Marshall County Highway Superintendent Neal Haeck reported on the current status on the 7th Road project at the recent commissioners meeting. Officials will soon be discussing contracts with USI Consultants to get the project started. Construction and engineering costs will be two things that will need to be discussed.
Marshall County, the City of Plymouth and the Town of Bourbon are working in a collaborative effort in applying for a brownfield grant to help attract business and industry to the county. Continue reading
The Marshall County Commissioners were made aware of a very bizarre issue facing a Keighbaum Lake resident.
Jean Klinedinst told the commissioners that she and her husband own approximately 41 acres of lake-front property at Kreighbaum Lake. When a survey was completed, she found out that 18 acres of the property on which she pays taxes is the lake itself. She told the commissioners that she is actually paying taxes on water. The lakes are usually county or state owned.
The Marshall County Commissioners held three public hearings Monday morning.
Christopher Martin was before the commissioners with Planning Director Ralph Booker to request that his parcel of land located in the Deer Trace Subdivision in West Township on Eastwood Drive in Plymouth be rezoned. He requested it be changed from Lake Residential (L-1) to Agricultural (A-1). He explained that he would like to have small livestock on his property near the lake for his children who participate in 4-H.
A final cost estimate for the St. Joe Valley Metronet’s expansion into Marshall County and the city of Plymouth is expected soon, as one of the organizers of the project has reported that the proposed route has been decided upon and they will soon have an estimated cost.
The path takes consideration of the location of existing utilities and avoids them wherever possible, and also takes into account the subscribers who have already put money into the project to ensure the Metronet expands into the area. Businesses like Hoosier Racing Tire and St. Joseph Regional Medical Center put sums of money up front to make the project happen. Continue reading
The Marshall County Commissioners have a loaded agenda for their bi-monthly meeting this morning.
Deputy Auditor Brenda Harper will talk about United Way, Marshall County Economic Development Commission Director Jay Bahr will give an update, and three public hearings are scheduled concerning ordinances. Joel Markland will appear before the commissioners to discuss a Brownfield grant, Linda Rippy is scheduled to give an quarterly update on happenings at the museum and Jean Klindinst has time to talk about a Kreighbaum Lake parcel.
Highway Superintendent Neal Haeck will have an update along with County Attorney Neal Haeck and Auditor Penny Lukenbill.
The meeting begins this morning at 9:30 a.m. ET in the commissioners meeting room on the second floor of the Marshall County building.
There was a new phone system that moved and the downtime for the offices was quite minimal. More fiber optic cables were installed which has made everything work more efficiently. Marshall stated that one office is also digitizing microfilm which has caused the need for more space for backup purposes.
Brenda Hoffer and her attorney Jim Easterday appeared before the commissioners to discuss the release of the revisionary interest on a piece of property that sits on the New Wine Church property. Hoffer is willing to buy the piece of property and even keep up the adjacent cemetery, but the property is owned by the county and the county needs to release its revisionary interest on the parcel so the sale can be completed. The sale has been ongoing for a year.
The Marshall County Commissioners approved an ordinance that streamlines the process in which to apply for federal grant money.
A procedural hiccup was noted by a few departments when applying for federal grants. This has prompted the county attorney to put adopt a grant approval policy for each department that has to apply for federal funds.
The board plans to hear an update of the IT Department from Director Michael Mitchell. Highway Superintendent Neal Haeck will provide a report, including how the free dirt giveaway is going since it started again this month. Residents can obtain free dirt on the north side of the Marshall County Jail facility on Saturdays this month from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET.
County Attorney Jim Clevenger will give an update on litigation items and the 7th Road project and Auditor Penny Lukenbill will present the claims for approval.
The meeting begins at 8:30 a.m. ET today in the Marshall County Commissioners’ Room on the second floor of the Marshall County Building.
The Marshall County Commissioners approved two plans put forth by the safety committee.
Commissioner Jack Roose, who is a part of that committee, brought in an emergency plan regarding hazardous chemicals. The hazardous communication plan outlines what procedures county employees should undertake if a hazardous spill occurs within their department in the county. Training is required and all steps meet OSHA guidelines.
The Marshall County Commissioners approved a change in the holiday schedule for 2014.
There are 13 holidays in which the employees will get off as federal holidays. It was brought to the board’s attention that the 26th of December falls on a Friday in 2014. In an informal poll, the workers said they would rather have the 26th of December off than the 24th of December.
The commissioners thought this would be a good idea as it would serve as a cost-cutting move. They approved the addition of Dec. 26 to the holiday schedule and removed the Dec. 24 in the holiday schedule.
Fox explained that the layout of the office has to change, specifically in the child support division. Certain privacy laws need to be followed and the general public should not be allowed in the area where business is conducted. Fox said the child support staff has moved around in the office and darkened film has been installed on windows in the office to shield information on computers. The employees who work in the traffic department have been moved to accommodate this change.
The Marshall County Council approved a request by Sheriff Tom Chamberlin to hire an officer to replace one who recently resigned. The council also approved a request by Clerk Julie Fox to hire a deputy clerk as Vicki Yost will be vacating the position when she moves to Alabama. Yost had worked in the clerk’s office for more than 10 years.
Clyde Avery explained that it was due to be reviewed and rewritten, but all of the pieces have not yet come together to complete this task.
Marshall County EMA Director Clyde Avery is expected to give a quarterly update to the commissioners about events, training opportunities and other activities in the past few months.
Sheriff Tom Chamberlin will discuss vacation and personal time extensions.
The Marshall County Commissioners heard a report from Older Adult Services Director Jackie Wright about the transportation grant.
Wright explained that they are applying for a transportation grant which will be the same amount they received in 2012. The grant will cover the costs in the transportation department.
Plan Commission Director Ralph Booker explained that with the new U.S. 31 project, it was time to update a chapter in the town’s plan to include an upgrade in several aspects of the town. The proposed changes include an upgrade in sidewalks so residents and visitors can safely walk about town; enhance the downtown corridor by creating an attractive and safe community; incorporate welcome signs, decorative lighting and other landscaping to create a friendlier atmosphere, develop a land use plan; and be proactive in the development in the new U.S. 31 realignment.
The ordinance stated that a person found in violation of a zoning ordinance would be fined $200 per day. As Plan Commissioner Ralph Booker explained, he doesn’t feel some violations warrant a $200 per day violation fee and only assesses that fee when a court appearance is scheduled. He said he often gives a resident a notice of the violation and a warning. If the issue isn’t remedied, a $50 fine is given. If the violation goes ignored, a fee of $100 would be given on a subsequent offense and then a $200 fine if the case heads to court.
