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Commissioners hear another round of dairy opposition
'We Americans Love Our Land'is the latest entity that wants the county commissioners to take action. Organizer Daryl Johns told county leaders that group members are "motivated, dedicated and focused" against dairy concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). "We are not fighting hog farmers," he said. Johns presented a petition with 65 names within one mile of the newest dairy, which would be located in Tippecanoe Township. He also presented a resolution from the Shafer and Freeman Lakes Environmental Conservation Corporation (SFLECC) requesting a moratorium be placed on approval of construction of any dairy CAFOs in Carroll County. The resolution was signed by the president of SFLECC. Johns reported Carroll County Economic Development Corporation held a reception for the Tippecanoe Township operation. He said he found the statement made by the owner that he would be hiring workers from Mexico because "Americans won't work for what we pay" to be offensive. "Enough is Enough" is the opponent group's motto. Johns reported there are 79 CAFOs in the state of Indiana and 37, or nearly 50 percent of them, are located in Carroll County. Johns requested commissioners'president Loren Hylton refrain from commenting during the discussion due to a conflict of interest. He stated that failure of commissioners to act upon the request for a moratorium would result in lack of support at the polls in the November general elections. Commissioners took no action. Carroll Manor Commissioners adopted Ordinance 2008-04 to establish a method by which donations to the Carroll Manor would only be able to be used for the facility's operational needs. It would be used at the discretion of the superintendent Martha Lewis and the commissioners, as they routinely approve claims against the account. "I think it's a good idea," commissioner Bill Brown said. Lewis said she did not prepare a graduated fee schedule for approval as indicated on the agenda. County resident Galen Perry read a three-page written statement in support of taxpayer maintenance and fiscal support of the facility. Perry criticized EDC for not promoting the Manor, the commissioners for not increasing rates until recently and not ensuring the elevator project was finished in a timely manner and the Comet for writing about the attributes of local bridges and the canal interpretive center and not promoting the facility. "We have to get rid of this negative publicity," Perry concluded. Brown said he agreed with "most" of what Perry presented. "We need to give it (the facility) time now that we've invested in the elevator," he said. During public comments, EDC Director Daryl Smith defended the role of EDC in the community as it relates to both Carroll Manor and dairy CAFOs. He explained the role of EDC is to bring jobs into the community. Smith continued to explain that Johns and the newly formed group he represented were not opposed to dairy CAFOs but rather opposed to them in their immediate neighborhood. He said the dairies would be equal opportunity employers. Smith said EDC wanted to protect Carroll Manor and has put effort toward that end. Smith issued a question and answer press release on the EDC Web site, located at . carrollcountyindiana. org/news.html, to explain the EDC role in bringing dairy CAFOs to the county and the potential benefits of that particular economic development. Highway department Superintendent Ron Francis opened bids for materials and took them under advisement. Recommendations will be presented at the May 5 commissioners' meeting. Francis presented the 2008 road plan. Concluding that he "can't do something with nothing," a funding flow chart to illustrate from where highway money emanates was discussed. He summarized the funding is derived through a complicated formula from state tax on fuel, the local option highway user tax (LOHUT) or "wheel tax," license plate fees, user taxes and Major Moves funding, which concluded this year. The plan provided an historical perspective of road and highway department progress since 2004 plus cost estimates, road rating charts and recommendations for county road work. A complete plan can be obtained electronically by calling the highway garage at (574) 967-4244 or viewed at the Delphi Comet office. A list of roads to be turned to gravel this year will be posted on the Comet Web site at www.carrollcountycomet.com on the "Government Meetings and Agendas" page after amendments occur when it becomes available electronically. Francis reported he escorted FEMA representatives through flood-damaged areas of the county last week to help them accurately estimate the damage costs for the county. He said the federal representatives indicated the state was approximately $500,000 shy of the monetary threshold needed to qualify for federal municipality aid. He said the representatives seemed optimistic the state could qualify after the second assessment, however no time frame for the decision was given. 2008 holiday schedule amendment request Commissioners took no action on a request from the county council to reduce the number of paid holidays for county employees from 14 to 10 each year. Speaking on behalf of the council, Steve Ashby explained the measure would not provide county general with additional income but would defray the amount the county pays to employees for holiday-time off. "There's a lot of time that we owe employees for," he said in asking commissioners to approve the action "in concept" at the meeting. He suggested they determine the exact holidays to be deleted from the schedule later. Brown asked Francis what it would cost his department to work four more days each year. "Considerable," Francis said. Commissioners took no action. The matter will appear on the agenda for the May 5 meeting. Other business The final contract with Steve Stringfield for the removal and site closure for underground storage tanks on the county jail property, not to exceed $11,963, was approved in a two-to-one vote. Commissioner George Mears refused to provide a second to Brown's motion to approve and voted against the contract. Mears said he thought the county could spend the money in some other area, such as for a deputy's salary. Stringfield assured commissioners the county would achieve a status of "no further action" from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management within one year. Commissioners approved submission of a letter requesting funding in a 25 percent grantmatch for river clean-up from the Department of Natural Resources. Emergency Management Agency Director Dave McDowell will make the formal application. A request by T's Flowers and Things to use courthouse grounds and sidewalk to sell flowers and produce from May 14 to Sept. 26 on Wednesdays and Fridays was denied. Local business owners, represented by Daryl Routh of Calico Plus, objected to allowing a merchant to sell duplicate goods and services on the street when other merchants rent buildings, pay utilities and maintain shops. A retirement/resignation from Robert Morrow, veteran services director, was accepted. Commissioners thanked Morrow for his years of service to the county. The next meeting will be May 5 at 9 a.m. |
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