The Marshall County Commissioners discussed a transfer of maintenance responsibility at property at 500 E. LaPorte Street in Plymouth.
Marshall County Council Discusses Part-Time Code Enforcement Officer Position
The part-time code enforcement officer position will have to wait.
Marshall County Planning Commission President Stan Klotz presented the Marshall County Council members on Monday morning with the proposed job description for the position. The wages would be between $17.40 and $20.05 an hour based on a 15-hour work week.
Community Table of Marshall County Addresses Flooding Relief Efforts
County and city officials, along with other departments and organizations focused on disaster relief efforts met Monday morning to address needs. It’s been a community effort and all leaders commented that the community’s response has been overwhelming. Those attending offered several pieces of information to help those picking up after the damage.
Commission, Council Presidents Urge Resolution to Empty Highway Positions
Marshall County Commissioner Kevin Overmyer would like to see a resolution to the unfilled positions at the highway department.
He explained to fellow Commissioners Mike Delp and Kurt Garner Monday morning that the assistant clerk position needs to be filled as well as the county engineer position. He stated that the person who is currently doing the work of two clerks is up to 75 hours of comp time since Jan. 1. He mentioned that Highway Supervisor Jason Peters is at 80 hours of overtime.
Commissioners Update County Council on County Engineer Search
The search continues for a county engineer.
The Marshall County Commissioners are looking for a candidate who is a licensed engineer who could help add expertise to the qualified staff already at the county highway. Commissioner Kurt Garner explained to the county council on Monday morning that they received three applications with two of the applicants possessing an engineer’s license. They offered a candidate with a license, 12 years of highway experience and the ability to assist the county with matrix technology to help the county’s focus on prioritizing maintenance on roads, but that candidate turned down an offer from the county. According to Commissioners Garner and Mike Delp, who even offered part of their salaries to add to the proposed pay rate, the candidate wasn’t sure he wanted to take the risk of having an divided council and commission vote on the position and the loss in pay.
Building Inspector Reports Record Number of Building Permits
The numbers show an uptick in construction in Marshall County. In his yearly report to the Marshall County Commissioners, Building Commissioner Chuck DeWitt said a record number of permits were issued in 2017.
Marshall County Commissioners Discuss Proposed Program at Shady Rest Facility
The Marshall County Commissioners discussed the Shady Rest Committee’s recommendation of allowing the addiction recovery program, David’s Courage, to be run out of the Shady Rest Home on Lincoln Highway in Plymouth.
Committee Chair and County Commissioner Kurt Garner explained that the committee approved a favorable recommendation for the program and if the commissioners did not decide to approve the program then the county would divest the property.
Marshall County Engineer/Director Position Still Open
The Marshall County Commissioners are still looking to fill the county’s engineer/director position at the county highway department. Commission President Kevin Overmyer said no resumes had been received as of Tuesday morning.
Commissioner Mike Delp said Highway Supervisor Jason Peters has made an offer to hire a clerk at the highway department. Delp added that since things are in a transition phase at the moment, others should be involved when hiring a parts manager.
Marshall County Council Discusses Engineer/Director Salary
The Marshall County Council members discussed a salary range for the Marshall County Engineer/Director position this week.
While the position has yet to be filled, a salary ordinance amendment was put before the council for consideration Monday morning. The range of pay is $62,837-$76,800. The highway administrative manager position will be defunded so the balance of that salary can be transferred to whatever the salary will be for the highway engineer/director position. An additional appropriation will be sought to fulfill the required salary when a person is hired.
Marshall County Commissioners Makes Change to Intergovernmental Agreement
The Marshall County Commissioners considered the intergovernmental agreement between Planning Director Ralph Booker and the City of Plymouth when they met Monday morning.
For years, the county has had an intergovernmental agreement with the City of Plymouth. The Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety recently agreed to a contract where the county would be paid a certain amount for six months in 2018 and Booker paid another amount for the same six months in 2018 for services rendered. Booker is anticipating retirement from his county position in June of 2018 and following that the entire amount would go to Booker as he tentatively plans to stay with the city as the plan director. The Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety members approved that agreement.
Marshall County Commissioners Consider E-Gov Contract
The Marshall County Commissioners discussed an E-gov contract with IT Director Michael Marshall last week.
Marshall presented the contract at a previous meeting which calls for a contract with E-gov out of Indianapolis for web hosting and web design. He said they have the skills necessary to produce a user-friendly county website and give it a fresh look. Marshall said he would still be responsible for content.
Marshall County to Join National Opioid Litigation
Marshall County will join an Indianapolis firm in pursuing a multi-district, federal litigation against the opioid manufacturers and distributors of highly addictive prescription medications.
The Marshall County Commissioners discussed the issue in detail in an executive session in November. During their regular business meeting on Monday morning, Commissioner Mike Delp asked about fees to be collected by the firm Cohen and Malad. The firm handling the case would collect 33.3% in attorney fees and any expenses incurred in the event of a recovery. The expenses will be shared with all clients in the litigation process.
Commissioners Review Floor Maintenance Contract
The Marshall County Commissioners went a different route when discussing the floor maintenance contract Monday morning.
The commissioners received several bids for floor cleaning as the work is usually done on a contractural basis. Maintenance Director Doug Masterson is under contract now for $850 a month, or $10,200 a year, which is above his full-time position with the county.
Commissioner Mike Delp asked Consultant Kent Irwin of Waggoner, Irwin and Scheele about the practice of a county employee doing work for the county as an independent contractor and receive 1099 wages to perform similar duties.
Commissioners Approve Readings on Three Ordinances
The Marshall County Commissioners held a public hearing Monday morning concerning an ordinance amendment that makes changes to side yard fences in certain zones.
The ordinance changes the side yard fence height to “six feet in height and must be of uniform, color and style construction materials.” The ordinance amendment pertains to L-1, T-1, C-1, C-2, and industrial districts. Agricultural districts are excluded.
Commissioners Get Update on Branding Marshall County
A concept of branding by this production company for Marshall County was presented to the commissioners Monday morning.
Lou Pierce from the Big Idea Company out of Mishawaka presented the findings of members of Branding Marshall County in three meetings held in Bremen, Culver and at Ancilla College. He said Marshall County needs to stand out in a relevant way to promote what Marshall County has to offer.
Highway Administrator Job Opening to be Advertised
The Marshall County Commissioners took action Monday morning to advertise the open position of Marshall County Highway Administrator.
Laurie Baker announced her resignation from the position earlier this month. Her last day will be Dec. 29.
Commissioner Kurt Garner said he read the job description and noticed that the candidate could hold an engineer’s license. Commissioner Kevin Overmyer and Commissioner Mike Delp both agreed that hiring an engineer is not necessary.
Marshall County Golf Ordinance Will Not Change
The Marshall County Commissioners decided keep the requirement in the current golf cart ordinance that requires them to be operated only on roads that have a 35 mph speed limit or less.
Michelle Bachtel and her husband previously asked the commissioners to rescind the speed limit requirement and allow them to be driven on all roads. During that same meeting, the commissioners discussed that the speed limit was included in the ordinance for safety purposes. The initial thought was to keep the slow moving vehicles off of roads that have increased speed as a safety precaution.
Marshall County Highway Supervisor Presents 2018 Road Program
Marshall County Highway Supervisor Jason Peters presented the proposed 2018 road program to the commissioners on Monday morning.
Commissioner Mike Delp asked Peters if there are plans to grind up more roads next year.
“Winter can determine a lot of that come March or April when things start falling out,” said Peters. “At that point, we’ll review a lot of our roads – if we’re going to grind them and put them back. I’m sure there will be a few.” Continue reading
Marshall Co. Commissioners Support Highway Dept. Request for Funds
The Marshall County Highway Department will be asking the county council for some additional funds and money transfers in order to pave more county roads this season.
Highway Supervisor Jason Peters told the county commissioners that he’ll be requesting $550,000 to $600,000 in an additional appropriation before the county council on Monday, Sept. 11. Continue reading
Marshall County Commissioners Address Generator Needs
The Marshall County Commissioners discussed generator needs at the highway department.
Maintenance Director Doug Masterson along with Gary Masterson approached the commissioners with a quote from M & J Services and Michiana Contracting, Inc. to provide a generator for the highway department. The highway department does not have a generator to help with department needs when there is a loss of power. The commissioners discussed the need previously and Doug Masterson presented the quotes for approval Monday morning. Continue reading
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