The Marshall County Council is moving ahead with funding arrangements for improvements to some county buildings. On Monday, council members approved some additional appropriations requested by the County Commissioners. Continue reading
Marshall County to Consider Ordinance Regulating Address Information on Website
The Marshall County Commissioners will be considering updates to a few plans when they meet this morning.
Commissioners Consider Voting Equipment Upgrades
The Marshall County Commissioners will consider a request to update some of the county’s voting equipment prior to November’s General Election.
Marshall Commissioners Consider Capital Improvement Request
The Marshall County Commissioners will consider a capital projects request from the Sheriff’s Department when they meet this morning.
Mobile Home Park Owner Disputes Marshall County Permitting Requirements
The owner of a couple of mobile home parks appeared before the Marshall County Commissioners Monday, saying he should be exempt from the county’s permitting requirements. Ralph Costello, who owns the Gatewood Estates and Creek Side mobile home parks, says he should not have to get a permit every time his parks decide to move or demolish a mobile home, since the parks predate the county’s zoning laws. Continue reading
Marshall County Prepares for Buggy Ordinance Adoption
The Marshall County Commissioners will further consider its own version of the “buggy ordinance” during their meeting this morning. Continue reading
More Marshall County Records to be Digitized
Efforts to digitize documents going back to 1836 are continuing in Marshall County. Recorder Marlene Mahler asked the County Commissioners Monday to approve a contract with Fidlar Technologies to scan the deed books dating back as far as the county’s founding in 1836 up through 1960, as well as the deed index books through 1957. Continue reading
Marshall County Commissioners Move Ahead with Buggy Tax
Marshall County is moving ahead with plans to tax horse-drawn vehicles. Continue reading
County Officials Honor Retiring Merit Board Members
Two retiring merit board officers were honored this week for their dedicated years of service to Marshall County.
Marshall County Sheriff’s Captain Dan Butts presented plaques to Dr. Jim Bottorff and Orion “Bud” Treat who served on the Marshall County Merit Board for 44 years apiece. The recognition ceremony was held during the Marshall County Commissioners meeting on Monday.
Marshall County Assessment Software Upgrade Approved
The Marshall County Assessor’s office will be spending $173,000 to change assessment software.
Pam Davis from the Assessor’s office explained that the staff has been operating on outdated software. Customer support is also lacking which delays operations in the office.
The new state-certified program, XSoft, is designed for Indiana assessment procedures. It is also compatible with the auditor’s software.
Davis said the county would save approximately $8,200 in maintenance fees every year. It was noted that the staff immediately wanted the program after a short amount of time spent in a demonstration.
Commissioners Approve Letter of Intent for Planning Grant
Tippecanoe Township officials in Marshall County will move forward with a planning grant to make improvements to the structure that houses the fire department and upgrade equipment.
The Marshall County Commissioners Monday morning approved a letter of intent as part of the process in obtaining a $40,000 planning grant through the Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA). A planning grant would help the officials work with a planner and architect to put together a comprehensive study.
Property Rezoning Allows Church to Expand
A Marshall County church can now expand thanks to the approval of a rezoning ordinance request.
Marshall County Plan Director Ralph Booker presented the information to the county commissioners this week on behalf of Grace Outreach Fellowship Church. The church congregation has outgrown the current facility and officials there are interested in the rezoning of purchased property to accommodate the change. Church officials are seeking the rezoning of 2900 Center Street in Tippecanoe to better serve their patrons. The two parcels on the affected property are zoned heavy industrial. The property needs to be rezoned to town residential for the church to occupy the building.
Marshall County Council on Aging to Complete Transportation Funding Paperwork
Marshall County will act as a funding pass-through point to deliver transportation funding from the Indiana Department of Transportation to the Marshall County Council on Aging.
Executive Director Jackie Wright explained to the Marshall County Commissioners Monday morning that she is submitting grant paperwork to INDOT for the annual request for transportation funding. She requested that the County be the pass-through point for the funds. She anticipates the reception of $277,000 this year.
The county approved a resolution to sign the contracts as presented for the necessary action. All signed paperwork needs to be submitted to INDOT by June 1.
Marshall County Commissioners to Discuss Several Items in Today’s Meeting
The Marshall County Commissioners will consider a change order request from USI Consultants’ Bart Trester when they meet today. Trester oversees the 7th Road project and the roundabout project on North Michigan Road in Plymouth. Trester indicated earlier this month that crews are waiting for word from the state to move ahead, barring any more issues with the HMX mix design. The mix of aggregate and asphalt binder is causing buckling pavement in other locations across the state. Crews are awaiting final approval of the combination to install the mix.
Plymouth Councilman Predicts Return of Highway Tax Talks
At least one elected official in Marshall County believes the controversial topic of vehicle excise and wheel taxes to pay for road repairs will return. Plymouth Common Councilman Mike Delp says taxpayers need to keep the proposed user fees in perspective. He told his fellow council members last night people are concerned about paying $25 per vehicle but are willing to pay an average of $71 per month for cell phone service or $86 per month for cable TV and Internet service. Continue reading
Marshall County Commissioners Review Roundabout Agreement
Marshall County Attorney James Clevenger has drafted an agreement between the County and the City of Plymouth concerning the maintenance of the roundabout. Further discussion by the Commissioners has prompted its return to a meeting for approval.
The agreement calls for all expenses and improvement of the roundabout be the sole obligation of the City of Plymouth. The city has plans for signs as well as landscaping. Whatever improvements are planned would be approved by the Commissioners before any action is taken. Any planned landscaping would also need to comply with the proper navigation of vehicles around the roundabout. The city must also comply with all federal, state and local regulations.
Sheriff’s Department to Find New Fund for Proposed Training Facility
The funding for the construction of a proposed firearms training facility in Marshall County may have hit a snag.
Marshall County Sheriff’s Deputy Ryan Hollopeter along with fellow deputy and president of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge #130 Travis O’Neal presented plans to the commissioners in April for a firing range and classroom facility on the FOP’s property on Hawthorne Road and State Road 10. The plan was to pay for the facility out of the firearms training line item in the sheriff’s department budget. However, Marshall County Commissioner Kevin Overmyer said during a meeting this week that the funding may need to come from another line item. Overmyer mentioned that Auditor Julie Fox contacted the State Board of Accounts. It was determined that the firearms training fund is limited to training and firearms training or training for other law enforcement duties. She found that the particular fund was not appropriate for this construction project. Fox told MAX 98.3 FM News yesterday that this issue has not been resolved. Phone calls to Sheriff Tom Chamberlin were not returned.
Marshall County Commissioners Consider Contract Addendum for Alcohol Monitoring
A contract addendum to help streamline costs for alcohol monitoring through Marshall County Community Corrections was reviewed by the commissioners this week.
Director of Court Services Ward Byers approached the governing body on Monday with an agreement from 3M Electronic Monitoring to include alcohol monitoring for those on home detention.
Construction on 7th Road Project Continues
The 7th Road project in Plymouth should be complete by the end of June.
Project Supervisor Bart Trester from USI Consultants told the Marshall County Commissioners on Monday that the center of the roundabout is open to traffic in order for construction to occur on the east and west third of the circular intersection. Crews will return the traffic pattern to travel around the roundabout when that phase is complete. The project is anticipated to be done by the end of June.
Marshall County Commissioners Approve LOHUT Recommendation
In order to generate funding for county and local roads, the Marshall County Commissioners approved a recommendation to the county council to enact a Local Option Highway User Tax (LOHUT). A LOHUT contains a vehicle excise tax and wheel tax.
Supervisor of County Highways Jason Peters said the county now operates with $850,000 for road projects. With the addition of relinquishment funds of $350,000, the county will have $1.2 million to chip and seal 13.5 miles of road and to pave five miles of road this year. The $1.2 million figure also includes dust control and the acquisition of materials.
