to .25 will be made at the Wednesday morning council meeting. He said the plan would be for the money generated by the increase to be put aside for EDC and chamber activities.

In a follow-up Comet interview, Bradshaw said approximately $468,000 total new tax revenue would be raised by the increase. However, that money would be divided among other cities and towns in the county. The commissioners would realize approximately $250,000 for the proposed projects. He said commissioners would decide which projects to fund, but the money would be dedicated entirely to economic development and utilized only by EDC and the county chamber.

Flood damage assessments

As opposed to what was previously reported, county assessor Doris McLeland advised property reassessments for flood damaged buildings and land would be for the 2007 assessment, pay 2008, tax year. McLeland was given permission to request a transfer of $12,000 to hire a firm to provide the work.

McLeland said the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance informed her office of the correct procedure. She said it was clear that the reassessments would be for 2007.

DLGF Field Representative Steve McKinney agreed with McLeland and told the Comet Monday afternoon that IC 6- 1.1-4-11 permits a form of disaster relief for these types of events. He said the next reassessment date is in March so technically, the recent flood occurred in 2007 for assessment purposes. He said all adjustments are to be made by Dec. 31, 2008.

McKinney urged anyone with flood damage to call (888) 739-9826 to request a form or go to the Web site at and click on 'forms' for a download. The document should then be sent to the county assessor's office on the first floor of the courthouse.

Other business

The revised road excavation ordinance was approved and is effective immediately. It will be published twice in the Comet. A $500 violation fee component was added.

The county will share GIS data mapping with Delphi. All costs associated with the project will be assumed by the city.

A four-year contract for a $14,500/year lease to house the county extension office was approved.

Additional fire alarms and smoke detectors will be purchased out of the cumulative capital improvement fund, with council approval, for $1,624.30. The equipment was recently required by insurance inspectors.

A bridge inspection report was presented by Leo Rumschlag, the county-hired bridge inspector. After comparing bridge conditions in 2005 and 2007, he said "things are better than they used to be."

A copy of the report can be viewed at the county highway department in Flora.

An application for Ina K. Small to Carroll Manor was approved.

Jefferson Township resident Pat Robertson urged commissioners to halt all CAFO construction until the health and environmental impact studies can be done to determine health risks.

"I'm really concerned," she said. "I think you should step back and take a look at it. If we're going to err at all, let's err in favor of the health of the citizens."

The engineering firm of Butler, Fairman and Seufert, along with the county, was recognized with a plaque for work done on the Carrollton Bridge. Payroll for $171,289.16 was approved after Brown was assured by auditor Beth Myers there was money in the general fund to pay the claims. County general claims for $114,541.41 and other county operating claims for $48,536.38 were approved. County highway claims for $64,813.38 were approved.

The next meeting will be Feb. 18 at 6 p.m.

Drainage Board

County surveyor Wayne Chapman's annual report indicated there were 55 work orders in 2007, which was less than the 62 for 2006. According to the report, $95,581.55 was spent for 2007 work, however only $52,604.96 from individual drain accounts was used to pay for the work. The 9050 drainage improvement account, with a current balance of $126,746.02 was used for the difference.

The next meeting will be March 3 at 8:30 a.m.