Carroll Manor Carroll County Commissioners and Council members met jointly Tuesday afternoon to discuss the sale of land around the Carroll Manor to the Indiana Packers Corporation (IPC).

It was explained by Carroll County Economic Development Director Daryl Smith that a committee, including commissioners president Loren Hylton, council president Ann Brown and himself, consulted with many parties to develop an agreement for the land sale for $475,000, the appraised amount, plus a $50,000 stipend for landscaping to provide a visual barrier and odor blocker. He said the committee met throughout 2009 to develop the mutual understanding and sought input about the matter specifically from former commissioners’ attorney Barry Emerson, local attorney and EDC board member Miriam Robeson, and IPC representatives.

Smith said the transaction will accomplish several county government goals. The 29.89 acres will generate property tax dollars, support future IPC expansion which will further enhance tax revenue for the county, will protect the Manor as a facility and building and will encourage an existing county employer to grow jobs at the location.

The measure received support from EDC members and members of the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce who were in the audience.

“This is absolutely the right step to take,” chamber member Dick Bradshaw said.

County council members voted, during the meeting, to establish a capital improvement fund for the Manor. Money from the sale will be restricted to Manor expenses.

IPC representatives at the meeting said it was IPC’s goal to keep trucks as far away from the facility as possible. In addition, it was noted that IPC provided financial resources for environmental site testing.

Commissioner Pat Clawson made the motion for the commissioners to accept the agreement reached with IPC for the land. Bill Brown provided the second and the sale was unanimously approved.

Council member Scott Ayres made the motion for the council and Marion Huffer provided the second. The motion passed with one abstention by Nancy Cripe. Cripe said she believed it was a conflict of interest for her to cast a vote, although she was in favor of the proposal, because her mother and father-in-law are residents of the Manor.

No closing date has been set for the sale.