Commissioners approve 2014 EDIT plan

The passage of the 2014 County Economic Development Income Tax plan came and went Monday as it always does -- with little fanfare but with carrying lots of weight.

For with the EDIT plan, which allocates nearly $1 million in county funds, the Putnam County Commissioners fund a number of important county responsibilities and expenses.

Chief among these is the annual jail bond, a commitment of $456,725 in 2014.

The jail bond constitutes just more than 50 percent of EDIT funds for 2014, which total $894,48318. This total comes from $891,001.39 for 2014 and $3,481.79 carried over from last year.

While the jail takes the lion's share of EDIT funds, a number of projects receive funding from EDIT dollars, including $275,000 for the road fund at the Putnam County Highway Department, $37,500 to economic development and $20,000 for the Putnam County Fair Board.

More than $40,000 goes toward the county's ongoing obligation to the Edgelea repaving project, with $27,262.50 going toward the annual payment and an additional $15,000 to Edgelea debt contingency.

In another subject in the news recently, $25,000 will go toward animal care and control.

In addition, EDIT funds will also go to West Central Economic Development ($9,750), Putnam County Senior Center ($5,000), Rural Transit ($5,000), EMA grant match ($4,160.27) and miscellaneous ($3,500).

This leaves a balance of $10,585.41 in the 2014 plan.

Commissioners David Berry and Max Watts approved the plan 2-0. President Don Walton was not in attendance on Monday.

In other business:

* Steve Leatherman of WTH discussed sharing Global Information System (GIS) data with third parties for a fee.

While GIS data is available free of charge, some vendors inquire of companies like WTH to get an entire layer of GIS data, choosing to pay a fee rather than paying an employee to take the time to extract the needed data from the program.

Leatherman told the commissioners that neighboring counties and communities often have data exchange agreements, while vendors working for the county also have access to necessary data.

However, a third situation arises when, for example, an energy company inquires for prospecting purposes or a company selling plat books wants updated information.

In this case, Leatherman said, a $750 fee is charged, with $500 to WTH and $250 going to the county.

He added that a county should not expect more than one or two such inquiries annually.

The commissioners took the matter under advisement to be revisited at an upcoming meeting.

* The commissioners approved the purchases of two key boxes to be placed on the courthouse and courthouse annex for the use of the Greencastle Fire Department.

During recent fire alarm runs to both buildings, firefighters had to wait for someone with keys in order to make entry.

While keys have since been issued to the department, such a collection of keys from buildings around the community is unwieldy.

Instead, boxes with one universal key are placed on the buildings, with firefighters able to access the box and then the building.

Two boxes were purchased at a cost of $194 each. The units will be installed at a point that will require a ladder for access.

* The commissioners also discussed the leaking roof at the annex, which was the cause of one of the alarms.

Head custodian Brian Smith advised that about a 60-feet by 60-feet area is the problem and will require more than simply liquid roofing mix.

The commissioners told Smith to get estimates on the material cost, with the idea of doing the work in house.

* The commissioners also gave their approval to a plan to codify county ordinances and planning and zoning regulations.

The proposal from American Legal Publishing Corp., presented in March, comes at a price of $14,375.

Final approval of funding will have to come from the Putnam County Council, but Berry and Watts gave their approval to forward the matter to the council.

Joe McDonough of American Legal told the commissioners that his company would be willing to accept payment over the course of two or even three budget years.