Marshall County 4-H Fair Association to Apply for OCRA Grant

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The Marshall County Fair Board will be applying for an Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) grant worth $500,000 for a multi-purpose building in the Town of Argos.

An application request was approved by the Marshall County Council members on Monday morning. Marshall County Fair Board Secretary Angel Balsley explained that the project did not receive grant funding in the previous round of OCRA grants but will apply for the additional grant round in February. The date to announce an intention to apply for the grant is Friday, Dec 1. The fee is $150 which will be paid for by the fair board. Continue reading →

Big Idea Company Gets to Work on Marshall County Promotional Effort

Posted on Author Michael Gallenberger

Marshall County officials are coming up with ways to promote the county to potential residents and those interested in relocating businesses. The county government and the Marshall County Economic Development Corporation have hired the Mishawaka-based Big Idea Company to lead a branding effort as successful as https://fullypromotedfranchise.com/products-services/custom-t-shirts/ ,according to Bremen Director of Operations Trend Weldy.

Continue reading →

Marshall County Council Approves Pay Waiver

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

Marshall County Highway Administrator Laurie Baker requested the county council to waive the 10 percent pay reduction for a new employee.

New employees usually experience the reduction in pay during the 90-day probationary period, but Baker said the new employee is slipping into a similar position at the department with all of the skills necessary to do the work. The employee is coming to Marshall County from Starke County and Baker said he even took a pay cut to work in Marshall County. Continue reading →

Marshall County Council Approves Highway, Sheriff Appropriation Requests

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The Marshall County Council fielded several requests for additional appropriations during their regular meeting on Monday.

The highway department submitted a request for $300,000 for bituminous for the continuation of paving operations through the rest of the year. The highway department also asked for $112,000 for vehicle maintenance. That money is to re-appropriate the fuel charges from departments and outside entities coming back into the county.

Continue reading →

Marshall County Council Approves Ordinances on 2018 Budgets

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

Marshall County Council members took action Monday morning to move the budget to the state for approval.

Before the council approved the 2018 budget, Councilwoman Penny Lukenbill brought the Superior Court II budget into discussion. The council had reduced Judge Dean Colvin’s initial request for full-time law clerks in the amount of $75,000 to just a part-time law clerk line item at $45,000.

Continue reading →

Marshall County Council Approves Additional Appropriation for Fire System

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The Marshall County Council members approved a request for an additional appropriation for a fire suppression system at the Marshall County Museum.

Commissioner Kurt Garner explained that the commissioners approved a quote in September from the NoBi Corporation out of Elkhart in the amount of $5,935. Since the commissioners felt it was an immediate need, they agreed to allow the expenditure to be taken out of the building and grounds maintenance fund. Garner and Museum Archive Manager Karin Rettinger were before the council to ask for an additional appropriation to reimburse the county and for a building project.

Continue reading →

Marshall County Council to Meet Today

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The Marshall County Council will meet this morning where they will approve readings on ordinances that pertain to the 2018 budgets for Marshall County, the Argos Community School Corporation, and the Marshall County Solid Waste District. The Marshall County 2018 salary ordinance and the Marshall County Community Corrections 2018 salary ordinance are also on the agenda for readings.

Continue reading →

Consultant on Job Descriptions, Wages Discusses Information with Council

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The Marshall County Council received information from a consultant on job descriptions and wages.

Kent Irwin explained how he and his colleagues at Waggoner, Irwin and Scheele prepare the job descriptions and determine wages for recommendations for the county. He is looking to assist the county in updating all of the job descriptions for all positions in the county as a major overhaul has not been done since 1989. Several positions have a different set of duties and those descriptions need to be current.

Continue reading →

EMA Director Requests Additional Appropriation

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

Marshall County EMA Director Clyde Avery asked the county council for an additional appropriation to pay for the contractor who helped with updating the Hazard Mitigation Plan.

Avery explained that the contract is for $16,656.06. The invoice will be paid and Avery said he will submit the necessary paperwork to the Department of Homeland Security for reimbursement. The plan is renewable every five years. Continue reading →

Marshall County Council Cuts Budget

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The Marshall County Council members worked to cut $444,420 from the budget when they met Monday morning.

The total budget to be advertised is just over $25 million for all funds. The General Fund totals $12,798,016. The assessor’s office will have a $12,000 reduction as the members thought the pay increase budgeted was over the three percent recommendation, and a full-time position in the prosecutor’s office was omitted as the request was not before the council. That money was transferred to a part-time line item.

Continue reading →

Marshall County Council to Meet Today

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The Marshall County Council will meet this morning with a full agenda. The council members will discuss all of the line items in the 2018 budget in a hearing after their regular business meeting.

James Bend and James Pheibush will have a funding request for care of inmate patients while Sheriff Matt Hassel and Annette Osborn from WIC will request a waiver for a 90-day probationary pay. EMA Director Clyde Avery will present an additional request for a mitigation plan update with the EMA Performance Grant and the personnel committee members will discuss updates to several positions. Continue reading →

Marshall Co. Commissioners Support Highway Dept. Request for Funds

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The Marshall County Highway Department will be asking the county council for some additional funds and money transfers in order to pave more county roads this season.

Highway Supervisor Jason Peters told the county commissioners that he’ll be requesting $550,000 to $600,000 in an additional appropriation before the county council on Monday, Sept. 11. Continue reading →