Carroll County's only Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district, which is the land which Indiana Packers owns, was established in 1992 according to Carroll County Redevelopment Commission Attorney Barry Emerson. He explained at Monday morning's county commissioners meeting that in addition to financing the extension of sewer and water service to the hog plant, the measure provided for improvements to Delphi's wastewater treatment plant and water tower. He said those were benefits of the district to the community.

During a 2008 summary report of activities, Carroll County Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Daryl Smith said the EDC would explore making the "shovel ready" land, formerly Gray's Turkey Farm, which EDC purchased an option on, a second TIF district in the county. He explained the measure is "designed as a way to run water and sewage services to the area without raising property taxes."

"Quite honestly, to run water and sewage you need money," he said.

Smith said two county sites optioned by EDC, Gray's Farm and the Johnson Farm near Flora, are listed on the Indiana State site database. Information about them was also shared with the Indiana EDC and will be added to the Tippecanoe County Prospector Web site in February.

EDC member George Mears distributed a list of EDC members which include:

• Burlington - Jay Bordner, Ruth Johnson, and EDC president Milt Rodgers;

• Camden - Robert McCain, Bob Overman, and Richard Fite;

• Delphi - Brad Burton, EDC secretary Bonnie Maxwell, and Joe Mayfield;

• Flora - Bret Hanaway, EDC treasurer Joe Moss, and Bret Rinehart; and

• Carroll County - Pat Clawson, EDC vice president Mears, and Miriam Robeson.

Highway Department

Engineer Paul Couts explained he would provide a written activity report to commissioners at the first meeting of each month. He said the department nearly depleted the salt supply due to inclement weather in January. Road treatment was "spread as thin as possible" to maximize the remainder.

Couts said the department is now utilizing smaller trucks equipped with blades to plow snow on roads in areas of diminished maneuverability or with low load limits in the county's 17 districts, such as those around the lake and some bridges.

"This is working well," he said. "It is definitely working out."

Couts learned in a relinquishment meeting with the Indiana Department of Transportation about the Hoosier Heartland Highway, the county will inherit seven and onehalf miles of road, five bridges and a total 43 miscellaneous structures which are more than 70 years old when the new road is finished through Carroll County.

Commissioner Bill Brown explained it was necessary to understand relinquishment issues because the county did not want to "get handed some road that's a real liability."

"We're trying to get a handle on this," Couts said.

Couts reported the county road extension to SR75 north of Camden is in a state selection committee. He said the project will need the committee's approval to proceed with federal funding.

Other business

Commissioners will advertise for a $1,000 additional appropriation from the cumulative capital projects fund for computer hardware for the Veterans Office.

Victor Brown will farm 38.2 acres of county-owned land around Carroll Manor for $175 per acre.

Commissioners will advertise for contractor bids for a Tippecanoe River Clean-Up Project.

First Presbyterian Church of Delphi will post a sign on courthouse grounds to advertise thrift shop hours held every third Saturday of the month.

Edward Johnson was appointed to the Common Construction Committee for Carroll Consolidated School Corp.

The next meeting will be Feb. 16 at 6 p.m.

Drainage Board

Brown was elected president of the 2009 Carroll County Drainage Board, Pat Clawson vice president, Kim Cripe was retained as secretary and Emerson was retained as the group's attorney. It was decided drainage board meetings would be held at 8:30 a.m. on the day of the first commissioners meeting of each month.

County surveyor Wayne Chapman reported little activity by his office in January.

"It's been rather slow out in the fields because of the weather," he said.

Chapman said the first county land was purchased for the Hoosier Heartland Highway by the state.

He also reported the joint drain with Howard County will proceed in sections to isolate the problem area for repairs.

According to Chapman, there is no equipment and no activity on the site of the dairy south of Cutler.

The next meeting is March 2 at 8:30 a.m.