The Shady Rest Committee will meet today to review soft proposals for organizations wishing to occupy the Shady Rest Home on Lincoln Highway in Plymouth.
The proposals indicate use, ownership, structure, ability to sustain operations and maintenance, and an approximate number of individuals who would benefit from services.
Marshall County Building Commissioner Chuck DeWitt and his staff is keeping busy this construction season with several hundred permits issued this year. That’s what he reported to the Marshall County Commissioners this week.
“We have over $25 million in permit values and we have 405 building permits and over 110 electric permits. That gives us about 600 permits that we’ve issued so far this year. We’re on track to have the busiest year we’ve ever had,” said DeWitt.
The Marshall County Building Inspector asked the commissioners for permission this week to attend a workshop next month on renewable energy including solar power and generators.
Chuck DeWitt mentioned that an ordinance regarding solar panels will be coming soon to Culver and to Marshall County that will permit small, medium and large solar energy systems. He said the ordinance will include safety for the public and first responders when installing solar energy systems and education on when a power outage occurs. Continue reading
Officials with the Department of Local Government Finance (DLGF) have ruled that the Marshall County Commissioners can move forward with reestablishing the Cumulative Capital Development Fund at its maximum rate.
In a decision handed down on Aug. 31, DLGF officials approved the levying of a tax in the amount of $.0333 per $100 of assessed valuation in 2018. The rate must be advertised and the amount must be properly appropriated in the 2018 budget.
A potential funding source for those suffering losses not eligible for FEMA funds after a natural disaster has been tabled due to lack of support.
Marshall County Emergency Management Agency Director Clyde Avery told the commissioners on Tuesday morning that five people responded to eight notices sent out to create a board of directors for this endeavor, but only three members attended the first meeting. The goal of the proposed 501(C)(3) organization was to generate donations by a variety of fundraisers to sustain the fund. The money would then be distributed after applications were reviewed in the event of a catastrophic event.
The Marshall County Commissioners will meet today where the commissioners will receive an update from projects at the highway department. The board will also hear from Emergency Management Agency Director Clyde Avery about his quarterly activities. County Attorney James Clevenger will provide an update on several items when he delivers his report.
A subrecipient agreement was approved and signed by members of the Marshall County 4-H Fair Board Association this week. The agreement is between the fair board and the Marshall County Commissioners that outlines the responsibilities of ownership and funding associated with a proposed multi-use building to be constructed on the fairgrounds in Argos.
The proposed structure is an 8,000 square foot steel frame building that will feature drywall and concrete flooring. It will accommodate a seating capacity up to 400 people. There will be 4,400 square feet of open space to hold wedding receptions or other large gatherings, a 30-person meeting room in the front of the building and regular building features such as a kitchenette and restrooms.
One Marshall County bridge is almost complete while another is in the design phase.
Ben Beer from USI Consultants told the Marshall County Commissioners on Monday that Bridge #174, or Apple Road Bridge, is nearly complete.
“They should have everything completed this week,” said Beer. “They’re paving and putting up guardrail and seeding and then they’ll be out of there. There are no change orders. Everything was within budget.”
Two Marshall County roads will be closed today so county highway crews can perform fog sealing operations.
Marshall County Highway Supervisor Jason Peters told the county commissioners on Monday that Overmyer Drive and Pioneer Drive recently underwent chip and seal road work and now the final fog seal will be applied that will help extend the condition of the road. Striping of the road will occur next week.
The roads will reopen as soon as the fog seal coating is dried. Peters suggested that it would take roughly two hours to properly seal.
The Marshall County Commissioners received an update on the progress on plans for a multi-purpose building to be built on the 4-H Fairgrounds in Argos.
Shannon McLeod with Priority Project Resources went over the paperwork and process for the proposed building that will act as a building to host many public events in the Marshall County area. The project has been scaled down to an 8,000 square foot building with a steel frame building. The interior will feature drywall and concrete flooring. It will accommodate a seating capacity up to 400 people.
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
The Marshall County Commissioners will discuss the construction of a multi-purpose building at the Marshall County Fairgrounds in Argos when they meet this morning.
Shannon McLeod will be before the governing body to discuss the project spearheaded by the Marshall County 4-H Fair Association. The association was applying for an OCRA grant in the amount of $500,000 to assist in the construction of the building that the members hope will host many functions including wedding receptions, meetings and other community-type gatherings. The county will act as a pass-through vehicle for the purpose of obtaining the grant. County Attorney Jim Clevenger will present a memorandum of understanding between the county and the association that states that the county is not financially liable for this project.
Plymouth Mayor Mark Senter appeared before the Marshall County Commissioners last week to request the renaming of a bridge in Plymouth.
Even though the Michigan Street bridge is in the city it is under the county jurisdiction. He asked that the bridge be renamed the Thomas Chamberlin Memorial Bridge. Chamberlin served the community with honor as the county sheriff for many years and a leader in other respects. He passed away Friday, Aug. 28, 2015 after a battle with cancer.
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.
