More Brownfield grants will be sought after for properties in the Marshall County area, but the entity going after the grant will be the Michiana Area Council of Governments (MACOG).
A brownfield is a property previously used for industrial purposes or some commercial uses. It may have been contaminated with hazardous waste and the Brownfield Grant helped assess those properties and plan clean up strategies.
The John Glenn School Board members voted unanimously to adopt the 2018 budgets Tuesday night.
According to Indiana Gateway, the General Fund is listed at $12.7 million with the Capital Projects Fund at $1.3 million and the Bus Replacement Fund at $300,000. The total budget advertised and adopted is $17,730,462.
Pretzels, Inc. in Plymouth opened its doors to city and county officials and other dignitaries for the grand opening celebration of its operation at 2910 Commerce Street on Tuesday morning.
Congresswoman Jackie Walorski joined in cutting the ribbon at the 45,000 square foot facility that is the home to 40 full-time workers. It will welcome 65 total jobs by the year 2020.
The new plant manufactures bulk pretzel products as well as peanut butter-filled pretzels which are produced exclusively at the Plymouth plant. Production began just five months after construction began.
Bids were opened Monday morning for the three projects awarded Community Crossings grant funds for Marshall County.
After the bids were opened, the Marshall County Commissioners, Highway Administrator Laurie Baker and Highway Supervisor Jason Peters learned that the $518,322.87 grant along with the $129,580.72 match for the grant will only cover two projects. The grant plus the match will total $647,903.59 and the lowest bids for the two projects that would be the biggest priority will total $642,626.25.
Michiana Contracting crews continue to work on demolishing the inside of the Plymouth City Building to make way for improvements inside the structure.
City Attorney Sean Surrisi previously explained that renovations will be made to the clerk-treasurer’s office to improve customer relations and staff productivity. The city purchased the adjacent chamber of commerce building and crews will remodel the second floor to accommodate an expansion of room for the city council chambers and conference space. In the same project, the mayor’s office and his assistant’s office will be moved upstairs in the city building. An elevator and staircase will be added. Continue reading
The John Glenn School Board will adopt the 2018 budget as advertised. The General Fund is just over $12.7 million with the Capital Projects Fund just under $1.35 million. The transportation fund is $936,000. The total for all funds is $17,730,462.
The school board members will also approve a resolution to reduce an appropriation as well as appoint a library board member to the Walkerton-Lincoln Township Public Library.
More masonry work will be conducted on the Rees Theater this week.
On behalf of the Wythougan Preservation Council and the Rees Theater committee, Randy Danielson asked the Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety last week if the company could place barricades on the sidewalks on E. LaPorte Street in order to effectively complete the work. A dumpster may also be placed on the parking spaces on E. LaPorte Street if needed.
In recognition of National Fire Prevention Month, the Culver-Union Township Fire Department has smoke detectors available to those in the jurisdiction who need them. The smoke detectors are available at the Culver Town Hall or at the firehouse at 611 State Street.
Fire Chief Terry Wakefield announced that firefighters will be willing to install smoke detectors for those who are disabled or otherwise physically incapable of completing the task. Continue reading
The Marshall County Commissioners will open bids for road construction and resurfacing when they meet this morning. The bids will be for the projects that were awarded Community Crossings grant funding.
The commissioners will also hear an update from the highway department and get an update on the 2018 United Way campaign from Brenda Harper. Ralph Booker will discuss the Brownfield Grant application and County Attorney Jim Clevenger will have a report on various items. Continue reading
Deputies from the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department recently completed a 25-day Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over event where 24 citations were issued along with nine arrests.
The department joined 220 other law enforcement agencies across the state in the campaign effort.
Marshall County Highway Administrator Laurie Baker requested the county council to waive the 10 percent pay reduction for a new employee.
New employees usually experience the reduction in pay during the 90-day probationary period, but Baker said the new employee is slipping into a similar position at the department with all of the skills necessary to do the work. The employee is coming to Marshall County from Starke County and Baker said he even took a pay cut to work in Marshall County. Continue reading
Two monetary items were accepted for the Plymouth Fire Department and the Plymouth Police Department.
Fire Chief Rod Miller told the Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety this week that the department received a check from Notre Dame for required medical services during practices in Culver. Miller said the check was in the amount of $3,080 and will be deposited in the gift fund.
The staff at the Culver-Union Township EMS invites residents to an open house on Tuesday, Oct. 24 to celebrate the recent upgrade in paramedic status and the purchase of a new ambulance.
EMS Director Kathy Hart told the Culver Town Council recently that the department reached paramedic status which allows many more options of emergency care.
A federal grand jury has indicted Peter Rink, also known as Peter Myers, on two counts.
Marshall County Prosecutor Nelson Chipman said Rink is facing a charge of possession of one or more firearms and affecting interstate commerce after previously being convicted of a felony, and possession of a Remington 870, 12-guage shotgun with a barrel of less than 18 inches.
The Bremen Police Department is currently tagging disabled vehicles or “junk vehicles” in an effort to clean up the town.
Bremen Director of Operations Trend Weldy said the Bremen Town Council will soon be updating the fees associated with ridding properties of these vehicles. Continue reading
Culver Town Manager Jonathan Leist presented quotes for town council approval this week on two of the three projects approved for Community Crossings grant funds.
The Marshall County Council discussed approving a new appointment to the Plymouth Economic Development Commission.
Plymouth City Attorney Sean Surrisi explained that one of the three current members is nominated by the county council and their representative can no longer serve on the board.
The Richter Road water main extension project in Plymouth is done. Utility Superintendent Donnie Davidson gave the Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety an update on the project on Monday night.
“We have requested a substantial of completion letter. We are withholding retainer in the amount of $6,230.25 upon completion of their punchlist items which are fairly minor,” said Davidson.
The Marshall County Highway Department is looking to complete more paving projects before the paving season ends soon.
The Marshall County Council discussed a change in the probation item in the 2017 salary ordinance.
Auditor Julie Fox explained that the chief probation officer retired thus adjusting the rate of pay.
