PLYMOUTH – County Council member Brandon Schadek, who also serves as chairman of the Public Defender Board, presented the contracts to the Commissioners. The agreements cover six full-time public defender attorneys, an administrator, and a Guardian ad Litem.

Schadek noted that the attorney shortage continues to drive up costs, and that Indiana currently sits at half of the per capita lawyers needed. To remain competitive, the county is offering each of the six full-time attorneys a contract of $104,600, for a total of $627,600. Schadek explained that compensation must be equivalent to what the county’s prosecutor is paid by the state.

He also pointed out a key funding challenge: in Indiana, counties are not reimbursed by the state for misdemeanor public defenders, which accounts for a significant portion of the county’s expense. Cases above a misdemeanor, however, qualify for 40% reimbursement.

In addition to the six attorney contracts, Schadek presented contracts for the Guardian ad Litem and the administrator. Marshall County has contracted for a Guardian ad Litem for the past several years. Judge Surrisi noted that a Guardian ad Litem without a contract could cost anywhere from $400 to $1,500 per hour. Under the new contract, the county will pay $31,700 per year for an attorney serving in that capacity.

The final contract covers the administrator, who handles reporting to the state to secure reimbursement, and assigns and monitors the caseloads of the six attorneys to keep Marshall County in compliance with the Indiana Commission of Court-Appointed Attorneys. Her contract is also for $31,700.

The Commissioners approved all eight contracts unanimously.

Schadek highlighted the financial impact of the county’s participation in the state reimbursement program, noting that Marshall County has received just over $120,000 in reimbursement so far. He said that in 2024 and 2025, the county was spending roughly $500,000 on public defenders.

“While I can’t say at this moment that it is saving us money, we’re definitely not losing interest,” Schadek said. “We have significant interest, with 10 new attorneys having expressed interest in the county’s program.”

PLYMOUTH – The Marshall County Election Board met Monday morning to hold a public hearing on whether Emanuel Reese, the Democratic candidate for County Commissioner District 1, violated election law by falsely stating on a required report that he had no felony charges.

The issue was first raised in early October by Republican Party Chairperson Deb VanDeMark, who had received information that Reese was ineligible to run for the elected position. According to that information, Reese had two felony charges dating back nearly 20 years — one in St. Joseph County and the other in Noble County. County Attorney Sean Surrisi confirmed with Reese that he had served time for those charges.

After the public hearing, the three-member Election Board — Steve Harper (R), Susan Kreighbaum (D), and County Clerk Jenny Bennitt — determined that Emanuel Reese violated election law.

The board voted to have County Attorney Surrisi send a letter to the Marshall County Prosecuting Attorney for review and possible criminal charges.

Surrisi noted that the Indiana State Police will handle the investigation. He emphasized that the Election Board’s findings do not automatically mean Reese has been convicted of a crime — it will be up to the prosecutor to make that determination.

Surrisi also noted that, with the year-end transition and a new prosecutor taking over on January 1st, a decision on whether to pursue charges may be delayed.

PLYMOUTH – The Plymouth City Council heard from 19 individuals Monday evening as it took up the first reading of the voluntary annexation and rezoning ordinance for nearly 900 acres on the city’s northeast side — one of the most debated proposals the council has faced in years.

In addition to the public speakers, six letters of support and five letters of opposition were read into the record.

Those who spoke against the annexation and rezoning raised a range of concerns. Some said they weren’t opposed to growth but felt the location wasn’t right, and worried there was no clear picture of what types of businesses could come to the city and their neighborhood.

Others expressed concern about the impact on the tax base in North Township and whether their fire department would be forced to purchase additional equipment and pay for additional training to serve new industry in their territory.

Some residents felt the city was moving too fast, while others feared the loss of farmland. Still others accused the city of gambling on the annexation and rezoning — hoping industry would come but noting that similar efforts had not been successful in the past.

Those who spoke in favor of the annexation and rezoning pointed to the location as a major advantage, citing access to Veterans Parkway and proximity to U.S. 30 and U.S. 31.

Others said the project would benefit both the city and the county by bringing in new, higher-paying jobs. Several speakers praised Indiana Tool for its track record of innovation, noting that the company has already created new spin-off businesses and that the innovation district would allow that process to continue.

As with any ordinance presented to the Plymouth City Council, the voluntary annexation and rezoning ordinance was read by title only on first reading, and no additional action was taken by council members.

The council will be asked to vote on the ordinance at its next meeting on Monday, November 23rd.

PLYMOUTH – The City of Plymouth will hold its regular meetings tonight at City Hall, with annexations dominating the agenda — including the hotly debated 900-acre request on the city’s northeast side.

The Board of Public Works and Safety meets first at 6 p.m. in the second-floor Council Chambers, followed by the City Council meeting at 6:30 p.m.

The City Council will consider three petitions for voluntary annexation:

The first and most high-profile request comes from Indiana Tool & Manufacturing and Lilac Holdings for approximately 900 acres on the city’s northeast side — the same property that drew 120 residents to last week’s Plan Commission meeting and has generated significant public discussion.

The second request, from Art and Lisa Jacobs, seeks annexation of their home and 3.32 acres at 1221 Elm Street.

The final petition comes from Graber Commercial Properties for a 10-acre parcel at 1655 Pioneer Drive on the city’s northwest side. The property is home to SDC of Indiana, a manufacturer of aluminum and zinc die-cast components operating out of a new state-of-the-art facility.

Along with the annexation petitions, the Council will consider two proposals to amend the zoning for the Indiana Tool and Lilac Holdings property, as well as resolutions adopting fiscal plans for all three annexations.

The Council will also take up the second and third readings of an ordinance amending the volunteer allowances for firefighters and EMS — the measure that would increase clothing and automobile allowances from $100 to $250 annually. Consideration of donations to the city is also on the agenda.

The Board of Public Works and Safety meeting begins at 6 p.m. with a short agenda that includes reports from city department heads, a parking request from Hinterland Bookery, and a street closure request from the Marshall County Health Department.

Capacity at City Hall is limited to 160 individuals. Once that limit is reached, additional attendees will be seated in a conference room, where they can listen to and watch the meeting on a television screen.

For those unable to attend in person, all City of Plymouth meetings are streamed live on the city’s YouTube channel.

The Plymouth and Culver Street Departments are sending a quick reminder to residents as autumn picks up speed: the leaves are falling fast, and both communities have crews ready to collect them.

Leaf crews in both Plymouth and Culver regularly sweep through the city and town to collect leaves left at the curb. Residents are asked to rake leaves to the curb for pickup — not into the street — to keep roadways clear and help crews work efficiently.

The street departments are asking residents to keep sticks, brush, and trash out of leaf piles. These items can damage the vacuum equipment used for collection and delay pickup for everyone on the route.

Brush will be picked up separately from leaves.

Culver residents who want brush removed sooner can take it to the Street Department off Mill Street by the water tower, where a designated area is available for yard debris. In Plymouth, the Street Department picks up yard waste on Mondays and Fridays at the curb.

PLYMOUTH – The Marshall County Historical Society and Museum is launching one of its best holiday sales yet, running Nov. 10 through Dec. 5. The annual fundraiser benefits museum programs and community events while giving shoppers a chance to stock up on fabulous holiday decor at great prices.

Shoppers will find a huge inventory of gently used items, including ornaments, lights, trees, knick-knacks, wall decor, collections, table decor, and more — everything needed to deck the halls without breaking the bank.

Museum members will get first access to the sale on Tuesday, Nov. 10, before it officially opens to the public at 10 a.m. Museum memberships are $25 a year and can be purchased at the museum.

The Marshall County Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The museum is located at 123 North Michigan Street in downtown Plymouth.

For more information, call 574-936-2306.

PLYMOUTH — The Marshall County Council will have its regular Monday meeting on Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

On that agenda are reports from the Budget and Finance, Highway, and Job Classification and Compensation subcommittees, an update from Dr. Natalie Tucker of Marian University, and Greg Hildebrand, CEO of the Marshall County Economic Development Corporation.
Recorder Janet Howard will request support for using her perpetuation fund for a portion of operating expenses for 2027.
The Council will also hear additional appropriations and transfers.
The meeting will be held in the second-floor meeting room of the Marshall County Building on Jefferson Street in Plymouth. The meeting will also be live-streamed on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MarshallCountyIN

All Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) branches will be closed on Wednesday, Nov. 11, in observance of the Veterans Day holiday.

While branch counters will be closed, customers can still complete many transactions using 24-hour BMV Connect kiosks, which will remain available throughout the holiday.

Branches will resume their regularly scheduled business hours on Thursday, Nov. 12.

For a complete list of branch locations and hours, to complete an online transaction, or to find a 24-hour BMV Connect kiosk near you, visit IN.gov/BMV.

NORTH JUDSON – The Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum is bringing back its popular Santa Trains this holiday season, offering families a chance to ride vintage coaches through the wintry countryside while visiting with Santa himself.

Diesel-powered trains will depart five times each Saturday from Nov. 21 through Dec. 19. Each excursion lasts approximately one hour, carrying passengers on a five-mile journey from the depot to the small town of English Lake. After crossing the Kankakee River, the train returns to the depot and museum grounds.

During the trip, passengers will enjoy visiting with Santa, and each child and toddler will receive a gift bag.

Ticket prices begin at $20.00 and are pro-rated based on age and seating option. Passengers can choose between coach or first-class seating. First-class options include the opportunity to book an entire former business car for private groups, suites for up to three people, or general lounge seats.

Purchasing tickets online is recommended, as trains have sold out in past years. Seating is limited to give Santa enough time to visit and take pictures with all passengers.

Tickets are available at www.hoosiervalley.org.

Before or after the train ride, visitors are encouraged to explore the museum and grounds, where admission is always free. The Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum is located at the former crossroads of the Pennsylvania, Chesapeake & Ohio, Erie, and New York Central Railroads. The museum holds one of the largest collections of working railroad signals, and visitors can stroll the grounds to see memorabilia, rolling stock, and engines from a bygone era.

PLYMOUTH – The Plymouth Plan Commission voted unanimously to send a favorable recommendation to the City Council to rezone nearly 900 acres on the city’s northeast side, clearing a key hurdle for Indiana Tool & Manufacturing’s ambitious Indiana Innovation Center and District.

The decision came after two hours of explanation, discussion, public comment, and deliberation — including questions and comments from 19 residents, five submitted letters, and extensive conversation among commission members.

The land at the center of the request is bounded by 6th Road to the north, Michigan Road to the west, Veterans Parkway to the south, and Lilac Road to the east. Indiana Tool requested changing the zoning from R-1 and R-2 residential to Industrial.

The plan is to create the Indiana Innovation Center and District, giving entrepreneurs and emerging technology companies space to launch within the existing Indiana Tool facility and then grow by building on lots within the district.

Plymouth Plan Director Ty Adley explained that Indiana Tool intends to work with startup companies and larger opportunities that would benefit the community.

A letter from Gary Neidig of Indiana Tool stated that the Innovation District would focus on advanced manufacturing, emerging technologies, research and commercialization, advanced communications, cybersecurity, and other intensive technology industries.

Adley addressed one of the public’s chief concerns head-on. He pointed out that Plymouth’s industrial zoning designation does not permit large-scale solar, wind, or electric power generation without approval from the Board of Zoning Appeals and a public hearing.

He also noted that data centers are not a listed use within the city’s zoning ordinance and are therefore considered not permitted — a significant clarification amid widespread speculation that a data center was planned for the site.

Despite the favorable vote, not everyone was convinced. Some residents living near the proposed rezoning area raised concerns about the shift to industrial zoning, noting that Indiana Tool had not specified exactly what type of industry would be built there.

The company’s letter outlined the broad focus areas of the innovation district but did not detail specific businesses or facilities.

The rezoning request now moves to the Plymouth Common Council, which will consider both the rezoning and the annexation request at its meeting on Monday, November 9th, at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall.

Given the turnout Wednesday night, a large crowd is expected again.

(The following is a verbatim statement from the Plymouth Mayor’s office)

Many residents have asked questions about the proposed annexation and rezoning, and some have suggested the City is hiding plans for a data center. I want to address that directly.

There is no development proposal before the City. Not for a data center, a factory, a distribution center, or anything else. The property owners have asked to be annexed and rezoned so the land will be ready for quality development in the future. No tenant, construction schedule, investment amount, or site plan has been presented to the City.

That is why many detailed questions cannot be answered yet. The answers are not being hidden. They do not exist, because there is no specific project to evaluate. There is a difference between a lack of transparency and a lack of certainty about the future.

I also share the concern about large data centers. Communities across the country are debating the strain that hyperscale data centers and AI computing campuses can place on power, water, and local infrastructure. Those concerns are legitimate, and I would have serious reservations about any development that would place those kinds of demands on our utilities and resources.

But this annexation and rezoning does not approve a data center or any other project. In fact, a data center is not a permitted use under our zoning ordinance. Anyone who wanted to build one on this property would have to apply for a use variance, which requires a public hearing. Any other development would still have to pass engineering review, meet zoning requirements, and receive the same scrutiny we apply to every major project. And the annexation ordinance and fiscal plan both state that the developer will be responsible for any utility extensions, not the City’s taxpayers and ratepayers. Residents will have the chance to review any proposal, ask questions, and raise concerns.

Why support this now? Because Plymouth has done this before, and it has served us well.

In the 1950s and 1960s, local leaders worked through PIDCO to prepare Plymouth for industrial growth. They did not know which companies would come or what would be built. They knew the community had to be ready before the opportunities arrived. Many Plymouth families have made a good living from the jobs that followed.

In the 1980s and 1990s, the U.S. 30 and Pine Road corridor grew into a home for manufacturers, stores, offices, childcare, and healthcare providers. That did not happen overnight. It happened because people looked past the next year and the next election and planned for what Plymouth could become.

This request is another chance to plan for Plymouth’s next 20 or 30 years. None of us can say exactly what our community will look like then. What we can do is put Plymouth in a position to compete for good jobs and investment when opportunities come, while keeping full authority to say no to any project that is not right for us.

It is reasonable to be skeptical, and residents should keep asking hard questions. That is part of the process. I only ask that this decision be judged for what it is: not a vote on a particular building or company, but a choice about whether Plymouth will be ready for its future.

Future generations will live with the decisions we make today, just as we continue to benefit from the decisions of those who came before us.

PLYMOUTH – The Marshall County Health Department has confirmed the county’s first case of measles since 2023.
Marshall County Public Health Administrator Jackie Franks, MPH, announced the confirmation and said the department is working to identify any additional cases and prevent further spread of the disease.

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that spreads easily from person to person through coughing, sneezing, and breathing the same air as an infected individual. A person with measles can transmit the disease before they know they are sick, and the virus can remain airborne for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area. Outbreaks can occur when the virus enters communities with low immunity.

Symptoms of measles include: a high fever, cough, runny nose, red, watery eyes, and a red rash that typically begins on the face and spreads to the rest of the body.

Individuals can spread measles for approximately four days before and four days after the rash appears.

Residents who believe they may have been exposed to measles should call their healthcare provider before seeking medical care. Those experiencing symptoms consistent with measles should stay home and avoid contact with others.

While many people fully recover, measles can lead to serious complications, including ear infection, pneumonia, hospitalization, brain swelling (encephalitis), complications during pregnancy, and, in rare cases, death.

The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) immunization is the most effective way to prevent measles. Marshall County residents who are unsure of their vaccination status should contact their healthcare provider to review their immunization records or reach out to the Marshall County Health Department for assistance.

MMR immunizations are available at the Marshall County Health Department free of charge for all Marshall County residents. To schedule an appointment, call (574) 935-8565.

The Marshall County Health Department is collaborating with healthcare providers, schools, and other community partners to identify any additional measles cases and prevent further transmission.

“The health and safety of our community remain our top priority,” Franks said. “We encourage residents to check their vaccination status and rely on information from trusted public health sources.”

For questions about measles, immunizations, or to schedule an appointment, the public is encouraged to call the Marshall County Health Department at (574) 935-8565.

PLYMOUTH – In the future, athletes at St. Michaels School in Plymouth will have an option to participate in sports that the school doesn’t offer after a unanimous vote by the Plymouth School Corporation Board.

Plymouth High School Athletic Director Ryan Welch and Lincoln Jr. High Athletic Director Jason Breden came before the Plymouth School Board on Monday, November 2nd, to make a request

Welch went on to give the reasoning behind the request

Welch told the board participation would be limited to sports that are not offered by St. Michael’s, such as:

•Football – Grades 7–8

•Cross Country – Grades 7–8, with the possibility of future expansion to Grades 5–6

•Wrestling – Grades 7–8

•Track and Field – Grades 7–8

•Golf – Grades 7–8

Welch said that St. Micheals students would be expected to adhere to the same requirements for participation as Plymouth Corporation students, and there would be a participation fee as well to cover equipment costs.

PLYMOUTH – Plymouth Police responded to an accident Monday morning involving a school bus and SUV where everyone walked away.

On Monday, November 2, at 9:26 a.m., the Marshall County Central Dispatch Center received a 911 call reporting a crash involving a Plymouth school bus and an SUV at Michigan and Jefferson Streets in downtown Plymouth. Plymouth Fire and EMS were dispatched to the scene.

According to the report from Officer West of the Plymouth Police Department, 84-year-old Richard Featherstone of Plymouth was traveling west on Jefferson Street when he ran a red traffic light, striking the school bus on the driver’s side.

The bus was being driven by 53-year-old Marie Fansler of Walkerton.

Despite the force of the collision, no one was seriously injured. One driver was transported to Plymouth Hospital for evaluation. There was one student on the bus at the time of the crash — and that student was not injured.

The investigation into the crash remains ongoing.

After 22 years as Superintendent of the Plymouth Park Department, Mike Hite announced his resignation at Monday’s Park Board meeting.

Hite was hired by Mayor Gary Cook and served all 16 years of Mayor Mark Senter’s administration. When Robert Listenberger was elected mayor, he too asked Hite to remain and oversee the city’s park property — a testament to the continuity and trust Hite built across three administrations.

Hite’s tenure spanned more than two decades of additions and improvements to the Plymouth park system. The timeline of his accomplishments tells the story of a community’s green spaces expanding and modernizing year by year.

In 2005, the park added the 20 acres behind the old Menominee School for the Greenway Trail, and the next year saw the first phase of the Greenway Trail. In 2010, the City of Plymouth dedicated the downtown park area to the park department, and the next year the community naming process selected River Park Square for the property.

In 2012, Hite completed the Dog Park in Centennial Park, and in 2013, Phase 1 of River Park Square was built. In 2015, the north basketball courts in Centennial Park were renovated, Freedom Park was installed at Packard Woods, the restrooms were renovated, and Price’s Memorial Park was given to the park department.

In 2016, the Mary Beth Hunter Tennis Court Project was completed, and in 2020, Phase II of the Greenway Trail was finished.

Hite has been instrumental in moving the various city parks forward. 2022 was a busy year with Phase II of River Park Square built, the Pony and Packard Slow Pitch diamonds renovated, and the Nixon Field dugouts renovated. 2023 was another busy year with completion of the North Complex with new and additional storage, the Hoosier Old Wheels playground was renovated, Webster playground received upgrades, and the park department received an additional 12.6 acres for Price’s Pond from the Collins residential project.

The new sport of pickleball came to the Plymouth Park Department in 2024 when pickleball courts were added to the Mary Beth Hunter Tennis Complex. That year, Superintendent Hite also put in new fencing at Nixon Field, the fastpitch diamonds, and the large diamond at Packard Woods.

Hite told park board members that his health has forced his retirement, but that he is looking forward to spending more time with his family and his grandchildren.

PLYMOUTH – Oliver Ford Lincoln is continuing a tradition nearly three decades in the making with the 28th annual Warm Up Marshall County coat drive, bringing the community together to ensure children and adults throughout the county have warm clothing for the winter.

The campaign began 28 years ago when Steve Keiser noticed children waiting for the school bus in sweatshirts and temperatures were in the 30s. Concerned for their well-being, he shared his concerns with Jack Oliver, who encouraged him to find a solution. That conversation sparked a community tradition that continues to make a difference today.

Donations of new or gently used winter coats are being accepted through Friday, Nov. 14. Community members can drop off coats at Oliver Ford Lincoln, GIANT fm WTCA, or at participating coat collection locations throughout the area.

To learn more about the campaign and find updates on participating drop-off locations, follow Oliver Ford on Facebook and Instagram.

Collected coats will be distributed at the National Guard Armory, 1220 West Madison Street in Plymouth, on Saturday, Nov. 14, from 10 a.m. to noon, and on Sunday, Nov. 15, from noon to 2 p.m.

Every donation helps a neighbor stay warm during the cold Indiana winter. Oliver Ford Lincoln encourages community members to participate, spread the word, and help reach families and individuals who may need assistance.

Serving Plymouth since 1955, Oliver Ford Lincoln has been committed to serving its customers and supporting the surrounding community. Through local partnerships and initiatives like Warm Up Marshall County, the dealership continues its tradition of giving back and helping make a positive difference for local families.

PLYMOUTH – Marshall County Republican precinct committee members will gather next week to fill three vacancies created by recent resignations, including two county-level posts and a town council seat.

Marshall County Republican Party Chairman Deb VanDeMark announced that precinct committee members and vice committee members will caucus on Wednesday, Nov. 18, at 6 p.m. at Republican Headquarters, located at 117 Water Street in downtown Plymouth.

The caucus will fill three positions: the County Council At-Large Seat currently held by Jim Masterson, who is stepping down from the seat on the County Council, effective Dec. 31, 2026. County Surveyor Craig Cultice has decided to leave his term two years early, effective Jan. 1, 2027, and now Erica Partin has resigned her position two months early, creating an opening on the Argos Town Council. Partin was first caucused into the seat in October 2019 when Suzanne Umbaugh resigned, filling that vacancy until Dec. 31, 2019.

Any Republican interested in applying for the County Council seat, the County Surveyor’s position, or the Argos Town Council seat must file a Declaration of Candidacy no later than 72 hours in advance of the Nov. 18 meeting.

Declarations should be submitted to Deborah VanDeMark, Chairman of the Marshall County Republican Party, at P.O. Box 102 in Plymouth. For more information, interested candidates can contact VanDeMark at (574) 274-8325 or email their declaration to deb0831@outlook.com.

VanDeMark first announced two caucuses last week to fill the upcoming resignations of Masterson and Cultice. This week, she announced the third vacancy following Partin’s resignation, expanding the caucus to cover all three openings in a single meeting.

PLYMOUTH — A solid turnout of 39 percent of registered voters in Marshall County made their voices heard in the contested races in this year’s mid-term elections.

In the statewide races, Max Engling took a big win over Democrat Beau Bayh in Marshall County, getting 55.36 percent of the votes to Bayh’s 39.72 percent. For State Comptroller incumbent Elise Nieshalia bested Democrat Jessica Bailey by another wide margin, 60.62 percent to 36.59 percent. In the other state race for Treasurer, Republican Daniel Elliott defeated Coumba Kebe 64.77 percent to 35.23 percent.
In the race for United States Congress in District 2, Republican Rudy Yakam took 60.47 percent of the Marshall County vote, with Democrat Jamee Decio taking 36.71 percent.
In the state representative races, District 7 saw Republican Jake Teshka garner 65.8 percent to Oliver Davis’s 34.20 percent. In District 17, incumbent Jack Jordan outdistanced Democratic challenger Mary E. Gibson 63.87 percent to 36.13 percent.
The Marshall County Commissioners race for District 1 saw Stan Klotz defeat Democratic challenger Emanuel Reese with 60.48 percent of the vote to Reese’s 39.52. Will Patterson will retain his seat for County Council District 1, taking 68.12 percent of the vote, with challenger Neika Smessaert taking 31.88 percent.
For County Council District 3, Nicole Cox defeated challenger Jessica O’Blenis, 66.51 percent to 33.49 percent.
In other contested races, Doug Kucera (19.11 percent), Bruce Knapp (17.99 percent), and Jim Baldwin (17.65 percent) will have seats on the Center Township Board, outdistancing fourth-place finisher Anna Corbett (17.23 percent) in one of the closest races of the night.
Robert Huff (31.26 percent), Jon Monhout (27.39 percent), and Amy Castille (26.47 percent), will be the three representatives on the German Township Board. Thomas Youdbulis won his seat on the North Township Board over Doug Baney and Sarah Klingerman.
Republicans Andrew Hostetler, Stan Murphy, and Scott Read will be the North Township Board Members, and Republicans Heather Overmyer, Diane Hansen Miller, and Terri Jo Morrison Hinds will take seats on the Union Township Board. Tom Flynn, Cynthia Slonaker, and Jonathan Bryant will be the representatives on the West Township Board.
For West Township Trustee, Republican Terry Borggren took 58.52 percent of the vote over Independent Bill Woodward’s 41.48 percent.
In contested school Board races for LaVille’s Union Township seat, Bradley Sherman took 51.59 percent of the vote with Arden Balmer taking 48.41 percent. In Plymouth’s school board district 3 race, Elizabeth Ginder Wray defeated Robin Cupka, taking 51.92 percent of the vote to 48.08 percent.

PLYMOUTH – Marshall County officials are preparing for an appeals process that could extend into next summer, after Tamarack Solar filed a notice of appeal challenging a court ruling that upheld the county’s rejection of an industrial solar farm project in Burr Oak.

County Attorney Sean Surrisi provided an update on the matter to the commissioners during their meeting on Monday.

The dispute dates back to a decision by the Marshall County Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) to reject Tamarack Solar’s special use request for the Burr Oak project. At the end of September, the county received an order from the court in Fort Wayne affirming that the BZA’s rejection was proper.

Tamarack was given 30 days to appeal against the court’s decision. On October 29th, Marshall County received the notice of appeal that Tamarack Solar filed within that window.

The court has requested that transcripts be prepared of the final hearing and one of the underlying hearings. The court reporter has been given 45 days to prepare the transcripts, which would be around mid-December.

Once the transcripts are completed, the briefing schedule will proceed. Tamarack Solar will have 30 days to file its appellant brief.  The Marshall County BZA will then have 30 days to file its response brief.  After the BZA brief is filed, Tamarack will have an additional 15 days to file a reply.

Surrisi estimated that, barring any requests for additional time, briefing would conclude around March.

Following the completion of briefing, the Court of Appeals will consider the case. Surrisi noted that Indiana has one of the fastest Courts of Appeals in the country in terms of turnaround time from final briefing to decision.  “The average is two and a half to three months they take to cite a case,” Surrisi said.

Based on that timeline, Surrisi indicated that a decision on the appeal would likely come sometime next summer.

Despite the extended legal process, the county attorney expressed confidence in the strength of the county’s case.

“I still feel very confident that we are in a strong position, particularly after the judge’s very thorough order denying Tamarack’s request,” Surrisi said.

The judge’s detailed ruling in the lower court proceeding, which affirmed the BZA’s authority to reject the special use request, forms the foundation of the county’s position as the case moves to the appellate level.