The lack of new jobs creation in an expansion project was not the only consideration given to The Andersons request for a tax abatement for both real and personal property. It was decided keeping the plant in the county was worth consideration as well.

Carroll County Council awarded tax abatement to the company for three years for personal property and seven years for real property at its Monday meeting. Council members questioned The Andersons representatives present as well as Carroll County Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Daryl Smith about several issues.

At the April council meeting, Jerry Hendress requested from The Andersons a chart of how much property tax the county would forfeit for a three, five and ten year abatement for the expansion, which will cost The Andersons a total of $1.85 million. That information was not provided.

It was noted the contract presented Monday by Smith did not contain figures and was not the same contract reviewed by commissioner's attorney Barry Emerson.

Council member Scott Ayres asked Smith what the county would gain by granting the abatement. Smith replied that property tax revenues will be "phased in" over the abatement period.

Smith said Carroll County at the Crossroads recommended in 2004 the county should emphasize economic development efforts and support local businesses that expand and stay in the area. He said granting the abatement represents an investment in the Delphi facility to "say the company is going to stay here."

Smith further explained that negative publicity across the nation in the event an abatement is not granted could discourage other businesses from locating in the area.

The abatement will be advertised in the Wednesday Comet and the council will hold a special meeting June 2 at 8:30 a.m. to approve it.

Other business

Verbiage modifications to the Carroll County Police Retirement Plan as deemed necessary by Indiana Code were taken under advisement to seek a legal opinion. Elaine Beaty of McCready & Keene explained no benefits will change for officers and there will be no financial impact to the county.

County auditor Beth Myers was granted permission, in a four-to-one vote, to replace the resigning first deputy in the auditor's office.

In a follow-up interview, Ron Slavens said he voted against the full-time replacement because he will not vote to replace any full-time courthouse employee until "the EMS (ambulance) situation is fully funded."

Council members reviewed and proposed changes in the Local Option Highway User Tax (LOHUT), more commonly referred to as the "wheel tax" for 2010. The proposed changes in the rates will be advertised to give notice to the public prior to the tax increase.

Myers presented a detailed explanation of the Congressional School Fund. She said the fund is a static and non-interest bearing account which is not utilized by the county. Council members adopted a resolution to transfer the fund balance and accounting procedures to the state.

Transfers

County clerk Nancy Mattox was granted a $343.66 transfer from printing (not office supplies) to postage. She was denied a $516.71 transfer into office supplies from equipment maintenance. Mattox was directed to fund the request from the clerk's perpetuation fund, which is not appropriated by the council.

Park board was granted a $300 transfer to trash and miscellaneous from board members' salaries.

Highway engineer Paul Couts was granted a $2,000 transfer to foreman overtime from the truck drivers overtime line item. Requests for $4,000 be moved to welding, $6,200 to unemployment and $4,600 to utilities from fuel were also granted. Couts explained it was his understanding the fuel budget was developed to pay $5/gallon. He said it was his further understanding that a significant amount of fuel was paid for at the end of 2008 but not delivered until the beginning of 2009, which provided the department enough fuel to use for the first three months of this year. Couts said the department has only spent five percent of the fuel appropriation.

In addition, he said he needs more money for utilities because a contract was entered into prior to his employment that is supposed to lock in utility rates to save money but instead cost the department more money.

A transfer request for $58,000 for group insurance out of the fuel account was tabled to allow time for council members to research the actual amount needed and funding options.

A transfer for $1,900 for bookkeeper salary from truck drivers was denied. Couts said he made the request because department employee Neda Kay Duff works 40 hours each week but is paid for 36.

Council members disagreed with Couts. They explained the position's salary is based on a 40-hour work week. Consensus is that this is not a new situation.

President Ann Brown and members Carl Abbott and Nancy Cripe said the council met last year with former highway superintendent Ron Francis to fully explain the situation. He was directed to eliminate any confusion about the matter with Duff.

"We've had this discussion for the past several years," Brown said. "This is not a new discussion."

"That's never been the understanding at the highway department," Couts replied.

Brown said if Duff is only working 36 hours or working 40 hours and taking compensatory time for anything more than 36 hours, she "got paid for hours she didn't work."

According to the Carroll County Employees Personnel Policy, adopted by the Carroll County Commissioners (revised April 18, 2005, page 11, item D): The County Highway Department, Carroll County Emergency Management, County Extension Office and Carroll County Soil and Water's normal day's work shall be eight (8) hours and forty (40) hours for a normal week's work to be completed in five (5) days, Monday through Friday.

A $6,727.48 additional appropriation from the misdemeanant fund to upgrade records management at the jail was approved. Sheriff Tony Burns said although it is technically an additional, the mechanism to move money out of the misdemeanant fund does not involve county general funds and is more like a transfer than a true additional.

The next meeting will be June 23 at 3:30 p.m.