Commissioners approve EDIT plan

With a total budget just shy of $1 million, the Putnam County Commissioners approved the 2015 Putnam County Capital Improvement Plan at their Monday, Feb. 2 meeting.

Drawing on funds collected from the County Economic Development Income Tax (EDIT), the plan has a total of $976,241 available in 2015.

The commissioners hosted a public hearing on the 2015 plan, with no citizens voicing concerns about the 2015 plan.

EDIT funds for 2015 will be spent as follows: $459,468 for the jail bond, $9,750 to West Central Economic Development, $40,000 to the Greencastle/Putnam County Economic Development Center, $5,000 for the Putnam County Senior Center, $31,418.75 to the Edgelea project annual payment, $15,000 for Edgelea debt contingency, $50,000 for animal care and control, $300,000 for highway roads, $45,604.25 to the Warchest, $5,000 for Rural Transit, $5,000 for Civil War Memorial grant match and $10,000 for Beyond Homeless.

The commissioners also passed a freeze-thaw ordinance to help protect county roads for the rest of winter and early spring.

The ordinance may be passed each year (although no such step was taken in 2014) for a period of up to 90 days to protect county roads when conditions caused by rain, snow or other climate changes could lead to serious damage by certain vehicles.

Under the terms of the ordinance, the county may erect signs on any section of county road imposing a temporary load limit of 10 tons. The county may keep such limitations in force for the duration of the ordinance.

Violation of the weight restriction is considered a Class B infraction, punishable by a maximum fine of $1,000. It could also be subject to civil liability.

County Highway Supervisor Mike Ricketts also addressed another winter problem for the roads, reporting that the department has received a number of complaints of people draining their basements onto the road with sump pumps.

In cold weather, the water then freezes on the road.

There is currently no law against such a practice, but Ricketts said highway personnel have responded to such situations a number of times.

In other business:

* Brent Cash of 12 Point Technology was in attendance to discuss courthouse technology issues with the commissioners. A number of tech problems currently plague the various offices of the courthouse.

"It's starting to get where I'm called here every day," Cash said.

Cash discussed a number of issues that need to be addressed, including wiring management, too many routers and eventually moving to virtual servers.

For now, Cash would like to address an issue involving the server in the clerk's office that will limit some of the connectivity problems for now.

The commissioners approved addressing the initial problem for a cost not to exceed $2,000. The issue will move to the Putnam County Council.

* The sale of lots to Clear Creek Conservancy prior to the commissioners sale was again addressed. County Attorney Jim Ensley reported that he was meeting with the interested parties to reach some sort of resolution.