County adopts 2017 EDIT plan

With a total of more than $900,000 in Economic Development Income Tax (EDIT) funds available, the Putnam County Commissioners adopted the 2017 Capital Improvement Plan during their meeting Monday morning.

The largest piece of the plan at nearly half of the funds remains the Putnam County Jail bond, with an annual payment of $456,899.

The jail bond has been the largest part of the EDIT plan for more than two decades, but that will change after the final payment is made in 2018.

Other costs and expected projects in the 2017 EDIT plan include $13,334 to West Central Economic Development, $40,000 in annual support to the Greencastle/Putnam County Economic Development Center, $5,000 to the Putnam County Senior Center, $29,257.50 for the annual payment to the Edgelea paving project, $15,000 for the Edgelea debt contingency, $5,000 to Rural Transit, $10,000 to Beyond Homeless, $5,000 to the Putnam County Emergency Food Pantry and $7,500 to People Pathways.

The remaining $376,150 goes to the Warchest, bringing the plan total to $963,140.50.

In other business:

• Commissioner Rick Woodall reported that he has received a bid from Waggoner, Irwin, Scheele & Associates on updating the county’s employee handbook.

The bid from the consulting firm would cost the county between $10,650 and $12,320. The commissioners appeared ready to move forward with accepting the bid until a comment came from the audience.

“I think it would be in the best interest of the county if you got at least one other bid,” citizen Nancy Wells commented.

“I didn’t, but I can,” Woodall replied. “The reason I went with them is that I talked to five or six other counties and this is who they went with.”

Woodall and fellow Commissioner David Berry got the idea of updating the handbook at a recent commissioners conference. Commissioners from other counties told them of the trouble it has saved in litigation and recommended the work of WIS.

The matter will be back before the commissioners when at least one more bid is obtained.

• The commissioners approved the annual freeze-thaw ordinance, which gives the Putnam County Highway Department a 90-day window in which it can enact temporary load restrictions on roads that grow particularly soft or damaged by winter weather.

With limited freezing so far this winter, such restrictions may not be necessary but passing the ordinance gives the department the power to do so if needed.

• County Highway Supervisor Mike Ricketts announced that bids are being accepted for replacing Bridge 150 on County Road 100 South, southeast of Greencastle.

Bids will be accepted through March 6.

• The commissioners unanimously approved appointments to four different positions on three boards.

Carolyn Newton and Steve Jackson were appointed to the Putnam County Convention and Visitor Bureau board. Jim Spore was appointed to the Putnam County Airport Authority board. Russell Birch was appointed to the board of the Walnut Creek Fire Protection District.

• The commissioners are one step closer to naming a county planner. The county received nine applications, and commissioners will interview four candidates for the job during an executive session on Friday afternoon.

Although interviews are conducted in executive sessions, a decision will have to be reached during a public meeting.

• The commissioners will meet with Ricketts in a special public session on March 6 at the Putnam County Highway Garage, 1624 W. CR 225 South, Greencastle. The purpose of the 10:30 a.m. meeting is to discuss plans for road work in 2017.