The Culver Town Council members held a public hearing this week to hear comments on a proposed additional appropriation ordinance.
Clerk-Treasurer Karen Heim said it was hard to guess what money would be spent toward efforts going for the Stellar Communities Designation Program in 2017 when the budget process was conducted in late fall of 2016.
John Grolich approached the Marshall County Council members this week to seek permission to apply for a training grant.
He explained that it would be for a hazardous material training grant for the Local Emergency Planning Committee.
The Marshall County Council members discussed an additional appropriation request from the Argos Community School Corporation this week.
Argos Community School Corporation Director of Business Services Jennifer Lee explained that the money will be used for General Fund purposes.
“We just want to make sure we have the permission to spend throughout the year,” said Lee. “We have the money we just need permission to spend it if we need it to cover salaries and basic General Fund expenses.” Continue reading
Culver Town Council members will soon tackle an issue surrounding semi truck parking in residential areas.
A citizen brought forth issues during the council’s regular meeting on Tuesday night stating that it’s difficult to maneuver around the semis parked in residential areas. He’s fearful for the safety of the residents and children, in addition to it being an eyesore. Some trucks are parking on narrow streets like Ohio Street and Mill Street. Continue reading
Bremen town officials are continuing efforts to clean up the old Clark gas station at the corner of State Road 106 and State Road 331.
Bremen Director of Operations Trend Weldy said he signed a contract last week to have the old gas tanks extracted the first week of December. The canopy and the building at that location have been demolished. The area was deemed an eyesore for many years. Continue reading
The Safe Routes to School project on Baker Street in Plymouth is complete.
The months-long project wrapped up on Monday. New sidewalks, curbs and gutters were installed to allow for a better walking path for students on their way to the schools. The Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety previously approved a bid for just over $300,000 for the project. The city’s share of that is approximately $61,000.
City Engineer Rick Gaul told the board members on Monday that a change order will be presented to the board during a future meeting. He said he anticipates the entire amount will be under construction project cost.
The project had been in the works since 2014.
Detectives with the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department are seeking information about a reported burglary at the Back Forty Sporting Clays and Banquet Hall in Bourbon.
Police were called to the business at 1010 9B Road to investigate the incident. The burglary reportedly occurred sometime between 5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 29 and 9 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 30. According to police, some unknown person or persons broke into the business and removed a Daisy BB gun, a Crackshot .22 rifle, ammunition, and approximately $100 in cash.
If anyone has information about this crime, call the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department at (574) 936-3187.
The Plymouth City Council members heard a request from Developer Scott Sivan to create the property for the housing development River Gate South as an Economic Development Target Area and Economic Revitalization Area.
Marshall County Economic Development Corporation President and CEO Jerry Chavez said this is the first step in a process for the ultimate request for a real property tax abatement for the project.
The Marshall County Council members took action Monday morning to approve an additional appropriation request.
A $50,000 additional appropriation was approved for the services of Waggoner, Irwin and Scheele to cover the hourly wages of work done to update the county employee job descriptions and wages.
The Marshall County Council members were tasked with approving the transfer of funds to ensure payment of utilities at the Shady Rest Home and for other county facilities for the remainder of the year.
The county received the operation of the county home on Lincoln Highway in August when the Bowen Center decided to cease operations at the facility. The structure has been vacant since that time, but a nine-member Shady Rest Home committee is working to find a tenant to bring needed services to aid the residents of Marshall County.
The Bremen Town Council members learned this week that the Indiana Department of Transportation has green-lighted funding for a downtown revitalization effort in 2019.
Bremen Director of Operations Trend Weldy explained that INDOT originally pushed back the project until 2023 but found funding for the request for 2019 following a meeting between the entities. He said $1.2 million will be used to renovate the downtown area. He said the streets will be lowered with updates to sidewalks and lighting.
The Culver Town Council members revisited a request this week from Becca Pazin with the Culver and Lake Maxinkuckee Visitor’s Center to move her office from the bank building downtown to the Culver Beach Lodge.
She explained that the change in location would create better visibility of the office for tourists. Her office would be located on the third floor of the beach lodge. The move also allows more space for her especially in terms of meeting space. She could have more private conversations with visitors to the visitor’s center or clients to discuss business. There would be more space to display brochures available to attractions in Culver and Marshall County. Continue reading
The Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety held discussion on an amendment to the techFarm land sales agreement with Van Vactor Farms on Monday night.
Under the current agreement, which is amended from the original agreement, when land is sold in the techFarm area the money from the sale is split between Van Vactor Farms and the City of Plymouth. The city’s portion goes into a monetary gift fund to be used at the discretion of the Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety members to enhance the city. Continue reading
The Bremen Town Council members approved a tax abatement request submitted by Summit Manufacturing Monday night.
Director of Operations Trend Weldy said the company is installing new equipment. Continue reading
Marshall County Community Corrections Executive Director Ward Byers approached the county council on Monday morning asking for approval to seek grant funding for the department’s budget.
Byers said this request is in accordance with the preparation of the 2019 Fiscal Year budget.
“Our current fiscal year budget is $403,100,” said Byers. “I’m not certain if that’s going to go up at all. The advisory board has not reviewed any numbers yet. That will be done at December’s meeting.” Continue reading
Marshall County Health Department Administrator Christine Stinson asked the county council to approve a grant request application for a $2,500 mini grant from the Indiana State Association of County and City Health Officers.
Stinson explained that the grant funds would be used as a voucher program to test known IV drug users for Hepatitis C as she feels that is a population that needs more health study. Continue reading
The Culver Town Council opened a public hearing Tuesday night for comments concerning several zoning ordinance changes recommended by the plan commission.
The Lake District, or L1, zoning amendments drew a crowd of residents in that district who spoke out against changes to front and rear yards and side yard setbacks.
Officials cut the ribbon on INDOT’s new Plymouth Sub District facility at 2845 Jack Greenlee Drive located north of U.S. 30 off of Pioneer Drive.
INDOT Commissioner Joe McGuiness from Indianapolis said the former facility off of old U.S. 31 served this part of the district for a number of years.
“Our original facility in Plymouth here served us well for almost 40 years, but it certainly doesn’t have the modern features and amenities that we all desire in today’s workplace,” said Commissioner McGuiness. “This facility is truly state of the art. It has a new main building, the salt building, a full-service garage and eight maintenance bays. It’s 40,000 square feet. The salt building holds about 7,300 tons of salt and about 10,000 gallons of brine.” Continue reading
The Plymouth City Council passed the proposed water and sewer rate increase ordinances on first reading Monday night.
During a special meeting held Monday, Oct. 30, the city council learned that with Bay Valley Foods and Del Monte closing at the end of year water and wastewater treatment revenue losses are imminent. To help bridge the gap, an ordinance outlining a one-time raise in the water rate of 12 percent to begin Jan. 1, 2018, was proposed. In addition, an ordinance detailing a three-phase wastewater rate increase was proposed. It would allow for a 10 percent increase in wastewater rates beginning Jan. 1, 2018, with another 10 percent increase on Sept. 2, 2018, and a third 10 percent increase in March of 2019. Continue reading
Marshall County Highway Supervisor Jason Peters and Commissioner Kurt Garner went before the county council Monday morning to request funds to complete funding for three Community Crossings grant projects.
Three projects were approved for funding, but with the way the bidding numbers came in only two projects could be fully funded. The highway department is seeking funding for a third project to be funded solely by the county council. Continue reading
