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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Marshall County Commissioners to Discuss Changes in Juvenile Detention Contract

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

The Marshall County Commissioners will be taking a closer look at a contract for housing juvenile delinquents.

The county had a prior contract with the juvenile detention center in Muncie which moved operations to Evart, Indiana in the name of Muskegon River Youth Home Inc. The new contract for 2015 does not include transportation in the expense to the county which is $41,650 up front for 350 bed days. The prior contract also included sexual abuse evaluation and substance abuse evaluation where they are included as additional services in the 2015 contract. Personal property damage would also be the county’s responsibility.

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Marshall County Auditor Recognized for Years of Service

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

Marshall County Auditor Penny Lukenbill was recognized for her efforts as a county auditor and as a county employee during the Marshall County Commissioners meeting Monday morning.

David Bottorff, the executive director of the Association of Indiana Counties, said Lukenbill served as president of the association and talked to legislators about county issues. To recognize her efforts, Congresswoman Jackie Walorski mentioned Lukenbill’s accomplishments into the congressional record. Ben Falkowski presented Lukenbill with a plaque.

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Marshall County Commissioners Approve Resolution for Tax Certificate Sale

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

The Marshall County Commissioners will be moving forward with a tax certificate sale.

Joe Edwards from SRI, Inc. said there were about 30 properties that were not sold in the property tax sale. Those particular properties have not been sold in several years. The redemption period is a little quicker so the properties can be included in the tax rolls in 120 days.

The certificate sale would be held in March in the commissioners meeting room in the Marshall County Building. Proper advertising will be done prior to the sale.

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Marshall County to Join Lawsuit over Theft of Documents

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

Marshall County Attorney Jim Clevenger and Marshall County Recorder Marlene Mahler discussed with the commissioners this week the theft of 2,700 documents totaling 39,000 pages out of the county’s computer system.

Clevenger noted that several other counties are facing the same issue with the same company and have been asked to join a multi-county action against the company. Representatives of LPS Real Estate Data Solutions reportedly went in and took data out of the recorder’s office without going through the proper channels to pay for the data wanted. A civil action will be filed against LPS to recover damages for the stolen data and punitive damages.

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LEPC Presents Emergency Plan to Marshall County Commissioners

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

The emergency plan formatted by the Local Emergency Planning Committee, or LEPC, was presented to the Marshall County Commissioners for approval Monday morning.

LEPC President Gene Gray told the commissioners that the plan is in line with the county emergency plan so it will not confuse emergency responders. There are maps and site plans within the emergency plan for 85 county facilities.

Gray posed the question as to how the county will enforce this plan.

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Marshall County Commissioners to Meet Today

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

The Marshall County Commissioners will meet this morning with several business items up for discussion.

Joe Edwards with SRI, Inc. will appear to explain the process of a certificate sale. Treasurer Deb Vandemark told the commissioners previously that several properties have not sold in the county’s tax sale that have been up for sale for many years. The certificate sale would be a way to get the properties back on the tax rolls.

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Marshall County Commissioners Discuss Pretty Lake Setback Ordinance

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

The Marshall County Commissioners approved the second reading of an ordinance regulating setbacks at Pretty Lake.

A public hearing on the ordinance was held on Monday, Nov. 17 where Plan Director Ralph Booker explained to the commissioners that the Pretty Lake Homeowners Association approved a change where new construction would need to be a 45-foot setback from an 789.0 elevation line. The setback shall be determined by a line drawn between the furthest extension of adjacent structures including any decks, balconies or raised patios.

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Highway Supervisor Gives Road Plow Priority List to Commissioners

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

Marshall County Supervisor of County Highways Jason Peters gave the commissioners a map and a list of which roads are to be opened first in the event of snow.

The commissioners had asked for a list so they know which areas would receive attention first. They also asked Peters to forward the information to the sheriff’s department, EMS, fire department, and EMA Director for emergency planning.

Peters said that the main roads, Quince Road, 4B, Queen, Oak, North Michigan, King, Plymouth-Goshen, Iris, Fir, 9th, Overmyer, Olive, Thorn, Muckshaw, South Michigan, Lincolnway and others, would be open to traffic within two hours first thing in the morning.

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Marshall County EMA Director Receives Grant Funding

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

Marshall County EMA Director Clyde Avery presented the commissioners with a grant sub agreement for their signatures for a competitive EMPG grant that the county received in the amount of $8,485.29.

Avery explained that the grant is a reimbursable grant that will be used for a training exercise and educational material for the public. When he originally requested to apply for the grant, he wanted to purchase recording equipment for the Emergency Operations Center but he found out that could not be approved with the grant funds.

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Marshall County Commissioners to Meet Today

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

The Marshall County Commissioners will meet today where Bart Trester from USI will give an update on the 7th Road construction project, the Metronet project and work on the Jefferson Street bridge.

The commissioners will also have the second reading of an ordinance regulating construction setbacks at Pretty Lake. Plan Director Ralph Booker explained in a public hearing that the Pretty Lake Homeowners Association approved a change where new construction at the lake would need to be a 45 foot setback from an 789.0 elevation line.

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Marshall County Commissioners Split Cost of Conduit with Plymouth

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

The Marshall County Metronet project is drawing to a close.

The commissioners last week approved a payment agreement between the county and the City of Plymouth for shared conduit installation. The county is to pay half of the cost of the installation and handholds on Lincolnway to State Road 17 on Pioneer Drive, Pioneer Drive to Overmyer Drive and three lateral connections to the three county buildings for a total cost of $37,513.76. The city will pay the same cost for those installation costs.

The commissioners unanimously approved the agreement and now it will go to the Plymouth Redevelopment Commission for their review.