Now is the time to register to vote for the May Primary Election.
The Marshall County Election Board members encourage all residents to vote.
Voters may register to vote online by visiting www.indianavoters.com. Indiana residents with a valid Driver’s License or state-issued identification card may register online or update a registration record.
The John Glenn School Board members discussed make up days for school missed due to weather this year.
Superintendent Richard Reese explained that the corporation has four built-in snow make up days. Two of those days have already been used and two more days will be used in April to make up for the days of instruction missed. Snow, fog and flooding issues were the main culprits of cancelled school.
A public hearing is set for Monday, March 19 to hear comments on the proposed increase to the Marshall County Cumulative Bridge Fund.
The proposed property tax increase is for $.0524 cents per $100 assessed valuation. The fund helps collect funds to rebuild deteriorated bridges. The average taxpayer would see an increase of $26.20.
Absentee voting will begin April 10 for the May Primary Election.
The Marshall County Clerk’s office is currently accepting requests for early voting ballots.
Early voting can be done at the Marshall County Clerk’s Office Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. beginning April 10, and on Saturday, April 28 and Saturday, May 5 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The final opportunity to vote absentee is Monday, May 7 from 8 a.m. to noon.
Members of the John Glenn School Board discussed how enrollment is affecting classroom space in the lower elementary grades.
While the enrollment numbers are unknown until transfer student registration ends in May. Superintendent Richard Reese reported that an empty classroom at North Liberty Elementary School may be filled with students next year.
The former executive director at the Marshall Care and Share program was sentenced in Marshall County Superior Court No. 1 on Wednesday morning. He was accused of drug dealing and solicitation of prostitution at the time of his arrest in August 2017.
James A. Irwin, 69, pleaded guilty in an amended plea agreement with the state to a Level 6 felony count of dealing in a schedule II controlled substance and a Class A misdemeanor charge of patronizing a prostitute. Judge Robert O. Bowen accepted the plea agreement that calls for two years of incarceration on the felony charge and one year of incarceration on the misdemeanor charge. Those counts are to be served concurrently, or at the same time.
Crews with the Marshall County Highway Department continue to assess roads after the flood event, but some remain under water and cannot be reviewed. Some roads remain closed due to high water. As of Friday, only 18 roads remain closed or with a high water barricade. Marshall County Highway Supervisor Jason Peters told the Marshall County Commissioners Monday morning that number has dwindled considerably since the waters started to rise significantly on Feb. 20.
The National Guard Armory in Plymouth is undergoing renovations and cannot be used as a Vote Center for the May Primary Election.
With the unavailability of the 12th vote center site, the Marshall County Election Board members Tuesday morning discussed simply moving forward with 11 vote centers or finding an alternate site. Clerk Deb Vandemark suggested checking on availability at the Knights of Columbus building in Plymouth to host more machines. Parking may be an issue, but the building would offer enough space and it would meet Vote Center requirements.
Officials from the John Glenn School Corporation will be reviewing traffic flow specifically during dismissal times at all three Walkerton schools.
Superintendent Richard Reese told the John Glenn School Board Tuesday night that parents waiting to pick up their children from school are often causing a traffic flow issue as cars line the streets. The pattern often affects the way the buses enter and exit the schools as they transport students home from school.
A criminal interdiction patrol on U.S. 30 and U.S. 31 on Friday, March 2 was deemed a success.
Police say the focus was to target criminal activity in Marshall, Kosciusko and St. Joseph Counties. In all, 49 vehicles were stopped where 21 tickets and 25 warnings were given to drivers. One commercial motor vehicle inspection was conducted, two vehicles were impounded, four people were arrested on nine different criminal charges, and one person was arrested for operating a vehicle while intoxicated on a controlled substance.
The Marshall County Commissioners continue to assess damage left behind by flood waters.
Emergency Management Agency Director Clyde Avery said the volunteer piece of the Marshall County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan went very well, but several important aspects were missing concerning response.
The City of Plymouth was recently awarded a grant for the LaPorte Street historic footbridge.
Clerk-Treasurer Jeanine Xaver told the council members last week that the federal government will reimburse the city $1.3 million of the $2 million project. That leaves the city with funding the rest of the project. Xaver said the city should plan now to find the $800,000 needed for the project. While the entire amount doesn’t need to be appropriated this year, a fund should be set up so the money can be moved as needed.
The John Glenn School Board will meet tonight where the board members will receive information from the building principals on efforts put forth by students and faculty. The board will consider six semester early graduation requests, approve an overnight stay for the marching band and discuss classroom space for grades K-6.
The Town of Bremen is undertaking improvements to the Wastewater Treatment Plant which will take place over the course of two years.
Bremen Director of Operations Trend Weldy said the wastewater department crews would like to have the same pumps and controls installed on all nine lift stations.
The Plymouth Fire Department will now begin paying for medications supplied in the city’s ambulances.
Fire Chief Rod Miller told the Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety members last week that the St. Joseph Regional Medical Center will begin charging the city for the pharmaceuticals and supplies that were provided free of charge. He said the hospital is no longer able to supply the needs for free.
A public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, March 13 for the proposed Planned Unit Development (PUD) at 17664 State Road 17 and 19456 State Road 10 in Culver owned by Thomas Beste.
Culver Town Manager Jonathan Leist said the plan commission approved the primary plans for Culver Meadows by a vote of 5-2. Those plans will come before the Culver Town Council in a public hearing setting on Tuesday, March 13.
The Marshall County Commissioners will meet today where updates on flooding assessments will be given. Plan Director Ralph Booker and Building Commissioner Chuck DeWitt will request a waiver of building permit fees for flood victims. Emergency Management Agency Director Clyde Avery will present an emergency disaster update as well as request permission to apply for the 2017 EMPG salary reimbursement request and give a quarterly report.
The Culver Town Council members acknowledged Culver’s inclusion in Marshall County’s designation in a disaster declaration for flooding. Any residents experiencing flood damage are encouraged to call 2-1-1 or the Marshall County Emergency Management Agency at 574-936-3740. All damage is to be reported for a better chance of receiving federal assistance for repairs and recovery.
The Town of Bremen is moving forward with the downtown revitalization project.
Bremen Director of Operations Trend Weldy said The Troyer Group has been contracted to help with the plans. The downtown revitalization project includes new streets, sidewalks, curbs and lighting. It is expected to begin in 2020.
The members of the Phi Delta Kappa will have to pay a $750 water bill despite not knowing what happened to the water that was registered through the city’s meters.
The issue was brought before the Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety members during the Feb. 12 meeting. The organization received a water bill for $750 and appealed the bill stating that they have a leaky toilet, but it’s not known how some 100,000 gallons of water was registered in January.
