A plan to utilize federal stimulus money to provide enhanced communication across Carroll County could be realized by county residents soon. The plan received formal support from county commissioners at the Monday morning meeting after a presentation by Shurz Communications in partnership with WASK radio in Lafayette.

President and general manager John Shurz explained Carroll County has the largest underserved population for wireless service in counties adjacent to Tippecanoe County. He said the service would provide access to businesses and residential customers for approximately $29/month and would be a boon for the local economy.

Shurz Communications Vice President of Digital Media Kerry Oslund said there is no financial investment expected from the county. He said matching funds for the federal stimulus money, which will be funneled through a Broadband Initiatives Program of the Federal Broadband Technology Opportunities Program, would be paid by Shurz Communications.

Shurz indicated in the letter of support provided for signatures the company was "uniquely qualified" to provide the services with the "resources, the experience and community ties necessary to help eliminate broadband inequity in this county."

WeTip Hotline

Commissioners supported a proposal from county prosecutor Tricia Thompson to provide the national anonymous crime reporting service, WeTip, to county residents by Aug. 15. Thompson said the annual contract for $1,500 will be paid out of diversion funds. She said the contract amount is based on county population.

The WeTip Hotline is a not-forprofit organization based in California. Thompson explained all calls are anonymous, which is not necessarily the case when someone calls local law enforcement. She said WeTip has Spanish-speaking operators which will enhance the comfort level of some Carroll County callers.

According to the Web site, WeTip has been in continual operation since 1972 and was founded because people with information to report do not due to fear of reprisal. The purpose of WeTip is to provide "an absolutely anonymous crime reporting resource to residents." Only live operators are used, therefore callers will not get an automated service or an answering machine at any time.

Thompson said when crime information is called into the hotline in California it is immediately reported, as anonymous, to Carroll County dispatch. The information will then be forwarded to the appropriate law enforcement agency.

Highway department

Highway engineer Paul Couts reported the salt barn located in Flora is under construction and should be completed by the end of August.

The culvert pipe on the Crooked Road to Flora/Delphi on CR125W. at CR150N., damaged in the spring flood, has been replaced.

Washington Township resident John Boughton expressed concern about the decision to turn the county road in front of his house, which has light traffic, into a gravel road.

"I just hate this going backwards idea," he said.

He suggested the county do nothing with the road rather than grind it into gravel.

Couts said department workers "could selectively grind areas" and not do the entire road surface.

"I wish I could do more for you - I wish I could do better," Couts told the resident. "It's one of those hard decisions. Gravel roads are the least costly to maintain."

"The money is just not there to patch a low-traveled road," he added. "I can't justify the cost to fix the holes and damage on the edges."

TIF district

The proposal to establish a tax incremental financing district in the county south of Delphi with a resolution was approved. The site has been recognized by the state as a "shovel ready" one, which Economic Development Corporation executive director Daryl Smith explained meant a "promise" existed to install infrastructure in the area. He said Delphi Mayor Randy Strasser indicated the city intends to cooperate to provide the infrastructure.

Carroll County Redevelopment Commission and county commissioners' attorney Barry Emerson said the final step in the process will be when the redevelopment commission meets Aug. 21 to give final approval to establish the district. He said the county would not be losing tax revenue it receives into the general fund currently. Revenue from improvements and from additional personal property taxes would go to the redevelopment commission to pay for improvements.

Commissioner Bill Brown noted the county would benefit immediately from additional income tax revenue from a new business or industry located in the new district.

Other business

Commissioners approved the recommendation of E-911 director Jay Dee Cree for a communications contract with InDigital Communications. Equipment will cost $45,000. He said the current contract with AT&T expires Sept. 30. The new service is capable of folding in connecting services with other county departments, such as highway, Carroll Manor and the offices in the courthouse.

Commissioners approved submission of a planning grant for an emergency facility study grant from the Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) in conjunction with the Kankakee-Iroquois Regional Planning Commission (Kirpc). EDC director Smith said the grant was a 90%/10% match grant. He said EDC would pay the 10 percent match needed for funding.

According to Kirpc grant writer Randy Mitchell, a county income study is required to proceed. He said residents will be contacted by telephone to determine how many are in the household and the household income range. The income study can be used by other grant-seekers for four years. Smith said EDC will fund the survey for the $2,250 contract amount.

The annual $15,000 agreement with Carroll County Recycling was approved.

Signs will appear on the courthouse lawn posted by Delphi United Methodist Church from Aug. 3-8, Delphi VFW Post 9383 Aug. 2-9 and Delphi Art Club from Aug. 5-10. The historical museum will have a sign and use the courthouse during Old Settlers. Carroll Car Club will use the courthouse grounds Sept. 5.

Flora Lions Club will use the 4-H building Oct. 29 and Flora Community Club on Nov. 21.

Commissioners adopted a revised courthouse usage form to require proof of insurance with usage applications.

The next meeting will be Aug. 17 at 6 p.m.

Drainage board

Carroll County Commissioners, who also serve as the county drainage board, learned about a Deer Creek Watershed water quality study proposal from district conservationist Joe O'Donnell at the monthly meeting. He said the Indiana Department of Environmental Management would grant the funds for the study. He said grant match was also going to be provided.

"This plan will be developed at no cost what-so-ever to the county," O'Donnell said.

The study will provide evaluation of water quality tests and assemble "stakeholders" with a goal of identifying water quality issues.

A letter of support to apply for the grant was earlier signed by surveyor Wayne Chapman who was not present for the meeting.

O'Donnell provided an explanation about a new ditching concept. "Two-Stage Ditch and Nitrogen Dynamics" is a system of building ditches with a multi-level configuration to enhance the microbial conversion of nitrogen in order to remove it from streams.

According to a hand-out, most nitrogen export occurs during high stream flows. Benches, or the second shelf of the ditch, increase water residence time during high flow.