The Marshall County Commissioners have a full agenda for their regularly scheduled public meeting today.
Representatives from the Bowen Center will present information to the board as will the highway department. EMA Director Clyde Avery will seek permission concerning the application for the Emergency Management Performance grant. Jane Fuents will discuss first responder training while Joseph Roush will discuss drainage with board.
The Marshall County 4-H Fair Board has a sponsor for an Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) grant in the Marshall County Commissioners.
Angel Balsley appeared before the governing body to request the sponsorship as the fair board is looking to apply for a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant to build a community center on the grounds. The community center could be used for a wide range of activities and it is needed in that community. It is one of the projects that the Town of Argos and the 4-H Fair Board are working on as part of a comprehensive plan with Michiana Area Council of Governments (MACOG).
The Marshall County Commissioners met in emergency session on Friday afternoon to put a resolution in place to restrict the placement or construction of small cell towers in the right-of-way of local governments where utility lines are located or buried underground.
Several municipalities scrambled to get similar documents approved and in place by the May 1 deadline to keep local government control over Senate Enrolled Act 213 which allows that local control option. SEA 213 amends Indiana code that allows the use of the county’s right-of-way for the installation and use of small cell facilities.
The condition of roads in Marshall County has been a topic of discussion since the spring season began, especially with the plan to reclaim roads.
The main concern of Commissioners Kurt Garner and Mike Delp is the turn around in putting the roads back to an asphalt state. They would like to see the reclaimed roads as part of this year’s plan to be resurfaced this year without waiting a year. Commissioner Kevin Overmyer wants the highway department to remain on the current schedule. Overmyer stated that a representative from engineering firm DLZ rode along with Highway Supervisor Jason Peters and witnessed their process of reclaiming roads. According to Overmyer, the representative was complimentary of the highway department on their restoration process.
The Marshall County Commissioners will meet for their first business meeting of the month this morning.
The Marshall County Highway Department will present information on projects, a truck noise issue will be brought before the board and the Marshall County 4-H Fair Board will have a presentation for the commissioners.
An Office of Community and Rural Affairs grant request will also be discussed for the community center.
The commissioners will open the public meeting at 8:30 a.m. today in the second floor meeting room in the Marshall County Building.
The Marshall County Commissioners approved additional readings to the proposed ordinance that reestablishes the Cumulative Capital Development Fund at its maximum rate at $.0333 per $100 of assessed valuation.
No additional comments were made concerning the details of the ordinance. The second and third readings were unanimously approved.
Marshall County Highway Supervisor Jason Peters presented the department’s asset management plan to the commissioners Monday morning.
The list he gave the governing body are the roads that need to be reclaimed. He explained that the roads will be ground up with the hopes of surfacing the roads in the next two to five years. Resurfacing will depend on funding, according to Peters.
The Marshall County Commissioners are expected to take further action this morning on an ordinance that reestablishes the maximum rate of the Cumulative Capital Development Fund at $.0333 per $100 of assessed valuation.
The commissioners held a public hearing on the matter earlier this month and approved the ordinance on first reading. While the three commissioners stated they don’t want to raise taxes, they noted that something has to be done to help the highway department gather more funds for capital costs.
Several reports are being gathered to prepare for the Hickory Road Bridge replacement.
Laurie Johnson from engineering firm DLZ reported to the Marshall County Commissioners this week that the draft of Wetland Mitigation Plan was recently submitted with the final draft expected this month. Johnson also said work on the Wetland Mitigation Site is in progress.
The Marshall County Commissioners reviewed an agreement for the Apple Road bridge project.
The commissioners approved a bid submitted by LaPorte Construction at a meeting in March. Highway Administrator Laurie Baker told the commissioners that the agreement between the county and the contractor is now needed so the project can move forward.
The Marshall County Commissioners held a public hearing Monday morning to gather public input on the reestablishment of the Cumulative Capital Development Fund at the maximum rate.
The Cumulative Capital Development Fund has existed in the budget for many years, but the current rate is $.0167 per $100 of assessed valuation which covers a few capital costs. Commissioner Kurt Garner stated that the increase of $.0333 per $100 of assessed valuation means $16.40 per $100,000 of assessed value. If the typical homeowner has a mortgage exemption and homestead credit, it comes to about $5.50 a year.
The Marshall County Commissioners have set aside time today to hear public comment on the proposed tax increase to help reestablish the Cumulative Capital Development Fund to the maximum point. A public hearing on the matter is set for 9 a.m.
Marshall County Highway Supervisor Jason Peters told the commissioners last week that he is researching sites to dispose of materials to be reused for road projects.
“The county is going to have to have a dump site which will have to be state approved,” explained Peters. “We’ll have to have an archeological study done and wetland lineation sites approved where we have that documentation for federal aid projects. They can dump millings or road gravel on those sites. That’s something that’s surfaced this year and we’ll have to have that done.”
Diane Fisher from the Prevent Child Abuse Marshall County organization approached the Marshall County Commissioners this week to request permission to hold an event on the courthouse lawn.
The Marshall County Maintenance Department is looking to purchase a bucket lift truck to reduce outside contractor fees.
County Maintenance Supervisor Doug Masterson and Gary Masterson said the employees at the maintenance department can complete needed projects that require a lift truck without the need to rent the equipment or hire another contractor. Nearly $7,000 in savings can be realized if the county owned a lift truck.
The Marshall County Commissioners discussed two supplemental contracts for the Hickory Road Bridge replacement project.
Engineering firm DLZ has increased the costs of contracts for extra work needed for the wetlands mitigation and the right-of-way portions of the upcoming bridge replacement project. Highway Administrator Laurie Baker said she has provided the contracts to INDOT and the officials there have blessed them for signatures.
The Marshall County Commissioners will discuss several items when they meet this morning.
County highway administrators will give an update on projects within the county. With property taxes due soon, Treasurer Angie Birchmeier will be requesting extended hours to accommodate taxpayers with a chance to get taxes paid on time. Sheriff Matt Hassel will also be before the commissioners to discuss a road closure. Diane Fisher from Prevent Child Abuse Marshall County will also have a presentation for the board.
James and Jean Klinedinst don’t want to pay property taxes on water.
The pair, who live along Kreighbaum Lake, have been paying property taxes on approximately 18 acres of the lake and want to give that back to the county. All bodies of water in the county are traditionally owned by the local governing body, but somehow the Klinedinst’s deed shows they “own”part of Kreighbaum Lake and have been paying taxes on that portion of the lake for years.
Representatives from Gibson Insurance presented renewal information during the Marshall County Commissioners meeting on Monday.
Brian Kubecki recommended the return of all carriers from the previous years. Kubecki indicated that the county will see an increase in this proposal.
Marshall County Highway Supervisor Jason Peters updated the commissioners this week with work being done in the county.
Peters said his staff has been busy with ditching and berming in the county. He said the idea is to get this work done ahead of when they start road work this summer. Approximately 10 miles of road will go through this process. Peters mentioned that crack-sealing has taken place on a couple of roads.
