Banner Graphic, Volume 22, Number 124, Greencastle, Putnam County, 28 January 1992 — Page 1

rW ■-< M-r ■ oannoriiHßiic Greencastle. Putnam County. Tuesday. January 28.1992. Vol. 22 No. 124 35 cents

Commissioners trim two wings from new jail plans

By ANGIE HOWLAND Banner-Graphic Staff Writer While deciding to continue looking into purchasing land on Keightly Road for a new county jail, the three county commissioners decided Monday morning to cut two sections from the preliminarily designed facility. Attempting to cut costs on a projected $5.8 million facility, Commissioners Gene Beck, Dennis O’Hair and Don Walton decided have a proposed 10-cell juvenile wing and 10-person dormitory for work-release prisoners be bid as alternates instead of definite parts of

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A heavily damaged 1986 Nissan draws a crowd of onlookers Monday afternoon following a two-vehicle accident on U.S. 40 at Manhattan. Luckily, the driver of car, William Riggs, 42, Indianapolis, fared better than his vehicle. According to Indiana State Police Sgt. George Schneider, Riggs was eastbound on U.S. 40 and crossed the Manhattan Road intersection at 3:35 p.m.

‘Capital for a Day’ activities slated Wife to join Bayh here on Thursday

By ERIC BERNSEE Banner-Graphic Editor Education, economic development and environment will be the focus Thursday when Greencastle serves as Indiana’s “Capital for a Day.” As the smallest of the eight cities ever to host Gov. Evan Bayh’s roving capital, Greencastle will be the first to play host to both the governor and Hoosier First Lady Susan Bayh simultaneously. ALTHOUGH THE governor’s local schedule is not etched in stone, it is expected that he will be in Greencastle from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. That is the same timeframe that has been followed in other communities that have been designated as Capital for a Day. Several activities will be open to the public Thursday, including opening ceremonies, which will be conducted at 10 a.m. in the rotunda of the Putnam County Courthouse. The governor is expected to be accompanied by representatives of the Indiana Department of Trans-

Happy days: 50s back

Clearing overnight with low in the lower 20s. Mostly sunny and warmer on Wednesday with high around 50 degrees. Wind light and variable during the period. Indiana Extended Forecast Thursday through Saturday. Dry and cooler Thursday and Friday, followed by a chance of snow showers in the north on Saturday. Daily highs will range from the 40s on Thursday and Friday, and 35 to 40 on Saturday.

the new jail. CLIFF HUGGINS, OM&S project architect, estimated by nixing the two wings from the facility, would cut off about $675,000 from the project price tag. The commissioners decided to bid the juvenile wing as an alternate after Huggins explained that state and federal regulations about housing youths in the same facility as adult offenders may continue to change and it may not be feasible to build a separate wing for the juveniles. The commissioners first began including a juvenile wing or sepa-

At the same time, a westbound 1975 Chevrolet, driven by Edward C. Caudil, 16, Route 1, Reelsville, reportedly attempted to turn south onto Manhattan Road in front of Riggs’ vehicle and the two collided. Riggs suffered neck and back pain and a cut over the left eye. He was taken by Operation Life ambulance to Putnam County Hospital, where he was listed in good con-

portation (1982 DePauw University graduate John J. Dillon, INDOT commissioner), Indiana Department of Environmental Management (Rosemary Spalding, assistant commissioner), Indiana Department of Commerce (Bob Kovach, executive director) and Family and Social Services Administration (former Putnam County Head Start Director Peg Smith of Step Ahead). Also due in Greencastle Thursday are Les Miller of the governor’s office, Jack Cruse and Peggy O’Malley of Workforce Development, Phil Schermerhorn of INDOT, Angie Koons, Keira Amstutz and Mary Beth Claus of the governor’s office, Bureau of Motor Vehicles Commissioner Gil Holmes and Addison Simpson, Jim Verdier and Mental Health Director Bob Dyer of Family and Social Services Administration. “LITERALLY, THE governor moves here for the day with the directors of his departments and their staffs and runs the state’s business from Greencastle for the

Lows will range from the middle 20s to the middle 30s. Index Abby A 3 Calendar A 3 Classifieds A6,A7 Comics A 4 Crossword A 7 Heloise A 3 Horoscope A 7 Obituaries A 8 People A 4 Sports AS, A 6 Theaters A 8

rate detention center in the jail project to try and cut down on the skyrocketing costs to the county in housing the juveniles short term and long term. By state and federal law, juveniles cannot be held in the Putnam County Jail for over six hours. This is because there is no place in the existing 51-year old facility that the youths would be sight and sound separated from adult offenders. BECAUSE OF that regulation and an increased number of serious juvenile offenders, costs have greatly increased to the county to

day,” Mayor Mike Harmless said. “They’ll monitor the state legislature from here and everything.” General headquarters for the governor’s staff will be the GTE community meeting room, 201 E. Washington St. The governor isn’t expected to spend much, if any, time there, but GTE officials are making three phone lines available to help his staff conduct the state’s business from Greencastle. Tom Jeffers, the governor’s liaison for human services, will be on hand from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the GTE location to field citizens’ questions and concerns. MEANWHILE, INDOT will set up its operations in the PSI Energy meeting room. At 2 p.m. Dillon and transportation officials will meet with City Street Commissioner Jim Wright, Putnam County Highway representatives and the public to explain how the Federal Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act affects municipal and county governments. There will be time allowed to ask questions.

Gjesvold request denied but not dead yet

By ERIC BERNSEE Banner-Graphic Editor Among politicians, a non-denial denial is a frequent double-talk tactic used to wiggle out of a tight spot But the non-denial denial took on new meaning Monday night at the City Plan Commission meeting when the group denied a request to use the former Mathena Manor as a photography studio, yet encouraged the petitioner to present his case to the Board of Zoning Appeals later. IF THAT SEEMS confusing, it’s because it was. And if a picture really is worth a thousand words, petitioner David Gjesvold could

house them around the Midwest and by jail officials transporting the youths to detention centers in Terre Haute, Indianapolis and other areas. But since the state ruling has not been finalized on housing or not housing the juveniles in a separate wing from adult offenders, the commissioners decided to hold off on including a section. Sheriff Richard Lyon said that the county has signed a contract with officials from Johnson County to house Putnam County juveniles in a new detention center that is opening. To delete a work-release dorm

dition. Caudil was not injured but his vehicle sustained an estimated $2,000 damage. Riggs’ vehicle sustained an estimated $3,000 damage. Sgt. Schneider was assisted at the scene by the Washington Township Volunteer Fire Department, Putnam County Sheriff's Dept, and Cloverdale Police. (Banner-Graphic photo by Angie Howland).

IDEM plans to use the city’s waste water treatment plant as its base of operation. Spalding and others will be reaching out to Putnam County towns and county officials from an environmental standpoint, organizers said. The governor’s schedule will also include a visit to the Wal-Mart distribution center, a stop at Putnam County Head Start, noontime local recreation, a lunch at the Double Decker, an afternoon visit to Tzouanakis Elementary and a day-ending reception (3:10-4 p.m.) at Walden Inn. The first “Capital for a Day” was held in Lake County last February. Since then, the state capital has been moved to Evansville, Terre Haute, Columbus, Fort Wayne, Marion and Vincennes. Considering the other cities that have hosted “Capital for a Day,” local residents have already recognized and expressed “what a great honor this is for our community,” Mayor Harmless said.

have shot up a whole roll of film during more than an hour of discussion Monday night at the Greencastle Middle School. Gjesvold originally petitioned the Plan Commission to rezone the 1.73-acre site, also known as the former old country club clubhouse, from R-2 (low-density, multifamily residential) to C-l (commercial). In addition to using the ballroom for a photo studio and the grounds for photo backdrops, Gjesvold had indicated he might move his art supply and picture-framing business to the site as well. The structure, which already has one apartment upstairs, would be

from the facility, commissioner Walton suggested Monday morning that the county look into a separate community corrections program that would involve Clay County and the possibility of state funds. He also suggested that the program be housed in the existing jail in a residential-type atmosphere. COUNTY COURT Judge Sally Gray told the Banner-Graphic, the program would help reduce the number of inmates at the local jail while providing service to the community. She explained that if the county would decide to look into the pro-

Cloverdale votes 100 percent of CEDIT to new jail

By LISA MEYER Banner-Graphic Staff Writer CLOVERDALE The Cloverdale Town Council took the lead in a hotly debated tax issue Monday night by voting to commit 100 percent of some new tax money to a county jail building project. The move by council members Jeff VanDeVanter, Phyliss Gaddis and Dee Todd makes Cloverdale the first town in Putnam County to register its approval of the County Economic Development Income Tax (usually shortened to CEDIT, or, depending on who is talking about it, EDIT). COUNTY OFFICIALS have been meeting with city and town government officials in recent months to discuss the impact of CEDIT. By building a new jail with CEDIT money, county officials say they hope to keep the construction project off of the already overburdened property taxes. CEDIT is a tax based on the taxable income of county residents. The money collected can be used for projects such as building a new jail facility. The attractive part of CEDIT, if there can be anything positive about any tax, is that using the CEDIT money will keep the jail construction project off the already strapped property taxes. The Cloverdale Council picked up on some new information on the jail construction project during a presentation by county commissioners Don Walton, Dennis O’Hair, county attorney Bob Lowe, county council member Nancy Michael and financial consultant Steve Meno of Traub and Co. Inc. While Commissioner Walton praised the council as taking a leadership role in the process of funding the jail, council members and Cloverdale residents at the meeting did not agree to the tax without asking several questions on the impact of the tax and the cooperation that must come from other communities to keep the jail project off the property taxes. “WHAT KIND OF commitment are other communities giving,” Mrs. Todd asked. “You’re the first,” Meno responded. Similar resolutions on the tax will be presented to other city and town councils at their upcoming meetings, he said. “If everyone puts in 100 percent,” Mrs. Gaddis asked, “then it won’t touch property taxes?” Meno agreed, providing that the project’s cost is low enough to be covered by the tax. As it now

remodeled to include a second downstairs apartment under Gjesvold’s original concept. AND WHILE AT face value his plans drew nothing but praise from Plan Commission members, it was the idea of rezoning to C-l that caused the most concern. Once that C-l zoning is in effect, Plan Commissioners reasoned, nothing would prevent Gjesvold from selling the property and any qualifying commercial enterprise could then locate there. “If you open it up to C-l,” Jim Gram said, control is lost over what goes in next. “How do you refuse them (if it’s already C-l)?”

gram, the facility could house the work-release program, antabuse treatment, electronic equipment and supervision for offenders. The judge said that she plans to further investigate the program to see if it may be a viable option for the county. However, Commissioner Beck questioned the costs of providing manpower to supervise the program and housing. After discussing deleting the two wings, the commissioners continued to analyze the site selection for the facility. Col. 1, back page, this section

stands, he said, with the project should be covered by the tax. MRS. GADDIS WAS also assured that if other communities voted to put in less than 100 percent of their EDIT tax, Cloverdale would not still be expected to commit all of its money. Walton said the tax will be even for all towns. For instance, if another community votes to put in only 75 percent but all of the other towns in the county vote to put in more than that, the council will drop all of the town commitments to the 75 percent level. It will not be a case, Mrs. Michael said, of one town committing all of its CEDIT money, while other communities only contribute a portion of their tax and keep the rest. AND THE TAX will not affect people on fixed incomes such as social security and welfare, she added. The tax is only applied cm taxable income. Fire Chief Charlie Roach asked if out-of-county residents who work in Putnam County must also pay the CEDIT payroll deduction. If the home county of a person employed in Putnam County does not already have CEDIT, that person’s CEDIT money will stay in Putnam County, Meno said. Town resident Francis Berry asked if any plans for expansion are included in the jail project Walton said that as the plans now stand, the jail can be expanded in two directions if needed. POLICE CHIEF Jim Kabzinski gave his support to the CEDIT tax. Kabzinski said he knows from experience that a jail is needed, and he prefers to keep the project off of property taxes. “Hopefully, Cloverdale won’t be the only town who goes 100 percent,” Kabzinski said. Former Cloverdale council member Steve Walters said he supports the 100 percent CEDIT commitment for the project, as did other residents at the meeting. Walton explained to the council that firm building plans for the jail have not been nailed down. AS RECENTLY AS Monday afternoon, he said, project architects were working on eliminating a juvenile wing and a work-release section from the plans. Hopefully, he said, that will bring the project cost somewhere between $4.5 and $5.5 million. The size of the facility is still being figured at 44 single cells, he Col. 4, back page, this section

Among businesses eligible for C--1 is even a supermarket, which could further compound traffic problems along Judson Drive. Changing the zoning would also constitute spot zoning, it was noted, since all adjoining property is residential in nature. And spot zoning is in conflict with the new comprehensive city plan, which as former Plan Commission member Terry Hall noted from the audience, hasn’t even gone to the printer yet. AT ONE POINT in the discussion, David Wood made a motion to add a photo studio as a special exception to the R-2 zoning district. Col. 1, back page, this section