Marshall County Safety Commission Sub-Committee to Formulate Crisis Communication

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The Marshall County Safety Commission held a discussion on many key issues of emergency planning when they met Tuesday morning.

Troy Heckaman from Culver Military Academy and Emergency Management Agency Director Clyde Avery noted that they were trying to put together a crisis communication plan for each school. Avery said they would like to have representatives from each of the schools to designate a safety person to be a part of a sub-committee that will work on a plan that’s specific to the school.

Continue reading →

Marshall County Safety Commission to Meet Today

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The Marshall County Safety Commission will meet for the first of its two meetings of the year this morning.

The commission members will develop strategies in emergency planning for schools, highways, emergency management, police, and health department.

During the fall meeting, programs were suggested to better gather information about how to handle bomb threats at school corporations and how to prepare for winter weather. A system for responding to emergencies was also discussed where communication plans were laid out. Those plans will be reviewed, and other thoughts given to help ensure all entities are on the same page when emergencies occur.

Continue reading →

Marshall County Commissioners Approve Tax Sale Paperwork

Posted on Author WKVI
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 last week approved an action to sign paperwork in order to move forward with a tax certificate sale.

In a previous meeting, Joe Edwards from SRI, Inc. told the commissioners that there were about 30 properties that were not sold in the 2014 property tax sale. These particular properties have been on the tax sale for years without interest by potential buyers.

A tax certificate sale could lower the price of the properties to heighten interest and to get the severely tax delinquent properties back on the tax rolls. The redemption period is a little quicker in a certificate sale. The average time period is 120 days.

Continue reading →

Marshall County Commissioners Approve Prepayment Limit

Posted on Author WKVI
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 this week discussed a prepayment limit for department heads.

Commissioner Deb Griewank suggested the change to the purchase ordinance so department heads can make county equipment purchases with a personal credit card that does not exceed $750. She said that it was brought to her attention that sometimes different departments need to purchase something online but don’t have the time to wait for commissioner approval. Buildings and maintenance directors can find items on eBay for cheaper but then they have to wait to purchase the items pending approval. Time could cost them.

Continue reading →

Marshall County Highway Supervisor Getting Quotes for Pug Mill

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The Marshall County Highway Department will be working toward getting a pug mill to save money on paving costs.

Supervisor of County Highways Jason Peters told the commissioners this week that they have been using Starke County’s pug mill and have patched roads with the stone, oil and sand mixture. Compared to a hot asphalt mix, having a pug mill will save the county thousands and thousands of dollars. He said the materials for other paving options are getting more expensive.

Continue reading →

Metronet Project Done, 7th Road Project Awaiting Completion

Posted on Author WKVI
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

This week, the Marshall County Commissioners approved and signed paperwork to complete the acceptance of the Metronet project along Glen Overmyer Drive. The work ended on Nov. 12 with all punch list items checked off the list. The installation of conduit for the three phases of the Metronet project is now complete.

The conduit will house dark fiber capable of distributing high-speed internet to business and industry in Plymouth. The conduit was installed in the city limits and along old U.S. 31 through LaPaz, LaVille, Lakeville and into South Bend. LaVille School Corporation and Hoosier Racing Tire have already lit dark fiber to begin using the product.

Continue reading →

Funds Approved for EMA Equipment Purchase

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The Marshall County Council approved an additional appropriation of $39,000 in order to spend the funds for equipment for the Emergency Management Agency.

EMA Director Clyde Avery was recently approved for a grant worth $39,000 to purchase transportable computer system equipment for the Emergency Operations Center and recording equipment. The items have to be purchased first and then the state will reimburse the county after an invoice is submitted.

Continue reading →

Grants Available Through Marshall County Community Foundation

Posted on Author WKVI

Marshall County Community FoundationThe Marshall County Community Foundation is accepting applications until Monday, Feb. 2 for the first of two 2015 Community Fund grant rounds.

Grants are awarded from this fund twice a year with money going to nonprofit organizations. The funds support projects or programs in Marshall County focusing on the arts, education, health and human services, recreation and the environment.

Continue reading →

Marshall County Shell Building Nearly Complete

Posted on Author WKVI
Marshall County Shell Building
Marshall County Shell Building in the first phases of construction

The Director of the Marshall County Economic Development Corporation gave the county council an update on the shell building in Plymouth.

Jerry Chavez explained that construction on the building began last year but activity ceased as winter settled in.

“There are some items that still need to be completed but for the most part it’s at a status where we won’t see anymore work this coming winter. We’re doing what we can in terms of marketing it to prospective clients that may have an interest in expanding to Marshall County and setting up shop in Plymouth’s backyard,” said Chavez.

Continue reading →

Additional Appropriation Requests Approved for Sheriff’s Budget

Posted on Author WKVI

The Marshall County Council members approved some money movement within the sheriff’s budget Monday morning.

Sheriff Tom Chamberlin requested an additional appropriation for $30,000 for prisoner care. Council President Matt Hassel commented that the money was “inadvertently overlooked” from the 2015 budget. The request was approved by a vote of 6-1 with Judy Stone opposed. She said the certified shares line item would be healthy enough to afford to pay that expense by the third or fourth quarter.

Continue reading →

Marshall County Council Approves Salary Increases for Court Services

Posted on Author WKVI
Marshall County Council
Marshall County Council

The Marshall County Council discussed an additional appropriation for Superior Court where Judge Dean Colvin asked for money to add to the court services director’s salary and to the substance abuse counselor’s salary.

Judge Colvin explained that the salaries were reduced in 2011 to accommodate cuts that needed to be done due to a lack of revenue and income the programs were receiving. According to Judge Colvin, the programs were turned around, thanks to the addition of Ward Byers to the office in 2013 and personnel in the office.

Continue reading →

Marshall County Initiates Travel Advisory

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Marshall County officials have initiated an advisory level travel restriction due to blowing and drifting snow.

Marshall County EMA Director Clyde Avery said that roads remain snow covered and slick. North winds are causing drifting issues on east/west roads in the county. Temperatures are expected to be below zero tonight which will turn slush into ice. This will create a hazardous travel condition. Wind chills are also expected to be below zero.

Continue reading →

Marshall County Council to Meet Today

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The Marshall County Council will meet in regular session today where several additional appropriations are already set on the agenda. Some of the appropriations are necessary to put into the 2015 budget that were held over from last year’s budget. Other line items were omitted from budget discussions.

The council members will reorganize and entertain employee replacement requests for the Soil and Water District, clerk’s office and the sheriff’s department. The council members will also review a salary amendment for the court services director and substance abuse counselor along with lake patrol.

Continue reading →

NJ-SP Superintendent Explains Delay Procedure

Posted on Author WKVI
North Judson-San Pierre High School
North Judson-San Pierre High School

While most schools in the area call for two hour delays when weather plays a factor in traveling safely to school, North Judson-San Pierre schools operate on a 90-minute delay.

Superintendent Lynn Johnson explains that at least six times each semester, Bluejay Collaboration Time takes place the first 90 minutes of the school day. This is a chance for teachers to take time to analyze data and form Response to Instruction Groups. Continue reading →

More Cuts to be Made in Pulaski County Budget

Posted on Author WKVI

Pulaski County Auditor Shelia Garling informed the commissioners this week that The budget order from the state has returned. Over $48,000 needs to be further cut from the budget as well as $153,000 in the highway budget. She said several errors were made when putting the budget together in some line items. It is the hope that additional appropriations won’t have to be made unless necessary.

Dave Bennett from Bennett Insurance gave the commissioners some good news. The county will be getting a refund of $205,499 as claims were down in 2014. Garling said that refund will come in three installments with the first payment already received in December.

Marshall County Commissioners Sign Grant, Get Update from Highway Department

Posted on Author WKVI
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 signed grant paperwork so EMA Director Clyde Avery can order equipment. The commissioners previously approved the 2014 Department of Homeland Security grant worth $20,000 to order newer 800 MHz radios to have on hand.

Highway Administrator Laurie Baker informed the commissioners that bridge inspections are ongoing. The department has gotten a bill for $78,967 for work already completed on the first phase. The inspections are about 60 percent complete. INDOT will reimburse the county for 80 percent of the cost.

Continue reading →