Marshall County Attorney Jim Clevenger presented the commissioners this week with a ticket format for fines and fine amounts for ordinance violations.
Sheriff Matt Hassel and Clerk Deb Vandemark asked that the commissioners set more definitive fines for ordinance offenses such as curfew violation, junk vehicles, open burning, and animals running at large.
A rat-infested property in Bourbon that is unfit for human habitation will be demolished in September.
Marshall County Health Administrator Christine Stinson told the commissioners this week that the residents moved out of the home at 606 N. Thayer Street in January. Stinson said she’s hired an exterminator to take care of the rat problem until the building can be demolished in September. The property is within 300 feet of the elementary school.
Marshall County EMA Director Clyde Avery presented two grant opportunities to the county commissioners Monday morning for approval.
One grant is the 2017 Emergency Management Performance Grant. He said this FEMA grant money can be used for training and exercise.
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
The Marshall County Commissioners will meet this morning with several items on the agenda.
EMA Director Clyde Avery will be discussing several grants and other items of interest to come before the board today. Plymouth Mayor Mark Senter will discuss the Michigan Street Bridge Memorial for the late Tom Chamberlin. Maintenance Director Doug Masterson will talk about a generator for the highway department while Health Department Administrator Christine Stinson will seek the third reading on the fee schedule and well installation and maintenance ordinances. Stinson will also present a proposal to demolish the Ramey House as it has been declared an unsafe building.
The Marshall County Commissioners received an update on the plans for the Bridge 81, or Hickory Road, project.
Laurie Johnson from DLZ reminded the commissioners that the wetland mitigation documents will be presented to them at their next meeting for approval. The Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety approved the paperwork at their last meeting that allows the county to maintain the grounds for ten years and then it will go back into the possession of the city.
The Marshall County Commissioners will soon approve a set fee for all violations in the violations bureau.
County Attorney Jim Clevenger said the problem is a number of the ordinances including abandoned vehicles, animals running at large and curfew, to name a few, don’t have specific monetary amounts given for frequent violations of the same ordinances. The officers don’t have a way of knowing if it’s a first, second or third violation.
Marshall County CASA Executive Director Chastity Keller asked the Marshall County Commissioners this week for support in applying for a matching grant through the state. The grant has already been approved and the money allocated so the grant approval is the only step needed.
The commissioners give CASA support in an in-kind contribution toward the grant. The commissioners granted permission for the CASA volunteers to use office space in the courthouse to conduct business. The office space allows for tech support, security and utility assistance.
The Marshall County Commissioners were petitioned with a request to vacate Forest Drive between 11th Road and U.S. 31 that runs along the west line of Carl Stockberger’s property in the county.
The road was dedicated in 1996 and had a curve in it which was later modified to straighten out the road. Plan Director Ralph Booker said the intention for that road was to give residents access to 11th Road in the potential development of a subdivision there. The development never occurred.
A public hearing was opened to gather comments about the possible vacation of the road and no comments were made.
Marshall County Sheriff Hassel told the Marshall County Commissioners this week that K9 handler, Brandon Cooper, has accepted a position on the Plymouth Fire Department and will no longer be a K9 officer. Sheriff Hassel said a decision had to made about the future of the K9 at the sheriff’s department.
“In doing some research on K9 Arras, it will be nine this year leaving a limited time left on its service lift,” said Sheriff Hassel. “The K9 was purchased through funds from the Culver Lake Maxinkuckee Lake Association and I asked them what they would like to see. I gave them options – let the officer purchase the dog, let the dog go with the officer or go ahead and train somebody to work with the dog over the next two years. Their recommendation was to go ahead and let the dog go with the officer.”
The health department’s fee schedule ordinance and the ordinance pertaining to well installation, maintenance and operation were brought before the Marshall County Commissioners on Monday.
Health Administrator Christine Stinson told the commissioners that she discussed well caps with a well drilling operator and changed requirements to the abandonment of wells. She went to the DNR rule which satisfied the issue with wording in the ordinance.
Marshall County Attorney Jim Clevenger this week discussed the Memorandum of Understanding between the county and the Marshall County 4-H Fair Board.
The document protects the county from any financial obligation in its capacity to act as a pass through vehicle for a Community Development Block Grant worth $500,000. The grant will help fund a multi-purpose building on the fairgrounds in Argos.
Marshall County Extension Director Karen Richey asked Clevenger for a copy of the document to send to the Purdue University Extension office for their approval as the project includes 4-H and a 4-H organization.
The document has not been signed so the topic will be reviewed at the commissioners’ next meeting.
Marshall County Highway Administrator Laurie Baker presented the commissioners with lease financing and tax exempt paperwork for the county’s new paver.
County Attorney Jim Clevenger went over a resolution indicating that the county is entering into the lease purchase and agreement is approved substantially. A requirement to verify insurance was also included which was already complete. A list of all proposals considered by the commissioners has to be submitted and that the process was competitive.
The Marshall County Commissioners plan to approve two ordinances presented by Health Department Administrator Christine Stinson when they meet for their regular meeting this morning.
A public hearing was held on July 3 concerning the ordinance that outlines the change in the fee schedule for the health department. Another ordinance pertaining to well installation, maintenance and operations is also on the agenda. The well ordinance was approved on first reading at the last meeting as some questions about well caps need to be addressed before the ordinance can be formally approved. Those issues should be discussed today.
The Culver Town Council will meet tonight. Town Manager Jonathan Leist will present his report which will include an update on the Stellar Communities Designation Program grant.
Council President Ginny Bess Munroe appeared before the Marshall County Commissioners last week where the county governing body agreed to support the town’s quest in becoming a stellar community. Munroe said the Town of Culver was looking to show a united front with the county to include in their finalist packet due by Aug. 25.
Marshall County Attorney Jim Clevenger mentioned to the commissioners this week that he has been meeting with Sheriff Matt Hassel and Clerk Deb Vandemark about fines for ordinance violation tickets.
He said the problem is a number of the ordinances including abandoned vehicles, animals running at large and curfew, to name a few, don’t have specific monetary amounts given for frequent violations of the same ordinances.
The Marshall County Commissioners finalized a list of committee members to serve on the Shady Rest Home Committee.
The commissioners decided to form a committee to determine what uses could fill the Shady Rest Home facility once it is handed back to the county on Aug. 1. The Bowen Center made the decision to cease operations there after some of the new regulations didn’t fit the facility’s needs.
The Marshall County Commissioners were informed by County Attorney Jim Clevenger that the fees for the recorder’s office need to be updated.
Recorder Marlene Mahler informed Clevenger that the state legislature mandated changes in the fees at the state level and those fees are to be updated at the county level. Clevenger said he drafted an ordinance that updates the fee schedule in the recorder’s office that matches the state mandate.
The Marshall County Commissioners and Health Department Administrator Christine Stinson opened Monday’s commissioner’s meeting to the public for comment on two ordinances that feature fee changes within the health department.
The proposed well ordinance was considered first by the commissioners. No public comment was made. The ordinance was approved on the first reading, but Stinson will be following up with a well company concerning well caps. When those concerns are ironed out, any changes can be amended during the second reading of the ordinance to be considered on Monday, July 17.
The Marshall County Commissioners approved the list of roads to be considered as part of the Community Crossings Grant in 2018. The list will also be given to the county council and MACOG for consideration.
The grant request will include Beech Road from U.S. 6 to 3B Road, 17th Road/Dewey Street between Linden and South Michigan Street, 9th Road from Pioneer Drive to the county line west, Dogwood Road from the county line to State Road 331, old U.S. 31 in LaPaz to Tyler Road, and 13th Road from State Road 17 to Olive Trail.
