Marshall County is part of a pilot program for a wellness initiative.
Newly installed Wellness Community Coordinator Sandy Read told the Marshall County Commissioners this week that Purdue University received federal funding to place five coordinators in counties to develop a branch of the Nutrition Education Program. She will be employed by Purdue University.
Read said she and the Fulton County representative would be constructing the manual for the program and try to pave the way for a more widespread organization in 2016 or 2017.
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.
The Religious Freedom Restoration Act has caused some concern for a Marshall County manufacturing company.
The Marshall County Commissioners took up the conversation Monday morning. Commissioner Kevin Overmyer did not release the name of the company but did say that the manufacturer’s largest customer has opted to discontinue business due to the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
Marshall County Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Jerry Chavez commented that he received the same communication. He said the state moved in an aggressive matter concerning the legislation.
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 →
The Marshall County Emergency Management Performance Competitive Grant (EMPG) will be used for a different project.
Marshall County EMA Director Clyde Avery told the commissioners this week that the $8,485.29 grant was to be used for an Emergency Operations Center exercise, but it was canceled due to lack of interest.
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.
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.
Marshall County Commissioners (L to R) Deb Griewank, Kevin Overmyer and Kurt Garner
The Marshall County Commissioners decided to take more time to decide upon a commercial overlay district for Marshall County until more research is conducted.
Plan Director Ralph Booker presented the ordinance amendment for the Marshall County Zoning Ordinance that would allow commercial uses such as auto repair and maintenance facilities, as well as bakeries, drug stores, hotels and motels, offices, restaurants, small wind systems, and special uses such as communications towers, light industry and self storage units.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
The Marshall County Commissioners held a public hearing Monday morning to take comments on the proposed ordinance amendment on the Commercial Overlay District.
The ordinance encompasses all of Marshall County, but some LaPaz citizens spoke out about the ordinance as they’re worried about commercial development with the overpass on U.S. 6 and the new U.S. 31.
Residents are concerned about existing businesses that were “displaced” when the new U.S. 31 was constructed. Most traffic now passes by LaPaz instead of through LaPaz and taxpayers are concerned about those establishments. Agriculture ground was also a focus of concern as commercial developments could dig into the county’s agribusiness district.
Marshall County Commissioners (L to R) Deb Griewank, Kevin Overmyer and Kurt Garner
The Marshall County Commissioners will hold three public hearings this morning.
Plan Director Ralph Booker will present three ordinances for public comment. An ordinance to establish a fee schedule, an amendment to the Marshall County Zoning Ordinance and an amendment to the Marshall County Zoning Map will be brought forth for comment. The ordinances have been approved by the plan commission. The public hearings are scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. ET.
There have been discussions on how to improve the property for the Marshall County 4-H program, and now a professional firm will step up and help.
While long-range plans have been discussed individually with the Marshall County Fair Board, there needs to be a focus of the board. Principal Architect Stephen Kromkowski from the DLZ Corporation in South Bend explained what would be in the feasibility study.
“We would meet with the primary users and understand your current operation and the site,” said Kromkowski. “There have been some discussions about some improvements on the fairgrounds itself. We’ll gather all of the information, so we understand what your needs are. We will document what you have now. We also do a site analysis to make sure that you don’t place a new building on an area that will cause some other difficulties down the road.”
A report will be produced to decide what the improvements can be and dollar amounts for those improvements. A priority list will be provided as Kromkowski said the improvements will most likely cost more than what funds are available.
Fair Board President Tammy Dickson said the board and others are excited to have a professional direction of how to improve the grounds for the successful program.
“The Marshall County program is a hugely successful program,” commented Dickson. “I know at the fair itself the judges come from all over and comment on the quality and level that Marshall County and it is very commendable. We want to continue to grow that program.”
Sponsors have donated money toward improvements, but an agreement couldn’t be reached on projects, but that is about to change.
Kromkowski commented that the report would take about 14 weeks to complete.
County Attorney Jim Clevenger suggested an inter-local agreement between DLZ and the county on behalf of the fair board be signed. The Commissioners approved funding for the study with the understanding that the fair board will need to follow through with the plan.
Plymouth Airport Manager Dave Lattimer presented the Marshall County Commissioners with the board’s comprehensive plan this week.
One of the projects that the board is anticipating is the widening of the runway, which Lattimer says is set to begin in the next several months.
“That involves widening our runway from 60 feet to 75 feet and rebuilding 4,400 feet of pavement,” Lattimer explained. “The next phase is to lengthen the runway. The magic number for an airport our size is 75 feet wide and 5,000 feet long.”
Marshall County voters will soon have a new way to sign-in to vote at the polls.
Steve Shamo from KnowInk gave the commissioners a demonstration of how e-poll books can save a lot of hassle at voting sites. The voter’s Driver’s License is swiped into a reader that confirms the voter’s identity on an iPad screen. The voter then signs with a finger or iPad writing device. The poll worker can confirm that the Driver’s License signature matches the handwritten signature. The voter can also be manually input into the system. A receipt will print to show that the voter did sign in at the polls. Once that process is done, a legal ballot may be filled out and submitted.
The Marshall County Commissioners commended the highway department on their efforts during the weekend to keep roads clear for travelers.
Supervisor of County Highways Jason Peters said the crews went out Sunday morning as opposed to Saturday night as visibility was low and cars were stranded in the roadways.
