Mylet appointed to top zoning job in split decision
By Debbie Lowe Staff writer

Mylet

Zoning enforcement, issuing building permits and Indiana Code interpretation were just some of the duties listed at the Monday morning Carroll County Commissioners meeting for the county zoning administrator position. It took two rounds of advertisement and interviews of nine individuals before Area Plan Commission members chose to recommend the person who served as APC secretary for two years for the top job.

Some audience members urged commissioners to pause before deciding whom to appoint to the position. Delphi City Council member Kyle Germond requested the decision be tabled to more fully explore available options. He asked commissioners to look at all applicants, review their backgrounds and decline the recommendation of APC.

Delphi resident Anita Werling echoed Germond's request. She suggested commissioners gather as much information as possible before making the appointment. She noted given the county financial situation, funding for the department was uncertain. She said it would be unfair to Mylet to accept a full-time position only to have it reduced to part-time in the near future.

Werling suggested communities that contribute to the department funding might be encouraged to provide additional money for the administrator position.

Huffer explained the department receives funding from other communities, except Flora. George Mears said he did not realize that Flora had its own planning commission and did not participate in the county plan commission.

Werling said commissioners could decide to hire a person with higher education in planning for the zoning administrator post. She advised that APC had not yet increased building permit fees to help the department's financial picture.

"We are facing a very important crossroads here," she said.

Current administrator Huffer announced his retirement, planned for the end of February, in November. He agreed to continue working in the office until March 14 and urged commissioners to fill the position before his departure.

"I'm confident we have somebody good here," Bill Brown said.

Mylet said she has a degree and has developed a new fee structure and a plan for the department.

Brown moved to appoint Mylet to the position. Mears provided the second. The motion passed in a two-to-one vote. Hylton said he thought the commissioners should investigate options before taking action.

Personnel policy

Citing a lack of a cost structure and scope of work, commissioners refused to approve a letter of engagement with Muncie firm Wagoner, Erwin and Shields recommended by county council to develop a county personnel policy manual.

"This doesn't give me enough information to know what I'm doing," Brown said.

Hylton suggested the firm present a proposal for consideration or commissioners attorney Barry Emerson make revisions in the current manual.

"The difficult part is knowing what you really want," Emerson said. "One size does not fit all."

Council member Ann Brown said there would be "no way" to reduce expenses until the policy is reworked.

"There are laws to go by," she said.

"It's not responsible for us to sign an open-ended bill," Mears said.

"I won't sign it. There's no way we can do that," Brown concluded.

Hylton noted commissioners wanted to hire the same firm four years ago for a county government efficiency study but the council did not support the spending decision at that time.

Compensatory time claim

A claim for 789 hours of compensatory time and 72 hours of unused vacation time for a total of $11,098.29 was presented for approval by former county employee and historical museum director Phyllis Moore. After interpretation of the personnel policy manual and research of the Indiana Code concerning statute of limitations by Emerson, it was determined the former county employee could only legally claim 404.5 compensatory hours and 72 vacation hours. Commissioners unanimously approved she be paid for the time with her final pay rate of $12.89.

Slavens said the action was a "good example of the need for a new personnel policy" and warned commissioners "to be careful of the door they are opening."

"So far, I've not heard of any approval given for this time," he said.

Myers reported some of the time claimed by Moore was for work done on Saturdays and Sundays for Old Settlers. Slavens questioned whether Old Settlers was a county or a historical society event. He said employees who accrue comp. time should have approval to do so before the time is worked.

Slavens asked for specific clarification that if an employee in another courthouse office worked weekends, with supervisor permission, that person would be compensated for the extra time. Commissioner consensus was that was a true statement.

Emerson said the policy cannot be interpreted two different ways for two different employees.

Carroll Manor

Superintendent Martha Lewis presented suggested rate increases of $32 and $35 per day on a sliding fee scale for residents. She said 21 people currently reside in the facility.

Lewis said rate criteria had not fully been developed, however rates would be partially based on income and assets as reported on the application.

The rate increase issue was tabled until the March 17 commissioners meeting to give Lewis more time to develop a comprehensive plan. Yeoman Community Center EMS Garage Grant

Grant coordinator Amy Miller conducted a required public hearing for the proposed project. She said the Community Focus Fund Grant proposal would be submitted March 14 and results were expected in May.

The total request is for $340,000, with $88,000 local match which includes $40,000 from Carroll County, $3,000 from Adams Township, $15,000 in-kind services from the architect and cash donations from residents and businesses.

"I'm just hopeful that it all goes through this time," Brown said.

Miller said the project began in 2002 with the first planning grant. She expects the project to receive funding this grant cycle. She said letters of support are still welcome and can be E-mailed to her at milleramy@prodigy.net.

"I know people want an ambulance center there…and a community center," she concluded.

Other business

Indiana Brethren Charity Fund will use the 4-H building Feb. 21, March 20 and April 17.

Carroll County Garden Club will have a sign on the courthouse lawn April 11-26.

Prevent Child Abuse Carroll County will have a sign on the courthouse lawn March 10-23 announcing the annual Easter Egg Hunt. The group was granted permission to use the grounds March 22 for the event. Provisional permission to use the courthouse rotunda was granted providing a custodian or custodian-designee could be secured.

The next commissioners meeting will be March 17 at 9 a.m. *Consult the Comet Web site at www.carrollcountycomet.com and link to 'County meetings and agendas' for the latest meeting

agenda. Drainage Board

Surveyor Wayne Chapman reported one work order was received in February. He said that due to weather conditions, "We can't get anything done at the present."

Chapman said a new drainage engineer was hired for the Optima Dairy proposed near Burrows. Chapman said when drainage plans are presented for approval it will be in a public drainage board meeting.

A petition for a drain located on Dayton Rd., east of the Delphi Airport, was received to be placed on the county drain assessment system. Chapman said the matter was not yet ready for drainage board discussion.

Chapman said in an effort to notify community members about drainage board agenda items for upcoming meetings, he would now forward agendas to the Comet to be posted on the 'Government meetings and agendas' web page.

The next drainage board meeting will be April 7 at 8:30 a.m.