Zoning administrator job to be re-advertised
By Debbie Lowe Staff writer

Carroll County Area Plan Commission met in special session Thursday night to decide how to fill the zoning administrator's position. Dale Huffer announced his retirement, effective Feb. 29, in November. APC initially received two applications for the position and although one candidate was selected, he declined the offer due to the salary level.

APC voted to re-advertise the position in surrounding area newspapers and on the Internet at specific sites frequented by zoning administrators and planners. Salary enhancement suggestions included making the position part-time while maintaining the current salary level and asking other entities, which benefit from the zoning administrator work such as Delphi and outlying towns, to contribute to the salary.

Applications will be due Feb. 21 at noon. Anyone interested in the position can call Huffer at (765) 564-4468 or visit the office on the second floor of the courthouse to speak with the zoning administrator.

APC met in regular session Jan. 29. Four members were present and three were absent. Bob McCain was chosen as president and Fred Wise, vice president. Huffer was named zoning administrator until retirement and Kathy Mylet, secretary. Local attorney Patrick Manahan was appointed as legal counsel, although he expressed his desire at an earlier meeting to be replaced. He was not present for the January meeting. Compensatory time was approved for Huffer and Mylet for 2008.

Mary Brown of Democrat Township urged APC members to consider making concentrated animal feeding operation permits special exceptions. She said a dog kennel is a special exception in Carroll County, but not a large confined animal operation.

Progress of the development of the comprehensive land use plan and amended zoning ordinances was discussed. Huffer said the steering committee recently met with the consultant for the project.

"There are some pretty sharp people on the steering committee," Huffer said. "They are doing a pretty fine job."

He said the contractual beginning date with Ground Rules, the firm hired to develop the plan, was February 2007. The county has been billed for approximately 25 percent of the total contract cost.

"It hasn't moved as fast as we'd like to see it move," he said.

The next APC meeting will be Feb. 26 at 7 p.m.