Marshall County Highway Department Commended for Efforts

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

The Marshall County Commissioners commended the highway department on their efforts during the weekend to keep roads clear for travelers.

Supervisor of County Highways Jason Peters said the crews went out Sunday morning as opposed to Saturday night as visibility was low and cars were stranded in the roadways.

“At nighttime it’s hard to see especially with snow-covered cars sitting in the middle of the roads,” commented Peters. “Why jeopardize taking a chance of hitting a car sitting in the middle of the road?”

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Marshall County Commissioners to Meet Today

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

The Marshall County Commissioners will meet today with a full agenda.

Plymouth Airport Director Dave Lattimer will present the airport board’s capital improvement plan while Superior Court II Judge Dean Colvin will appear with a video arraignment discussion. Clerk Deb Vandemark will discuss the KnoxInk E-pollbook with the commissioners.

County Attorney Jim Clevenger will present an ordinance and a resolution for approval. The final reading of the pre-pay ordinance will be considered. A tax certificate sale is expected to be signed. The tax certificate sale is scheduled for this spring.

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Travel Advisory Initiated in Marshall County

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

The Marshall County Commissioners have initiated a warning level travel advisory, which is the highest level of local travel advisory. During a warning level travel advisory, travel is restricted to emergency personnel only.

Individuals are directed to refrain from all travel, comply with necessary emergency measures, cooperate with public officials and disaster services force in executing emergency operations plans, and obey and comply with the lawful directions of properly identified officers.

Marshall County Council Discusses Commissioner Appropriation Request

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

The Marshall County Council discussed an additional appropriation request by the county commissioners for the Metronet project in the amount of $119,750.19.

Commission President Kevin Overmyer explained that the money was leftover in their line item in 2014 and was reverted to the Rainy Day Fund. Overmyer asked that the money be appropriated to finish paying bills for the Metronet project. He said the entire amount will not be spent and whatever is left can be put back into the Rainy Day Fund.

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Marshall County Commissioners Move Forward with Tax Certificate Sale

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

The Marshall County Commissioners approved an agreement this week to hold a tax certificate sale. A resolution was also adopted in order to move the process forward.

The county will be working with Joe Edwards from SRI, Inc. Approximately properties would be included in the sale. Thirty-six properties will be featured in the sale. Some will not be included as the City of Plymouth and North Township has expressed interest in a few parcels for development.

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Marshall County Commissioners Approve Amendment to Purchasing Policy

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

The Marshall County Commissioners this week discussed a prepayment limit for department heads.

Commissioner Deb Griewank suggested the change to the purchase ordinance so department heads can make county equipment purchases with a personal credit card that does not exceed $750. She said that it was brought to her attention that sometimes different departments need to buy something online but don’t have the time to wait for commissioner approval. Buildings and maintenance directors can find items on eBay for cheaper but then they have to wait to purchase the items pending approval. Time could cost them.

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Advisory Travel Level Now in Effect in Marshall County

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

The travel advisory level in Marshall County has been lowered.

According to Marshall County EMA Director Clyde Avery, road conditions have improved so the commissioners have determined that an advisory level travel status be issued. An advisory travel level means that routine travel or activities may be restricted in areas because of a hazardous situation and drivers should use caution or avoid those areas.

Avery reminds motorists that roads remain snow-covered and slick in spots. Reduce speed and leave ample room between you an other vehicles to help prevent accidents.

Marshall County Commissioners Approve Tax Sale Paperwork

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

The Marshall County Commissioners last week approved an action to sign paperwork in order to move forward with a tax certificate sale.

In a previous meeting, Joe Edwards from SRI, Inc. told the commissioners that there were about 30 properties that were not sold in the 2014 property tax sale. These particular properties have been on the tax sale for years without interest by potential buyers.

A tax certificate sale could lower the price of the properties to heighten interest and to get the severely tax delinquent properties back on the tax rolls. The redemption period is a little quicker in a certificate sale. The average time period is 120 days.

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Marshall County Commissioners Approve Prepayment Limit

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

The Marshall County Commissioners this week discussed a prepayment limit for department heads.

Commissioner Deb Griewank suggested the change to the purchase ordinance so department heads can make county equipment purchases with a personal credit card that does not exceed $750. She said that it was brought to her attention that sometimes different departments need to purchase something online, but don’t have the time to wait for commissioner approval. Buildings and maintenance directors can find items on eBay for cheaper but then they have to wait to purchase the items pending approval. Time could cost them.

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Metronet Project Done, 7th Road Project Awaiting Completion

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

This week, the Marshall County Commissioners approved and signed paperwork to complete the acceptance of the Metronet project along Glen Overmyer Drive. The work ended on Nov. 12 with all punch list items checked off the list. The installation of conduit for the three phases of the Metronet project is now complete.

The conduit will house dark fiber capable of distributing high-speed internet to business and industry in Plymouth. The conduit was installed in the city limits and along old U.S. 31 through LaPaz, LaVille, Lakeville and into South Bend. LaVille School Corporation and Hoosier Racing Tire have already lit dark fiber to begin using the product.

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Marshall County Jail to Update Inmate Communications

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

The communication system for inmate phone calls and visitation at the Marshall County Jail will get an upgrade after the commissioners approved a contract Tuesday morning with a new vendor.

Sheriff Tom Chamberlin told the commissioners that the company, Telmate, not only offers the telephone option for inmates, but also video visitation at an off-site location. Family members can schedule a video visitation with an inmate by going through officials at Telmate. Chamberlin explained that kiosks will be placed in the cells for video visitation as well as computers. The inmates will use the notebook computers if the kiosks are being used.

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Marshall County Commissioners to Meet Tuesday

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

The Marshall County Commissioners will not meet today as the county employees will observe Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

When they meet tomorrow, the highway department heads will have updates on the wetland mitigation issue and the mill pond dam. Highway Administrator Laurie Baker and Supervisor of County Highways Jason Peters will also have pug mill estimates and bid specifications for a loader.

Bart Trester from USI Consultants will present a fiber-optic conduit certification of completion for Glen Overmyer Drive in connection with the Metronet project. Curt Fey from Legal Shield will have a presentation and the commissioners will discuss the 2015 covered bridge certification.

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Marshall County Commissioners Sign Grant, Get Update from Highway Department

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

The Marshall County Commissioners signed grant paperwork so EMA Director Clyde Avery can order equipment. The commissioners previously approved the 2014 Department of Homeland Security grant worth $20,000 to order newer 800 MHz radios to have on hand.

Highway Administrator Laurie Baker informed the commissioners that bridge inspections are ongoing. The department has gotten a bill for $78,967 for work already completed on the first phase. The inspections are about 60 percent complete. INDOT will reimburse the county for 80 percent of the cost.

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Marshall County Officials Implement Advisory Travel Level

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

winter-weatherThe Marshall County Commissioners and EMA Director Clyde Avery have implemented an advisory level travel restriction.

The advisory level is the lowest level when talking about travel restrictions. The advisory level means that routine travel or activities may be restricted in areas because of a hazardous situation and individuals should use caution or avoid those areas.

Avery explained that the primary concern that officials have are that the roads are snow covered, slick and hazardous. Visibility is reduced due to blowing snow.

Great Lakes Lab Contract Approved

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

The Marshall County Commissioners discussed a contract with the Great Lakes Lab through the prosecutor’s office.

The Great Lakes Lab provides forensic services for Marshall County. All of the law enforcement agencies in the county may send drug samples or alcohol tests for analysis with this lab company. The number of tests that have been requested through the lab by Marshall County officers has dropped since 2013. As a result, the contract price has decreased.

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GIS Data Contract Approved for Plymouth Trail Project

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

The Marshall County Commissioners have approved a measure to help the City of Plymouth move forward with the Greenway Trail.

City Attorney Sean Surrisi told the commissioners last week that the city is attempting to complete phase two of the grant-funded project. Officials with SEH Engineering need GIS data in order to continue with the design work.

“In order for them to prepare the plans, they would like to have some GIS data for that area,” explained Surrisi. “We’ve made a similar request before and we were able to put together a contract where we signed off and said we were guaranteeing that the contractors were just going to use the information for this project and not for any other commercial purposes.”

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Marshall County Commissioners Discuss Juvenile Detention Center Contract

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

The Marshall County Commissioners received clarification on a proposed contract for 2015 with the Muskegon River Youth Center in Logoda.

James Pheibush from the probation department explained that he negotiated with the detention center for point to point transport.

“For $149, they will transport a kid from point A to point B which I think is cheap,” stated Pheibush. “If they exceed eight hours in a transport, it’s $238 and I thought that was a bargain compared to having one of our road officers tied up for that many hours and other legal questions involved.”

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Marshall County Commissioners Reappoint Department Heads, Meet Today

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

The Marshall County Commissioners reappointed department heads last week.

Doug Masterton was retained as buildings and grounds maintenance supervisor, Jason Peters as supervisor of county highways, Laurie Baker as highway administrator, Chuck DeWitt as building inspector, Gary Masterson as jail maintenance supervisor, Clyde Avery as EMA director, Michael Marshall as IT director Linda Rippe as museum director, Pam Schweitzer-Betz as veteran’s service officer, and Jim Clevenger as county attorney.

The commissioners will meet this morning at 8:30 a.m. ET for their first regular meeting of the new year with Julie Fox as the newly elected auditor and Kurt West Garner who is beginning a four-year term in the commissioner in District 1 seat.

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Marshall County Commissioners to Meet Today

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

The Marshall County Commissioners will meet for the last time this year today at 8:30 a.m. ET.

The commissioners will review the county’s contract with the Muskegon River Youth Center. The probation department had a previous contract with the juvenile detention facility in Muncie but operations have moved to a new location in Evart, Indiana. The 2014 contract expires today.

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