A request for Carroll County Emergency Medical Services to be released from providing ambulance service to Jefferson Township residents by the trustee was met with questions, concerns and finally a denial by Carroll County Commissioners on Monday.

"Jefferson Township would like to request that the Carroll County Commissioners release the Carroll County Ambulance service from Jefferson Township, in order that Jefferson Township have the opportunity to receive service from Monticello for the remainder of 2009," the written request read. "Cost of the service would be covered by Jefferson Township. Timing of change of service to be agreed upon by Mike Durr, Carroll County EMS Director and Shane Swaim, Monticello Fire Chief."

The letter was signed by Harold Erdmann, Jefferson Township Trustee.

Erdmann said the township was prepared to pay $11,000 for the service for the remainder of 2009.

When commissioners president Loren Hylton called for a motion, Bill Brown provided it. However, it did not receive support from Hylton or Pat Clawson. Commissioners made the decision to deny the request based on information received at the meeting. Carroll County EMS director Mike Durr said Monticello would be able to provide faster service to county residents around the lake, but not to those who live farther away from the lake. He said the Monticello department has had the same equipment for several years and provides service to most or all of White County. Durr said Carroll County ambulance has made 27 runs into Jefferson Township this year.

He said although it was important for all residents to receive the shortest response times available, the county had to consider the amount of lost revenue from not providing the service, which he predicted to be about $40,000. Durr added it would be a challenge for Carroll County dispatch to change how they call out an ambulance for the remainder of this year, and then possibly be expected to revert back to the former system next year.

Durr advised Monticello EMS charges two user fees to patients in Carroll County. He said a flat $100 fee for coming into the county was assessed and then the service and transportation fee was added to that. He said other counties, such as Howard and Cass, provide service to outlying Carroll County residents and charge a user/transport fee only. He said Howard County EMS made 50 runs into Carroll County last year while EMS records indicated Monticello made 18 runs into both Jefferson and Adams townships.

Monticello Fire Chief Shane Swaim said the $100 fee would be discontinued if there was a contract with commissioners. He said Monticello made 24 runs into the county as opposed to Durr's figure.

County council member Ron Slavens said he is a member of the county EMS committee. He said that committee recommended Carroll County continue to be the primary service provider to Jefferson Township residents. The committee recommended a mutual aid agreement with White County, such as the ones with Cass, Howard and Clinton counties.

"We need to hold our ground with no strings attached," he said. "We need to be careful about dividing up our community."

Slavens said EMS records indicated the ambulance service made 25 runs into Jefferson Township in 2008, with average response times of 10 to 15 minutes. He said the longest anyone waited for service was 19 minutes.

"We are giving fairly good service," he said.

Clawson, a Delphi Tri- Township Volunteer firefighter, said he thought an additional contract for service was not necessary.

"I would hope we could do this with a mutual aid agreement," he said. "I just always figured we were in this together."

"I hope we can work through this and get that third ambulance back," he added.

Swaim agreed to a mutual aid agreement for White County to respond to calls in Carroll County only if no Carroll County ambulance was available. Durr said Carroll County provides mutual aid to White County as well.

Courthouse tuck pointing

Twelve bids were opened to tuck point the courthouse. Project costs ranged from $28,230 to $88,129 for the first phase of the work, from $12,323 to $61,743 for the second phase, and from $8,500 to $81,990 for the third phase. Commissioners took the matter under advisement to allow design engineer Mark Mattox time to assimilate the information and to present results and a recommendation at a later meeting.

Tippy River clean-up

Commissioners decided to halt the project to remove debris from the Tippecanoe River from flooding using federal funding because the county was unable to confirm the availability of match money needed for the project. According to Carroll County Emergency Management Agency Director Dave Mc- Dowell, there was no guarantee anything but cash could be used for the match.

"If nothing else, we've all learned a lot from this experience," McDowell said.

Eel River Indian Chief Mike Floyd said his group would work to eradicate debris from the river without assistance from the government. He said some wood could be stored to use later if a storage facility could be located.

Highway department

Highway department engineer Paul Couts was granted permission to advertise for a $125,000 additional appropriation from the cumulative capital improvement fund. The money is needed to build a salt storage barn. Couts said the barn would prevent loss of stored salt and sand and would allow the department to save approximately $40,000 each year by purchasing sand when it cost less and with loss prevention methods.

Couts reported a construction firm was hired for $5,700 to repair the stone arch bridge on Washington St. in Delphi. He said the renovation would increase the load for the bridge which would allow school busses to use the bridge.

Other business

Commissioners attorney Barry Emerson said it was not necessary for Delphi United Methodist Church to appear before the county area plan commission for permission to erect a sign on land recently purchased on US421/SR39 near Delphi Community High School. He said the sign did not meet the criteria for the county moratorium on billboards near the Hoosier Heartland Highway.

Commissioners requested volunteers to serve on the Northwest Indiana Solid Waste District Advisory Council. The group meets twice each year. To volunteer, contact Hylton at (574) 859-2651.

A volunteer for the Carroll County Old Settlers' Board is needed for the summer event. Those interested in filling the vacancy should call Brown at (765) 268-2734.

Scout and youth groups will be allowed to camp for free in exchange for work hours at Deer Creek Park. Park volunteers will be allowed to take trash to the transfer station for no money. Billie Hedde of Flora was appointed to the park board.

Delphi resident John Neumann was granted permission to maintain the cannon on the courthouse lawn at no cost to the county.

An application to Carroll Manor by Doris Joan Ranke was approved.

VFW Post #9383 will have a sign on the courthouse lawn from April 6- 11.

The next meeting will be April 20 at 6 p.m.