Carroll County taxpayers will now pay for road work which was originally designed to be funded through Deer Creek Township. Commissioners Loren Hylton, Bill Brown and Pat Clawson decided at their Monday morning meeting to amend the 2010 Economic Development Income Tax (EDIT) plan to include an appropriation for the project.

Highway engineer Paul Couts reported that Deer Creek Township withdrew from the project when it was learned that townships are not authorized to spend tax money for road work.

“We’re kind of up in the air yet about getting it funded,” Couts said.

He recommended commissioners accept the responsibility to repair the road because he anticipates increased traffic on it when construction on the Hoosier Heartland Highway (HHH) begins. He said that a portion of the money needed for the work could be funded with the cumulative capital bridge fund.

Commissioners voted to spend $98,000 from EDIT for the expenditure. The remainder of the $114,428 needed for the project, $16,428, will be funded with cum bridge.

Commissioners also approved a measure to reclassify CR650N between CR50W and CR75W. The road is part of the overpass which is a connector road to the HHH. The reclassification to a “major connector” will enable the county to maximize the use of federal highway money for the project, which will cost $126,463. Construction is expected to begin in 2013 and will be funded with EDIT.

Couts said it is necessary to plan for the project now due to the timing of needed engineering and design work.

“If we don’t do something now, we will be stuck doing them all at once,” Clawson remarked about both projects.

The highway department will offer chip and seal as a form of dust control in 2011. Couts said the cost, which the property owner will be responsible to pay, will be $3.20 per linear foot or approximately $300 for 100 feet. He said that the dust control will last six to seven years. If potholes develop in the hard surface in that time, Couts said the highway department will patch them until they deteriorate enough to warrant a new coating or the grinding of the road back to gravel. He said at that point the property owner could pay for the chip and seal again.

Couts said the county applied the current method of dust control for roughly 180 property owners this summer.

Commissioners voted to replace a “Yield” sign with a “Stop” sign at the corner of CR850W and CR1100N. County sheriff Tony Burns must give his approval before the ordinance can be enacted. It is expected that the ordinance will be approved at the Sept. 20 meeting.

Trash Transfer Station

Newly appointed county trash transfer station operator Tom Shockley was given permission to install windows in the bay area of the building to improve visibility. He said he received an estimate for $600 for the work and materials, which includes six used aluminum doublehung windows. Shockley said the windows will be cheaper than installing more lighting in the bay.

Commissioners also approved construction of an open container area for a dumpster. Funding the project will require the agreement of the county council.

Schockley reported that the measure will lengthen the life of the current trash compactor. He said contractor materials and waste will be directed to the open container for removal by a waste removal company. He was directed to solicit three quotes for the project. Ordinances/policy approved

Public Nuisance Ordinance #2010-08 was approved. It states that the county can charge fees for the remediation of nuisance properties. Failure on the part of the property owner to pay the fee assigned for the work within 30 days will result in a property lien being placed against the property on tax bills. The ordinance will be effective Oct. 1, after publication.

Ordinance 2010-09, which governs the use of off-road vehicles in the county, was approved and will also become effective on Oct. 1, after publication.

An ordinance to establish road weight limits was tabled for further research.

A policy for married couples who reside in two households and who want to claim a homestead exemption was adopted effectively immediately. The policy states that the couple can claim one residence for homestead exemption. If neither residence is currently exempted, it will be granted to the first one of the couple to file for the exemption.

Carroll Manor roof

Pat Clawson reported that no work has begun to replace the roof on Carroll Manor because no company has given him a quote to replace the gutters. He said he has received three estimates for the new roof and is waiting on two more, however none of those responding to his solicitation have agreed to consider the gutter work. He said gutter replacement will increase the project cost.

Council president Ann Brown reported that utility bills could be abated with a new roof, for which funding was approved last spring. Clawson said condensation forms in the attic throughout the duct work due to the summertime extreme heat and humidity.

“What we’ve appropriated won’t even come close to the cost of it,” Clawson said. “It’s (the work is) a little more extensive.”

Other business

Butler Fairman and Seufert was given permission to develop a proposal for Geographical Information System (GIS) for the county. The Union St. Delphi Wesleyan Church will post a sign on the courthouse lawn Sept. 18-25.

Early claims from January to August 2010, for $259,651.78, were approved. Auditor Beth Myers explained that utility bills are paid in advance of being sent through the claims process. She said that the Indiana State Board of Accounts recommended a detailed list of the claims be presented for approval to commissioners.

The next meeting will be Sept. 20 at 9 a.m.

Drainage Board

Carroll County Drainage Board approved a drainage proposal for new construction on US421 for the Delphi United Methodist Church presented by county surveyor Wayne Chapman on Monday morning. Chapman said that although the structure will be inside city limits, the drains will empty into a county drain eventually.

No work orders were discussed. Chapman said that “things are starting to pick up” in the office.

“It’s going to be a busy fall,” he commented.

The next meeting will be Oct. 4 at 8:30 a.m.