The progress of the Burnett's Creek Arch project on Towpath Rd. was explained to Carroll County Commissioners at a meeting Monday morning. According to American Structure Point Department Manager Michael Wenning, there are two components to the project - rehabilitation of the bridge and construction of another county-owned park.

Wenning said the rehabilitation of the 160-year-old bridge would be the least costly of the two. He said building the county park, which would include the canal lock, would be the "major cost" of the roughly $2 million project. Rehabilitation plans included the replacement of stones for the stone arch. A flood relief structure is not planned for the project. The bridge will be graded and a 'collar' will be removed.

Land purchase for the right-ofways was not included in the total cost of the project. Wenning said those purchases would begin this summer and construction is expected for the early part of 2011.

Wenning said no right-of-ways are established for that portion of Towpath Rd., therefore the county must purchase all of the land from the middle of the road out 10 feet to the north and between 15 to 20 feet to the south. He suggested the county locate the park on the south side of Towpath Road and purchase land for it accordingly.

Commissioner Pat Clawson questioned the cost of the project as compared to the projected use of the bridge. He said, according to the report about the $2 million project supplied by Structure Point, the life expectancy of the bridge was approximately 50 years.

"It'll be there a long time yet," highway engineer Paul Couts said. "It has great historical significance. It's worthwhile keeping."

He advised the structure was a part of the Wabash and Erie Canal system that runs through the county.

Wenning said the next step was to approach commissioners with the additional project cost of right-of-way acquisition for approval.

Ambulance service

Commissioners approved a threeyear agreement with the Monticello Fire Department to provide Emergency Advanced Life Support Ambulance service to Jefferson and Adams townships beginning in 2009. The agreement is contingent upon council approval and the ability of the townships to pay the 2009 fee of $15,839 for the service.

Monticello Fire Chief Shane Swaim said Carroll County EMS Director Mike Durr was in favor of the agreement, however Durr was not present for the meeting. He also said the Jefferson Township trustee supported the plan. No Adams Township representative was present for the meeting.

According to the agreement, Monticello Fire Department will receive, in addition to the 2009 amount, $31,678 for 2010 and $47,516 for 2011. Monticello would bill and collect service fees from residents.

"I think it's a terrific idea," Bill Brown said. "It will make our scant two ambulances better able to cover the rest of the county."

"We have to be concerned about getting service up there," Loren Hylton added.

County council president Ann Brown said the 2009 fee would most likely require additional appropriations from either the council or the townships. She advised that the committee established to examine funding mechanisms for the service was not aware of the proposed agreement because it had not met since last year.

Redevelopment Commission

Local attorney Kurtis Fouts, who serves as the attorney for Delphi's executive branch, was appointed to the Carroll County Redevelopment Commission which oversees all current tax incremental financing (TIF) districts in the county.

Reassessment

Although a bid from Ad Valorem Services (AVS) for reassessment services to the county was $52,856 higher than the only other bid received, commissioners accepted the AVS bid after a recommendation for the action by county assessor Doris McLeland.

McLeland said previous history with bidder, Tyler Technologies and its employees, was not satisfactory. She explained the home office for Tyler is in Ohio while AVS is in Kokomo. McLeland said the AVS project manager is a Flora resident, which she considered a benefit to the community.

"I know it's more expensive, but I feel like we'll get a much better job with AVS," McLeland said.

McLeland said the reassessment fund contained $642,781.63. The AVS contract for $360,930, would leave $281,851 in the reassessment fund.

Commissioners attorney Barry Emerson said the commissioners were not bound by law to accept the lowest bid.

Tioga Bridge

Commissioners will send a letter to State Senator Brandt Hershman to request federal stimulus money for match funds for grants and to raise the Tioga Bridge.

Shafer-Freeman Lake Environmental Conservation Corporation representative Daryl Johns said the city of Monticello sent a similar letter and plans to build a park on the north side of the bridge. He advised more development on the Carroll County side of the lake was happening.

"There would be no expense to Carroll County," he said.

"I think it's a great idea," Bill Brown said noting the area had the most economic growth in the county presently.

Other business

Carroll County Historical Society will use the courthouse rotunda and lounge for an appraisal fair May 17.

VFW Ladies Auxilary will have a sign on the courthouse lawn March 8 to 14.

The next meeting will be March 16 at 9 a.m.

Drainage Board

Delphi Community School Corporation Elementary School building project came under scrutiny at the Monday morning meeting. Surveyor Wayne Chapman said the project includes plans which would increase the flow and intensity of water with more force and volume going into the Gilford Drain. He advised that the watershed was inside of the city limits and suggested the city be asked to assume responsibility of drain management.

Emerson said although the drain is located in the city limits, water from county fields empties into the drain. He said the county is the "overseer" of the drain and suggested the role not change.

Chapman reported drain work in Democrat, Monroe, Madison, Carrollton, Rock Creek, Liberty, Jackson and Jefferson townships. He said some 2008 work orders were not completed last year due to weather and other factors and his office was now addressing those issues.

Chapman filed 50 single drains and seven joint drains with the county auditor. In addition he filed forms with the Clinton, Howard, White, Tippecanoe and Cass counties' auditors of drain assessments for residents of their respective counties.

The next meeting will be April 6 at 8:30 a.m.