The Marshall County Commissioners approved a request from Museum Director Linda Rippy.
Rippy asked the commissioners for permission to advertise for a new employee to replace Judy McCollough who will be retiring on June 6.
McCollough has worked at the museum for 19 years and held the most recent position of Historical Archive Manager. Her replacement would be a full time hire.
Marshall County Building Inspector Chuck DeWitt had some good news for the county commissioners this week.
March was a good month for permit applications. Twenty-four applications were issued in March which brings the permit count to 61 so far this year. Over $4.6 million in value of construction was noted in March to bring the quarter total to $8.375 million.
The Marshall County Commissioners signed several documents Monday morning to get the Metronet project closer to the beginning phase.
The interlocal agreement with Marshall County and the City of Plymouth was signed by the commissioners which will go on to the county council to be signed. County Attorney Jim Clevenger explained that a local board will need to be formed to oversee operations. A commissioner, city council member, county council member, and a representative from the private sector will need to be appointed to this board.
The Marshall County Commissioners have a meeting this morning in the Commissioner’s Room in the Marshall County Building.
Museum Director Linda Rippy will have a quarterly report and a personnel replacement notification, and Clay Kelley from CSU, Inc. will discuss the Metronet project with the commissioners.
The Marshall County Commissioners approved a bid for the county’s portion of the Metronet project and the Plymouth Redevelopment Commission approved a bid for the city’s portion of the project.
The commissioners approved a bid from CSU, Inc. for Alternate A at a cost of$598,221.99. The county’s portion of the project includes general work for the infrastructure and conduit.
The city selected the base bid and alternates A, B, C, and D with Michiana Contracting.
The Marshall County Commissioners were informed by James Pheibush from the probation department that the Muncie juvenile detention center is closing and a new detention center is opening in Montgomery County.
Pheibush said Cedarbridge Treatment Centers offers more space and a segregation of younger juveniles from the older juveniles, plus there’s a gender separation. The travel time will be two-and-a-half hours from Marshall County.
Giddeon Nobbe from USDA requested the use of Marshall County’s GIS data.
He told the Marshall County Commissioners this week that the computer system has changed and using the GIS data will help the representatives look at boundaries for insurance purposes. Ownership of the right amounts of land would be able to be calculated easier. It would be helpful for crop information and insuring animals.
The Marshall County Commissioners heard a report from Marshall County Economic Development Corporation Board Chairman Bill Davis.
Davis explained that 2013 was one of the best years in Marshall County. Over $25 million in investments and businesses came into the county last year. The county has also seen a drop in unemployment and an increase in personal income.
Mike Lintner from the Marshall-Starke Development Center provided an annual report to the Marshall County Commissioners on Monday.
In addition to his annual report, he brought a client to visit with the commissioners. Gilbert Harrington became a client in 2008 in the supported living program. He is wheelchair-bound and rents a room with two roommates in one of seven staffed housing sites. Sixteen people are in the residential program in Marshall County.
Marshall County remains under a travel advisory as water has ponded in roadways.
Emergency Management Agency Director Clyde Avery told WKVI that water is standing on Olive Road between 4th and 4B Road and the advisory will remain until that area and other clear up.
The Marshall County Commissioners approved Avery’s grant request Monday morning.
The Marshall County Commissioners approved a retirement request during their meeting Monday morning.
Highway Superintendent Neal Haeck wasn’t present during the meeting Monday, but Commission President Kevin Overmyer read aloud Haeck’s request by letter for retirement which would become effective May 2.
Bids were opened for the Metronet project in Marshall County.
The Plymouth Redevelopment Commission opened five bids for the work, plus alternates for work to be done involving piping down Pine Road east and west and on State Road 17, plus lateral installation to buildings and to the county buildings.
The Marshall County Commissioners opened seven bid packets for general work for the infrastructure and conduit.
He explained that 48 inspections were done in January and 52 were complete in February, which is a decrease from last year. DeWitt issued 18 permits in January and 19 in Feburary. He notes that the inclement weather throughout the two months did not help numbers. Forty-two permits have already been issued in March through March 14.
DeWitt’s office has taken in $3.97 million in permit fees compared to $1.58 million last year. He said there are a lot of larger projects this year.
He anticipates more inspections and permit applications once the weather breaks and the numbers could be better than last year.
That information was presented to the Marshall County Commissioners Monday morning by Plymouth Aviation Board representative Dave Lattimer, who is also the airport manager. He explained that Plymouth needs to have its own system as the weather is its own animal in Marshall County and the installation of the system would be beneficial to pilots in the area.
Avery told the commissioners that he recently met with the EMA advisory council and discussed the County Emergency Management Plan. The members agreed that some minor changes need to be made and those changes will be forthcoming for the advisory council’s approval and for the approval of the commissioners.
Emergency Management Agency Director Clyde Avery will present a quarterly report and request a grant application for the EMPG salary reimbursement. A similar grant application request for the salary reimbursement was recently approved by the Marshall County Council and now it must be approved by the commissioners. The grant covers 50 percent of Avery’s salary as the EMA Director.
An update on the Plymouth Airport will be given by Dave Lattimer, Building Inspector Chuck DeWitt will have an update and regular reports will be given by Highway Superintendent Neal Haeck, County Attorney James Clevenger and Auditor Penny Lukenbill.
A representative from USI presented the Marshall County Commissioners with a title sheet for signature for the Metronet project.
St. Joseph Valley Metronet will be laying down a fiber-optic network infrastructure from St. Joseph County to Plymouth with the cost being split between Marshall County and the City of Plymouth. St. Joseph County, South Bend, the City of Plymouth and Marshall County are paying for the conduit for the project while other entities are paying for the telecommunications cable.
The Marshall County Commissioners approved the consolidation of several polling sites within the county during their meeting Monday morning.
Clerk Julie Fox and a representative from the Marshall County Election Board appeared before the commissioners with the consolidation proposal. All locations are ADA compliant. Plymouth went though redistricting which warranted change and it was the decision of the board to consolidate Center 1 and 2, Center 3 and 4, Center 5 and 6, and Center 7 and 8 into four separate voting locations. Also, Bourbon, German, North, Polk, Union, Walnut and West Township Precinct were all consolidated.
