Carroll County commissioners address sinkhole repair, promote dog warden

Carroll County commissioners met for a brief meeting Sept. 15.

Commissioner Donald E. Leggett II said they will fix the side parking lot sinkhole Sept. 16 at 3 p.m. He said the problem was a drain on the lower side pulling water and dirt out from under the parking lot. They plan to rebar and reinforce the area, then fill the hole.

In an unrelated matter, following an executive session at the Sept. 11 meeting, commissioners made and approved a motion to promote interim dog warden Merle Long to dog warden, effective immediately at a rate of $19 per hour with a six-month probationary period and an increase of $1 per hour, contingent on his employee review.

Commissioner Chris Modranski said interviews with other candidates will be held Wednesday, Sept. 17, to fill the open assistant dog warden role.

In other business, commissioners:

— HEARD at the Sept. 11 meeting, following a recess, commissioners received an email from cartoonist and screenwriter Duane Abel, who is preparing to do a second film he wrote and co-produced. It will be filmed in January with locations in Carroll County. He wants permission to film on the exterior steps of the courthouse. The film, titled "A Christmas Drawn Together," is a family romantic comedy.

Commissioners approved this on the condition that Abel has insurance in place and provides a copy to commissioners.

— PAID bills totaling $145,475.24.

— HEARD Commissioner Robert Wirkner will meet with EOG personnel to put faces to names and establish a line of communication.

— APPROVED permits for the use of the following county highway rights of way as recommended by the county engineer: Heilman Excavating LLC for effluent discharge from an NPDES discharging system into a catch basin in Center Township, Bacon Road (CR 24); and Ben Hershberger for a driveway in Union Township on Canyon Road (CR 54).

— HEARD Modranski say Carroll County has moved into the severe drought range on the map.