Marshall County Plan Director Ralph Booker and Joel Markland with BCA Environmental Consultants out of Elkhart presented information about the county’s Brownfield Grant.
Markland said the three-year grant will be closed out at the end of this month.
All posts by Anita Goodan
Marshall County Safety Committee Receives Updates
The Marshall County Safety Committee received some updates from fellow school superintendents, probation, police, and emergency management.
Triton School Superintendent Donna Burroughs stated that her school’s response to the news of the death of a fellow student was swift. With the availability of receiving news rather immediately through social media, almost all of the students knew about the news within the hour. Superintendent Burroughs said they didn’t want to wait until Monday to offer comfort so administrators opened the school so students could be in the comfort of their peers to grieve together. She said about 150 students were at the school that day to support one another. She added that counselors were also available on Monday to assist students with any needs.
J-Turns Not a Favorable Solution in Argos
Over 100 people attended a public hearing hosted by officials from the Indiana Department of Transportation Tuesday night at the Argos Junior/Senior High School to address the proposal of a J-turn intersection at U.S. 31 and State Road 10 in Argos.
Troyer Group Project Manager Chris Maidner presented statistics on why a J-turn would be a quicker, cheaper safety alternative at that intersection and provided an example of a J-turn intersection at State Road 114 and 41 in the Morocco area. Their statistics show a reduction in personal injury crashes anywhere from 50 to 100 percent, along with a reduction in the number of victims help after truck accident. Studies by INDOT and the Troyer Group found that the J-turn intersections can be utilized by large semi-trucks, school buses, farm equipment, horse and buggies, and large trailers without issue. Continue reading
Marshall County Commissioners Adopt Solar Energy Systems Zoning Amendment
The Marshall County Commissioners adopted an amendment to the zoning ordinance concerning solar energy systems. According to the amendment, a solar energy system is a device that captures daylight for “interior lighting or provide for the collection, storage, or distribution of solar energy for space heating, space cooling, electricity generation, or water heating.”
Plan Director Ralph Booker explained that he and Building Commissioner Chuck DeWitt have gotten permit requests for solar energy systems in Bremen. There wasn’t much to the permitting process or the zoning requirement for the systems, but a public hearing was held Monday morning to set regulations.
J-turn Intersection Public Hearing Set for Tonight
A public hearing on the proposed J-turn intersection at U.S. 31 and State Road 10 and Dewey Street in Marshall County is tonight at 6 p.m. at the Argos Junior/High School.
This is the first of two public hearings set for two different J-turn proposals. The other intersection of this kind is proposed on U.S. 31 and State Road 110 on Wednesday, Sept 27 at 6 p.m. ET at the Argos Junior/Senior High School.
Marshall County Safety Meeting Set for Today
Several entities will discuss emergency plans during the annual Marshall County Safety Committee meeting this morning.
Area school superintendents, highway department personnel, Emergency Management Agency, Marshall County Health Department, Marshall County Sheriff’s deputies and the Marshall County School Safety Committee will offer ways of communication with each other in case of an emergency situation.
The meeting will be at 9 a.m. today in the Plymouth Community School Corporation Board Room.
Community Crossings Grants to be Announced Soon
Indiana Department of Transportation officials will be announcing the Community Crossings grant awards in the next few weeks.
Local government entities have been waiting patiently for the notice as officials would like to send next year’s projects out for bid that will utilize these funds.
Plymouth City Auction to be Held in October
The City of Plymouth will hold a surplus property auction in October.
Park Superintendent Michael Hite is in charge of the auction and told the Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety members last week that he contacted Sam Goble to assist in the auction on Oct. 18. Hite added that the sale will be held in the horse barn at the Jefferson School parking lot.
Company Inquires about Bremen Industrial Buildings
There are two industrial buildings available in Bremen and a company executive was asking about those buildings last week.
Bremen Director of Operations Trend Weldy said the buildings at High Road and Industrial Drive are for sale, but one company still operates out of one of the buildings.
Proposed J-Turn Intersection Public Hearing Set for Tuesday
Officials from the Indiana Department of Transportation are hosting a public hearing tomorrow (Tuesday) to hear opinions on the proposed J-turn intersection for U.S. 31 at State Road 10 and Dewey Street (17th Road) in Marshall County.
INDOT touts the intersection will enhance safety for traffic. The J-turn intersection would not allow a vehicle to turn left at a crossroad. Instead, the driver has to travel quite a distance in order to turn left, or the opposite direction, to go back past the crossroad to turn left again to the desired location.
Culver-Union Township Fire Department Gains Firefighters
The Culver-Union Township Fire Department will have three new firefighters soon.
Fire Chief Terry Wakefield told the Culver Town Council last week that one member has passed all of the background checks and testing so he’s able to be added to the roster. Wakefield added that two others have applied and will enter several months of training.
Marshall County Commissioners to Meet Today
The Marshall County Commissioners will hold two public hearings during their meeting this morning.
Two zoning ordinances are up for public comment at 10 a.m. The zoning map and the zoning ordinance have been amended and those documents will be up for consideration.
Bourbon Town Council Working to Clean up Properties
The Bourbon Town Council is working to clean up blighted properties.
According to Clerk-Treasurer Kimberly Berger, she received load hauling tickets showing debris removal on Sept. 7 and Sept. 8 and the old Shell station.
The town has been working with Karen Holm in cleaning up her properties. The council has an agreement in place with Holm in that she has until Nov. 15 to show progress.
Consultant on Job Descriptions, Wages Discusses Information with Council
The Marshall County Council received information from a consultant on job descriptions and wages.
Kent Irwin explained how he and his colleagues at Waggoner, Irwin and Scheele prepare the job descriptions and determine wages for recommendations for the county. He is looking to assist the county in updating all of the job descriptions for all positions in the county as a major overhaul has not been done since 1989. Several positions have a different set of duties and those descriptions need to be current.
New EMS Service Setting up in Bremen
The new EMS service for the Town of Bremen is getting ready to begin operations.
Director of Operations Trend Weldy said Lutheran EMS was awarded the winning bid in August.
“Our new EMS service, Lutheran, came to town last week and I gave them keys to the building,” said Weldy. “They’re starting to move in all of their equipment and get it set up. They’re supposed to take over on Nov 1.” Continue reading
Fundraiser Created to Keep Culver Sign
The temporary giant Culver sign located on the pedestrian bridge in the Culver Town Park can stay there on a permanent basis with the community’s help.
The Town of Culver began a “Creating Stellar Places” fundraiser where donors can win prizes for donating any denomination to retain the Culver sign . For example, the first 15 donors will receive a “Stellar Town Year Round” yard sign. Other donors could receive a Culver t-shirt, and a chance to be fire chief or police chief for a day in Culver.
Plymouth Man Dies in Accident
A three-vehicle accident at a busy intersection in Plymouth claimed the life of a Plymouth man.
According to information from the Plymouth Police Department, Samuel Bondranko, 54, of Vale, Virginia, was traveling east on U.S. 30 approaching Oak Drive when he turned his focus to a semi turning onto U.S. 30. The traffic signal had changed and Bondranko reportedly told police that he did not see that it had turned red in his lane of traffic. Police say Bondranko entered the intersection and collided with a car driven by Richard Kunkle, of Plymouth who was traveling south on Oak Dr. Bondranko also struck a vehicle driven by Timothy Evans, of Valparaiso, who was attempting to onto U.S. 30 from Oak Dr.
Jail Fight Injures Officer
Charges are expected to be filed against inmates who were reportedly in a fight in the Marshall County Jail Wednesday night.
Officers from the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department and the Plymouth Police Department and Plymouth EMS were called to the jail as a fight broke in a cell block. Police say before assistance arrived jail officers on duty successfully locked down all of the inmates in the cell block where it had occurred.
American Containers to Expand Operations
The Plymouth City Council approved a measure this week to assist American Containers in the company’s effort to expand.
Owner Michael Isban approached the council with plans to expedite the manufacturing of products at the facility with the addition of specialized equipment. The goal is to increase the competitive edge in the market and to create jobs.
Bourbon Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee Holds Open House
The Bourbon Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee held an open house last night to gather public opinion on the proposed Envision Bourbon 2030 Comprehensive Plan.
The plan covers several elements including population, housing and neighborhood conditions, economy and labor force trends, land use, roads and utilities infrastructure, public facilities, and protection of natural and cultural resources.
