Marshall County Commissioners Consider Zoning Request

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The Marshall County Commissioners considered a zoning ordinance amendment to change the zoning from an agricultural to a commercial zone at 12131 U.S. 6 adjacent to the La Paz Sewer Plant.

Marshall County Plan Director Ralph Booker said the property is located just south of U.S. 6 and west of U.S. 31 owned by Donald Abbott.

Marshall County Economic Development Corporation Director and CEO Jerry Chavez said this is a step in an economic strategic plan by La Paz officials. The town council there could decide to annex that property for tax purposes some time down the line.

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Marshall County REMC Officials Update Commissioners on Improving Communications

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

Communication upgrades are coming down the line for Marshall County REMC members.

REMC officials told the county commissioners on Monday morning that they are making efforts to bring fiber optic cable to the meter points at their substations so they can do automated switching and voltage reads in a more secure, quicker fashion. This will also increase the time in meter reading.

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Marshall County Commissioners to Discuss Haeck, Opioid Litigation Matters in Executive Session

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

Marshall County Attorney Jim Clevenger notified the commissioners on Monday morning that former Highway Superintendent Neal Haeck filed a motion recently for the return of his restitution.

Haeck was accused of stealing money from the sale of scrap metal while acting in his position held in the county in 2012 and 2013. Haeck maintained his innocence throughout the time he was accused of the action in 2014 and during his subsequent trial. He was found guilty on one count of theft during a two-day trial in March of 2016 in the matter. He was sentenced to serve one year on home detention and complete 200 hours of community service. Two years of his sentence was suspended with reporting probation. He was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $12,358.41, which was paid in full to the county, plus court costs and fines. Continue reading →

Highway Administrator Job Opening to be Advertised

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

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.

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Marshall County Golf Ordinance Will Not Change

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

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.

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Marshall County Commissioners to Meet Today

Posted on Author Anita Goodan
Marshall County Commissioners (L to R) Mike Delp, Kevin Overmyer, Kurt Garner

The Marshall County Commissioners will meet today and are expected hear requests to apply for grants from Community Corrections Director Ward Byers and representatives from the Marshall County 4-H Fair Board Long Range Planning Commission.

Members from the highway department will award construction and resurfacing bids during today’s commissioner’s meeting, while a zoning change will be presented by a representative from the Marshall County Planning Commission. Kankakee River Basin information will be presented by members of Christopher Burke Engineering, LLC. Continue reading →

Marshall County Health Administrator Submits Grant Request

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

Marshall County Health Administrator Christine Stinson asked the county commissioners this week to apply for a grant to help test known IV users for Hepatitis C.

She explained that the Indiana State Association of County and City Health Officers offered mini grants in the amount of $2,500 to be used at the discretion of the applicant’s choice. Stinson said she submitted a request for a year-long grant to help test IV drug users for Hepatitis C. Continue reading →

Marshall County Prosecutor Asks to Apply for Grants

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

Marshall County Prosecutor Nelson Chipman approached the commissioners with a request to apply for two grants.

Prosecutor Chipman explained that IPAC Drug Prosecution Grant worth $2,000 was already approved. The money will be used for undercover drug buy money. He said the Marshall County Drug Task Force is very aggressive and that grant money will replenish the money supply for those efforts. The commissioners unanimously approved the grant request. Continue reading →

Marshall County Commissioners Discuss E-Gov Contract

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The Marshall County Commissioners discussed a contract to update the look of the county’s website.

IT Director Michael Marshall said this contract is for web hosting and web design for the county.

“It’s a company called e-gov out of Indianapolis,” explained Marshall. “They have Hendricks, Vigo, Kosciusko, Deerborn, Dekalb – they have quite a few counties that they host. They have some tools as far as document management, event planning, and calendaring that we just don’t have right now on our site. Continue reading →

Marshall County Highway Supervisor Presents 2018 Road Program

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

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 County Resident Takes Golf Cart Ordinance Issue to Commissioners

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

Michelle Bachtel was before the Marshall County Commissioners on Monday morning to ask that the speed limit be omitted from the golf cart ordinance.

She made this request as she drives her golf cart on county roads to access her farm ground on the north side and the south side of U.S. 30 in the Inwood community. She was stopped by a Marshall County deputy who informed her that she could not operate the golf cart on the road. Bachtel explained to the commissioners that the ordinance allows the operation of golf carts on roads that have a posted speed limit of 35 mph or less and the road she utilized that day had a posted speed of 30 mph. Continue reading →

Marshall County Highway Administrator Resigns

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The Marshall County Commissioners will be looking for a new highway administrator in the next few weeks. Laurie Baker submitted her resignation on Monday morning during the commissioners meeting that is effective Friday, Dec. 29.

Baker stated that she’s had a great experience working with the county in different aspects for a total of 15 years, but she’s looking forward to moving in a different direction and focusing on family time out of the area. Continue reading →

Marshall County Commissioners to Consider Joining Opioid Litigation

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The opioid crisis affects everyone and it is not being overlooked in Marshall County.

According to the Marshall County Health Department figures, the number of overdose deaths due to opioid and prescription drug abuse went from one in 2015 to 13 in 2016 and 16 already in 2017. County Attorney Jim Clevenger presented information to the Marshall County Commissioners Monday morning asking them to consider joining an Indianapolis firm to pursue opioid litigation in a multi-district, federal litigation against the manufacturers and distributors of highly addictive prescription medications. Clevenger noted that some prescriptions could be in question. Continue reading →

Marshall County Commissioners to Meet Today

Posted on Author Anita Goodan
Marshall County Commissioners (L to R) Mike Delp, Kevin Overmyer, Kurt Garner

The Marshall County Commissioners will meet this morning with several items for discussion.

The commissioners will open bids for the lease on the farm grounds at the Shady Rest Home site. The building is not for lease, but the land surrounding the parcel is up for lease as it is every few years.

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