Published: November 20, 2009 07:38 pm         

Vigo Air Pollution Control to be dismantled

Board of Health votes to incorporate the division into health department

TERRE HAUTE — A revised county air pollution control ordinance that would have provided for collection of fees from manufacturers with a federal air permit is dead, dismantling the Vigo County Air Pollution Control Department.

The Vigo County Board of Health on Friday unanimously voted to incorporate Air Pollution Control into a division of the health department. The board’s vote includes a proposal to hire two inspectors and an administrative assistant.

The final decision on the move and employees now goes to the Vigo County Council.

Earlier this year, the Vigo County Board of Commissioners had considered revising a county ordinance to allow for collection of $4 per ton from manufacturers with a federal Title V air pollution permit.

That fee would have been the only funding source for the county department after the Indiana Department of Environmental Management in late 2008 canceled contracts with the county to issue federal air permits and collect air monitoring data.

The state since has assumed all responsibility for industry and business air pollution inspections, responding to complaints and issuing air pollution control permits.

Paul Mason, president of the Board of Commissioners, said Friday the passage of a local fee is “highly unlikely.” Mason said the action to make a new division in the health department will eliminate the Air Pollution Control Department director’s position and at least two other positions.

The existing county ordinance essentially will allow the county to enforce problems of open burning, asbestos removal, dust control “and follow up on complaints,” Mason said.

The Air Pollution Control Department by the end of the year will have about $284,000 in its account that could be used to cover salaries in the health department.

In addition, selling a county-owned building that housed Air Pollution Control could generate about another $300,000, which could extend salaries another year, Mason said. Commissioners already have obtained two appraisals for the building, at the corner of Third and Ohio streets in Terre Haute, with one at $319,000 and a second at $286,000.

Mason said once those funds disappear, the health department would have to determine “if this is working out, they will have to go before the County Council to request funding to keep this agency going.”

The Vigo County Council already has cut $80,000 in funding for salaries and benefits in the Air Pollution Control Department’s 2010 budget, citing a lack of state funding support for the department. That budget cut salaries by about 30 percent.

Mason said salaries will have to be reviewed for any Air Pollution Control Department worker who is hired for the health department’s new division.

“We have to see if that is equal in the step and grade pay level of inspectors or administrative secretaries already in the health department,” Mason said.

“This just starts a process of getting an informational meeting with the Vigo County Council and tell them what our intentions are,” Mason said. “The president of the council said she would request a meeting of the personnel committee and take that before the committee to see if we get their blessing or maybe they are not for it,” Mason said.

Dr. Enrico Garcia, county health officer, said he felt the department should be moved to the health department to allow the county some local controls to ensure better air quality.

Howard Greninger can be reached at (812) 231-4204 or howard.greninger@tribstar.com.