Morton livestock sale has residents worried

Tuesday, December 19, 2006

A new use for the former Morton Sale Barn has some nearby property owners worried about odors and waste run-off from the site.

Don Lambermont told Putnam County Commissioners Dennis O'Hair and Kristina Warren he is concerned about the large livestock sale operation planned for the U.S. 36 site. A large livestock building is going up about 40 feet from a residence.

O'Hair agreed he has his concerns about the sites, sounds and smells that neighbors will experience from the livestock operation. But he was quick to support the economic growth it will bring.

"We're not against the business," O'Hair said. "We just want to be sure that everything is kosher."

County Planner Kim Hyten said the new building meets the setback requirements that dictate a building's distance from property lines. But noted there are no restrictions on the use for the building.

"When people put a confinement facility within 50 feet of your house, it's a concern," O'Hair said.

Hyten said he intends to visit the site Wednesday with some other county officials to make sure local regulations are being followed. Groundwater runoff from the property will also be a concern due to animal waste that is likely to accumulate.

Hyten said he will report his findings to the commissioners at their final meeting of the year Dec. 28.

Meanwhile, the commissioners presented the Most Outstanding 911 Dispatcher award for 2006 to Dara Robinson.

County 911 Director Dave Costin commended Robinson for her work for the public, including her recent handling of two suicidal calls.

The commissioners also talked to Curt Candler of Schneider Engineering in Indianapolis about concerns they had expressed on holes being cut in county roads as part of a surveying effort.

Candler said the work was being done for Vectren Energy Delivery, which is running 16-miles of pipeline from Greencastle to Carpentersville to increase the pressure of natural gas delivery. He also noted the project has nothing to do with the Rockies Express pipeline running west to east through the northern part of the county.

Commissioner O'Hair said many people have been concerned because the surveying crew has left holes in the road that sink in after being filled.

"We have no problem with you setting a (survey) marker," O'Hair said, "but what we do have a problem with is the way the project was dug and not filled in right."

He requested that the holes be filled with compactible asphalt as they are in other counties.

Cander explained that the holes were filled in, but the crew knew they would settle and they would have to return in a couple of months to fill them again. He asked if concrete could be poured around the markers when they are set, as is done in Marion County.

O'Hair asked that the same consideration be given to the work in Putnam County as the work the company does in other counties. He pointed out that one road with holes dug in it is highly traveled, and many people complained about auto damage after hitting the settled fill spots.

In other business, the commissioners:

-- Approved the county animal control ordinance, a document that has been three years in the making. The ordinance includes animal care rules and regulations, special requirements for pets, administration and enforcement measures. The committee that worked on the ordinance included representatives of hunting groups. Wally Birge, George Seketa and Richard Jones all attended Monday's meeting to voice their approval of the ordinance.

-- Accepted a check for $7,317.48 for timber sales from Bill Gallogly, property manager of Owen and Putnam State Forest. Half of the funds must be distributed to area fire departments, and the other half goes into the county fund.

-- Signed a lease agreement with Old National Bank to lease five vehicles for the Putnam County Sheriff's Dept. at $36,868 at a rate of 5.5 percent to be paid during then next five years.

-- Selected Trissler Construction for the repair work on Rolling Stone Covered Bridge with a base bid of $52,121.50, an alternate of $10,400 and a second alternate of $2,000.

-- Approved a new type of structure to replace Bridge 101 on CR 150 North in northwestern Putnam County. The estimate for the project is $141,221.91. The project will enlarge the bridge to 30 feet long by 24 feet wide. The project will use a new spread footing design with a pre-cast form that can be lowered in place via crane rather than built on site. The county will be providing the materials for the project. The current bridge is mis-aligned and is narrow, and handles a lot of traffic.

-- Signed a water quality assurance program agreement for Chem-Aqua to service the boilers in the courthouse and courthouse annex in 2007 at a cost of $188 per month.

-- Accepted a service agreement from Fikes Pest Control in Indianapolis to take care of the pigeon problem at the courthouse. The contract is for $3,000, and is not to be paid until the pigeons are gone.

-- Approved Duraflo Equipment Co., Indianapolis to provide two new boilers and controllers for the courthouse at a cost of $16,341.

-- Learned the county has received an Indiana Homeland Security Fund grant of $3,750 for a county mapping project. The grant actually comes from special license plate funds.

-- Approved the Bethel Subdivision in Clinton Township and the Gibbs Subdivision in Warren Township. Both received county plan commission approval.

-- Saw the results of an indoor air quality investigation in the courthouse, which was conducted due to some office concerns about mold the in the building. The tests revealed the cultural mold sample collected were well below the current recommended level for exposure. There is no health risk to employees or the public.

The next meeting of the commissioners is a special session set for 9 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 28 in the courthouse annex. The meeting is to take care of year-end matters and make appointments

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: