Marshall County Commissioners Pass Small Cell Facility Resolution

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

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.

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Marshall County Commissioners Vote to Amend Road Plan

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

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.

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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 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.

Highway Department Presents Asset Management Plan to Commissioners

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

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.

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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 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.

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Work Continues to Finalize Paperwork for Hickory Road Bridge Project

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

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.

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Public Hearing Held for Reestablishment of Cumulative Capital Development Fund

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

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.

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Marshall County Highway Department to Look into Dump Sites

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

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.”

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Maintenance Department Requests Equipment Purchases

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

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.

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Marshall County Commissioners Approve Supplemental Contracts for Bridge Project

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

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.

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Marshall County Commissioners to Meet Today

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

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.

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Property Owners Repeat Request for Deed Clarification

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

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.

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Marshall County Highway Department Busy with Road Work

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

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.

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Marshall County Commissioners Receive Update on Bridge 81 Project

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The Hickory Road bridge project continues to move forward.

Laurie Johnson from engineering firm DLZ told the Marshall County commissioners this week that all five right-of-way parcels have been secured. She said mitigation plans are the next focus.

“We move forward with survey, design, NEPA, and permitting of the mitigation project on the city owned property,” stated Johnson. “The archaeology report has been submitted and Cardno is completing the design. They actually submitted a preliminary design to us and to Ryan Cassidy at the Army Corp for preliminary review.”

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Public Hearing Planned to Reestablish Cumulative Capital Development Fund

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

A public hearing is set to gather input on the reestablishment of the Cumulative Capital Development Fund in Marshall County.

County Attorney Jim Clevenger explained that a procedural issue halted the process a year ago, but this movement is needed to awaken the issue. The public hearing will allow taxpayers to weigh their opinion on a tax increase not to exceed $.0333 per $100 of assessed valuation of property. An approximate amount of $400,000 is anticipated that can be used on capital investments in the county. The highway department was used as an example as they are in need of new equipment where funding is lacking.

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