The Pulaski County Board of Commissioners has decided to close that county's tax-supported county home as of June 30. Carroll County Commissioners voted to offer Carroll Manor as an option to the displaced residents at their Monday morning meeting despite funding concerns raised by two county council members. Some questions went unanswered.

Manor superintendent Martha Lewis submitted three applications for Pulaski County Home residents, but said one of them had not completed the necessary paperwork for admittance. She said the county would receive financial payment from the state program, Aid to Residents in County Homes (ARCH), which pays $37/day for room, board and services. Lewis reported the Manor currently has 20 residents and 10 of those pay $56, the full price per day.

Lewis said all three applicants had diagnosis of a mental illness. She said she would contact Wabash Valley to arrange for similar services for them as were provided by the Pulaski County home. She said the Tippecanoe Villa, with several empty beds, has many residents with like-diagnosis and works closely with Wabash Valley. Lewis said the Pulaski County residents can move to that facility in the event Carroll Manor can not provide adequate services. She said Area IV Senior Services agreed to provide transportation for them when needed.

County council member Scott Ayres said that in looking through the history of the county, and the state statute, he discovered Carroll Manor was established to provide housing to indigent county residents at taxpayer expense. He said he remembered from council meetings less than a year ago, it was determined the break-even cost per day per resident was more than $37.

Lewis said basic expenses to run the Manor - electricity, heating and cooling costs - remain constant no matter how many residents are housed. She said the state payments will compensate for additional food needed for each resident and there would be no new staff added. Commissioners agreed the scope of the Manor has changed since it was first established.

Council president Ann Brown said she questioned the decision to accept Pulaski County home residents after reading the reasons why county officials are closing the home. She said the local newspaper in Pulaski County reported a nurse would have to be hired and the county could not afford that expense.

Lewis said she was unaware there was a need to hire a nurse.

"A lot of statements made by the Pulaski County Commissioners created questions for me," Brown said. "They also said they didn't want to pay money to another county for their residents to help with expenses."

"Is it fair for our county taxpayers to pay for Pulaski County residents?" she asked. "Is it legitimate?

"Is an empty bed better for the county?" asked commissioner Bill Brown.

Commissioner Brown made the motion to accept applications to the Manor from Pulaski County home residents Robert Allen Stuart and Connie Sue Grube. Clawson provided the second and it was unanimously approved. Brown noted Lewis had the authority to admit the third unnamed out-of-county resident prior to commissioner approval.

Manor resident Evelyn Dawson was granted a daily negotiated rate. Lewis said Dawson exhausted a savings account and can no longer pay $56/day.

A five-year $120/month contract with Amco, with a 90-day termination clause, to provide elevator maintenance was approved. Lewis said $14,000 remained in the state grant for the recent rehabilitation project which can be used for the agreement. Lewis also reported drainage issues associated with new construction and part of the rehabilitation project need to be addressed.

Flu resolution

Commissioners adopted Resolution 2009-01 which dictates the county health department to distribute flu medicines to doctors and pharmacies within the county when those entities confirm they are out of the appropriate medications for flu treatment, Primary care physicians must have patients who have been diagnosed by a medical professional as having specific symptoms consistent with H1N1, now known as the "North American Influenza." County health nurse Hope Kinzer said the county received a stockpile of the medication and it is being kept at an undisclosed location.

Kinzer emphasized the current strain of flu cannot be transmitted by eating pork. She said Dr. Jordan Dutter, county health officer, can issue an order to close schools if there is a confirmed case of H1N1 in the area.

"Containment is essential," Kinzer said.

Roof/tuck-point project

The bid for $73,630 from Skyline Roofing was accepted for roof repair. Design engineer Mark Mattox reported the company indicated they would require an additional $4,000 more than the bid for work specified in the advertisement.

A bid for $52,683 from Atlas Building Services for tuck-pointing was accepted.

Delinquent properties

Three amendments to a current contract with SRI Services to pursue those properties that have delinquent property taxes were approved.

SRI representative Glen Luedtke said 14 properties listed on a handout of all delinquent properties have been in three county tax sales which resulted in no buyers.

Commissioners attorney Barry Emerson recommended pursuing the sale of the properties because the county derives no income from them, however the state considers those tax payments as income to the county when making budget determinations.

Other business

Cass County Parks and Recreation will use a portion of Meridian Road June 13 for an annual triathlon.

Carroll County Economic Development Corporation requested commissioners join the Kankakee-Iroquois Regional Planning Commission for $7,945. It was explained commissioners would appoint two representatives to the group, the council would appoint one, and each of the three incorporated towns/cities would appoint one each. A resolution to join is expected to be presented at the May 18 meeting.

In a follow-up interview, EDC director Daryl Smith clarified KIRPC would invite one representative each from commissioners, council and each of the five incorporated towns/cities in Carroll County to take a position on the board of directors. He said the groups and number of representatives from each named in the meeting was incorrectly stated.

County auditor Beth Myers was directed to issue $36,750 in refunds from the Yeoman Community Center/EMS Garage Project - $30,000 will go to the Town of Yeoman, $3,750 to the commissioners Economic Development Income Tax (EDIT) fund ($10,000 minus $6,250 to pay grant administrator Amy Miller) and $3,000 to EDC. Tri-Kappa will use the rotunda June 27-28 for an art show.

Delphi Preservation Society will use the circuit courtroom Aug.7 during Old Settlers for a program.

The next meeting will be May 18 at 9 a.m.

Drainage board

County surveyor Wayne Chapman reported work orders from Democrat, Monroe and Burlington townships in April. He said the weather was a significant determining factor about what work was accomplished and where.

"If it would just stay dry, we'd get a lot more done," he said.

The drainage board approved the Delphi Community Middle School renovation drainage plans. Chapman said he did not have a clear understanding of the plans at the April meeting when he expressed concern about them.

The next meeting will be June 1 at 8:30 a.m.