Published: June 30, 2009 09:40 pm         

Vigo officials eye air pollution control permit fees

TERRE HAUTE — Vigo County officials are considering a revised ordinance that would establish local air pollution control permit fees to help fund the Vigo County Air Pollution Control Department.

The county Board of Commissioners in April staged a public hearing to gain input on a proposed ordinance. Several businesses and the Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce opposed the ordinance, which would establish local fees on air pollution sources. Several county residents and a small business advocated support of the ordinance at the hearing.

The fees would largely fund the Vigo County Air Pollution Control Department, in need because the Indiana Department of Environmental Management did not renew a contract with the local department. That contract ended March 31.

The state also ended contracts with the cities of Hammond and Gary, and did not renew contracts last year with Evansville, Indianapolis and Anderson.

While a legal review is being conducted on a revised ordinance, commissioners also are considering options to reduce costs.

One option is to sell the department’s current building at Ohio and Third streets. George Needham, executive director of the department, said the building was purchased from air pollution permit fees, which had to be spent on air pollution control purposes.

In a June 22 letter to commissioners, Needham suggests that if the building is sold, proceeds would go into the department’s non-reverting fund to help cover expenses for “the next few years.”

The department would be moved into the Vigo County Annex, at First and Oak streets.

Needham said Tuesday his letter was presented as proposals for commissioners to consider “to see what can be done.”

Proposals include reducing an annual permit fee to Duke Energy from $187,500 to $100,000. Duke Energy opposed a local fee at the April hearing.

Another suggestion is to reduce air pollution salaries to match those of other county employees. This would amount to a 38 percent salary reduction for the director and a 25 percent reduction for the rest of the department. That would make the director’s salary $37,000, inspectors’ salaries $36,300 and pay the office manager $27,700.

In addition, the county department likely would downsize to four employees “over the next few years” through retirements and attrition, the letter states. The department currently has six employees.

Commissioner Judith Anderson said such a reduction in the work force could take two or more years and would not produce immediate budget savings.

Anderson on Tuesday asked the county attorney to provide a comparison of current state fees with fees that would be included in a revised county ordinance. “We need to see that comparison. We’re trying to make it work for the county, dollar-wise,” Anderson said.

County Attorney Robert Wright said he is reviewing an air pollution control ordinance from the City of Hammond that enforces a local fee.

“We are trying to somewhat pattern what we are going to do based upon what has been done in Hammond. We are just trading ideas right now, looking at things that work and some that don’t,” Wright said, adding that he is also researching federal and Indiana air standard laws.

Wright said it would be September or October before a revised ordinance would be presented to commissioners for consideration.

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