Marshall County Treasurer’s Office Extends Hours for Property Tax Collections

  
 

Marshall County Treasurer Penny Lukenbill requested the extension of business hours to accommodate the payment of property taxes this spring and fall.

Lukenbill told the commissioners that the auditor delivered the tax duplicate to the treasurer’s office last week. The tax bills are now being created to be mailed out to taxpayers.

Lukenbill requested that the treasurer’s office be open on Saturday, May 9 from 9 a.m. to noon. She also asked that hours be extended on Friday, May 8 and Monday, May 11 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET.

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Starke County Officials Making Bicentennial Plans

Indiana BicentennialStarke County will be participating in Indiana’s Bicentennial celebration with a number of activities. A volunteer group met again last night to continue local planning.

Discussion was held about local celebrations and events throughout 2016, as well as participation in the 2,3000 mile, 32-day Bicentennial “torch relay” when it passes through Starke County in October of 2016. The torch, similar to the Olympic torch, is being designed by students at Purdue Univertsity. Starke County residents are expected to be recruited to participate in the relay. Continue reading

Marshall County Commissioners to Get Update on 7th Road Project

Marshall County Commissioners (L to R) Deb Griewank, Kevin Overmyer and Kurt Garner
Marshall County Commissioners (L to R) Deb Griewank, Kevin Overmyer and Kurt Garner

The Marshall County Commissioners will receive an update on the 7th Road project when they meet this morning. Bart Trester from USI Consultants will relay the progress of the extension of the road to the new U.S. 31 highway. Among the aspects of the project, the roundabout needs to be completed. In a previous meeting, Trester noted that the project should be done in May. The completion deadline has already passed. Crews ran into unsuitable soils that needed to be addressed before work could continue. That delayed the project by a few weeks. Continue reading

Judge to Determine Additional Court Proceedings in Grand Jury Case

 A judge in a Grand Jury case involving former Marshall County Highway Superintendent Neal Haeck will determine a timeline today on whether a plea agreement hearing or trial will be scheduled. A Grand Jury returned an indictment against Haeck in September of 2014 alleging theft of scrap metal from the county while in his capacity as highway superintendent in 2012 and 2013.

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Marshall County Habitat for Humanity Taking Applications for Minor Home Repairs

 
 

The Marshall County Habitat for Humanity organization is offering help to low-income homeowners who may need to have minor or critical repairs done to their home.

Executive Director Dean Byers said there are two different options available for a homeowner to apply within a program called “A Brush with Kindness.” If a homeowner is chosen to participate, they will repay the organization based on their income.

Byers said one program allows for help in minor repairs and routine home maintenance.

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Marshall County Commissioners Discuss Lawsuit over Stolen Documents

  
 

The Marshall County Commissioners got an update on a class-action lawsuit against a company who allegedly stole thousands of dollars worth of data from the recorder’s office.

County Attorney Jim Clevenger told the commissioners that the lawsuit involves Marshall County and several other counties against Black Knight Real Estate Data Solutions. Recorder Marlene Mahler previously told the commissioners that the company reportedly took 2,700 documents totaling 39,000 pages out of the computer system without going through the proper channels. The recorder’s office would normally charge $1 per page so the company would owe $39,000. The lawsuit seeking damages would triple that amount.

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Starke County Council Approves Sheriff’s Vehicle Purchases

Starke County Sheriff's Department BadgeStarke County Sheriff Bill Dulin can buy two 2016 Ford Interceptor Utility Vehicles. The county council Monday evening approved the purchase, which will cost slightly more than $70,000. The money will come from the county adjusted gross income tax, or CAGIT, certified shares. The equipment list for both was whittled down significantly due to budgetary constraints. Dulin says new light bars need to be purchased for the SUV’s, as the ones on the existing Dodge Charger patrol cars will not fit.

Marshall County Commissioners Approve Permit Fee Schedule Ordinance

Marshall County Commissioners (L to R) Deb Griewank, Kevin Overmyer and Kurt Garner
Marshall County Commissioners (L to R) Deb Griewank, Kevin Overmyer and Kurt Garner

The Marshall County Commissioners held discussion on an ordinance to establish a fee schedule.

Several of the proposed fees for permits for residential and commercial construction were raised by $5.00 to cover costs. Permit fees for construction of accessory structures and larger structures went up even more. The proposed increases can be found here: permit fees

A fee was also included for a newly proposed roofing permit. Building Inspector Chuck DeWitt explained that they have the largest amount of calls with roofing projects.

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Marshall County Commissioners to Discuss Three Ordinances

Marshall County Commissioners (L to R) Deb Griewank, Kevin Overmyer and Kurt Garner
Marshall County Commissioners (L to R) Deb Griewank, Kevin Overmyer and Kurt Garner

The second reading of three ordinances will dominate this morning’s Marshall County Commissioners meeting.

The commissioners previously discussed the ordinances to establish a fee schedule and to amend the Marshall County zoning ordinance and zoning map. LaPaz residents expressed opposition to the zoning map saying that they don’t want the agriculture area zone to be overcome by commercial development. They’re more concerned about the preservation of existing businesses downtown. With the new U.S. 31, not as much traffic passes through the town and residents are afraid those establishments may become extinct.

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Former Marshall County Resident Sentenced to 32 Years

Russell Prosser
Russell Prosser

A former Culver resident was sentenced to 32 years in prison on charges of serious violent felon in possession of a firearm with an enhancement of habitual offender.

Russell Prosser, 44, was found guilty of those charges in a trial in February.

The case began in December of 2013 when officers found Prosser sleeping in a truck in the McDonald’s parking lot in LaPaz. He was a suspect in a case where several thefts occurred from vehicles in Culver. Guns were spotted by police inside the vehicle. A warrant to search the vehicle was obtained, and the weapons were confiscated. He was known by police to have been convicted of an armed robbery, and it was illegal for Prosser to possess any firearm.

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Marshall County Clerk Requests Money for E-Poll Books

 
 

The Marshall County Council members held a lengthy discussion about the purchase of e-poll books for the November election.

Clerk Deb Vandemark explained that 15 iPads would be purchased to be placed at all of the voting sites for the purpose of signing in voters at the polls. There are 14 poll sites for the county’s 29 precincts. One extra iPad would be on hand as a backup.

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Marshall County Council to Meet Today

  
 

The Marshall County Council members will be discussing an additional appropriation for the highway department for equipment.

Jerry Ambrose and Highway Superintendent Jason Peters explained to the Marshall County Commissioners last week that they would like to purchase a more expensive loader that will guarantee better service and reliability. The loader is a Caterpillar brand and is higher than two other bids sent in for consideration.

The commissioners approved the purchase, and the additional appropriation will be requested in today’s county council meeting. The highway department will be asking for $310,000 for equipment and $150,000 for the 7th Road project.

An e-poll book presentation will be made by Mike Miller along with Clerk Deb Vandemark, Sheriff Tom Chamberlin will be before the council for a resolution for sheriff commissary fund expenditures, and Commissioner Kevin Overmyer will discuss Marshall County Economic Development.

The meeting is today at 9 a.m. ET in the second-floor meeting room in the Marshall County Building in Plymouth.

Loader Purchase Approved by Marshall County Commissioners

  
 

The Marshall County Highway Department is getting closer to purchasing a new loader.

Jerry Ambrose and Highway Superintendent Jason Peters reviewed several bids and told the commissioners this week that a more expensive brand may be the best route to go. They are looking at a Caterpillar loader that is a more reliable machine, according to Ambrose. Ambrose said the two lower bids were for Hyundai brands, but those machines don’t last long as parts wear out faster.

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Change Orders Approved for 7th Road Project

 
 

The 7th Road construction project has been on hold all winter, but once the weather breaks workers will be busy to finish the project. It was anticipated to be complete last year.

Bart Trester from USI Consultants told the Marshall County Commissioners that several issues delayed the project including unsuitable soils and piling issue for the bridge. He presented a change order for the project once things get moving again.

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Video Conferencing, Technology Upgrade Approved

  Marshall County Superior Court No. 2 Judge Dean Colvin asked the commissioners this week to assist him in improving the video conferencing system between the courthouse and the Marshall County Jail.

A system was put in place years ago, but it’s time to upgrade, according to Judge Colvin.

“Over the last several years, we’ve run into a couple of issues with the video conferencing as a result of, as I like to call it, planned obsolescence with the regards to technology,” said Judge Colvin. “We’ve worked through the lifetime expectancy of the video conferencing and we’re having technical problems with video conferencing. We need to address those and bring them back up to date and back up to speed.”

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Proposed Permit Fee Amendment to Zoning Ordinance Passes on First Reading

Marshall County Commissioners (L to R) Deb Griewank, Kevin Overmyer and Kurt Garner
Marshall County Commissioners (L to R) Deb Griewank, Kevin Overmyer and Kurt Garner

The Marshall County Commissioners held a public hearing on the proposed increase in building permit and improvement location fees Monday morning.

Several of the fees increased by $5 while others jumped considerably. Plan Director Ralph Booker explained that the fees will help cover costs. The fees haven’t been amended for several years.

Permit fees for accessory structures larger than 1,601 square feet rose from $80 to $100 for structures up to 2,000 square feet. Permit fees for accessory structures larger than 2,000 square feet will be $150.

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Marshall County Officials Upgrade to Watch Level Travel Advisory

 
 

The Marshall County Commissioners and EMA Director Clyde Avery have upgraded Marshall County to a “watch” level travel advisory.

Snow, sleet and freezing rain will affect the morning commute to work and school. Snow covered and icy road conditions will cause hazardous driving conditions. Temperatures will increase in the afternoon which will cause the precipitation to change to rain.

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Operation Pull Over Set for Month of March

 Deputies with the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department will work additional hours to help reduce accidents and keep roadways safe in an upcoming enforcement blitz.

The department is participating in Operation Pull Over starting March 1 and ending March 31. Officers will focus on impaired driving, aggressive driving and seatbelt/child restraint violations, in addition to enforcing all traffic laws.

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Starke County Council Approves Sheriff’s Vehicle Purchase

Starke County Sheriff's Department BadgeStarke County Sheriff Bill Dulin can order one of two 2015 Ford Police Interceptor SUV’s he plans to buy for his department this year and a light bar to go on the vehicle. The Starke County Council last night approved that expenditure. The vehicle will replace the department’s high-mileage Dodge Durango, which will be reassigned to Starke County Coroner Adam Gray for use as a body transport vehicle. The Starke County Commissioners previously approved the purchase, but the council’s approval was needed to spend the money. Continue reading