The Marshall County Council rejected the adoption of a couple of new fees during its meeting Monday. Continue reading
Marshall County Council Rejects Fee Proposals
Marshall County Council Updates Positions, Considers Full-Time Law Clerk
Marshall County is considering hiring a full-time law clerk. Continue reading
Marshall County Council Delays Reorganization
Former Marshall County Council President Matt Hassel formally handed over his gavel during the council’s meeting Monday. Continue reading
Caucus Set for Marshall County Council Seat
A caucus will be held in a couple weeks to find a replacement for Matt Hassel as the Marshall County Council member for District 1. Hassel stepped down last week in order to become the new Marshall County Sheriff. Continue reading
Caucus To Take Place for Marshall County Council Seat
Plans are now being laid for a new caucus in Marshall County following the resignation of Council President Matt Hassel.
The resignation follows Hassel’s election as Marshall County Sheriff on Tuesday night. His swearing-in took place on Wednesday. Prior to being able to officially serve as Sheriff, Hassel was required under state statute to first leave his post on the Council.
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Marshall County Health Department to Implement Breastfeeding Education Programs
The Marshall County Health Department will be doing more to promote breastfeeding programs and support in the community due to a state mandate.
Annette Osborn from the health department explained to the Marshall County Council this week that a part-time WIC employee will need to increase work hours by four hours per week due to the new mandate for breastfeeding education.
E-Poll Books to be Used in November Election
E-poll books will be used in this November’s Municipal General Election in Marshall County.
The county council Monday morning approved an additional appropriation for the purchase of 15 iPads at a cost of $35,010. The appropriation was advertised prior to the council’s unanimous approval. The iPads will be outfitted with the necessary software to be used for voters to sign in at the polls.
Marshall County Council Does Not Act on LOHUT Recommendation
The Marshall County Council has decided to step back and gather more information before moving forward with a Local Option Highway User Tax (LOHUT).
The LOHUT contains a surtax of the vehicle excise tax as well as a wheel tax. That money can be used to reconstruct, construct, repair or maintain streets under county, city or town jurisdiction.
Highway Administrator Laurie Baker and Supervisor of County Highways Jason Peters Monday morning spoke to the council about the funding they currently have for road projects this year. Of the $1.2 million available, the county plans to pug 13.5 miles of road and pave at least five miles of road that totals just over $500,000. The rest of the funds will be used for materials, dust control, and other actions conducted by the highway department.
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 Council to Consider LOHUT Recommendations
The Marshall County Council members will review a recommendation by the commissioners to implement a Local Option Highway User Tax (LOHUT) to gather revenue for the county for local roads.
State revenue for motor vehicle highway budgets has flatlined. Expenses continue to rise which has left Marshall County with an option to implement a LOHUT. A LOHUT contains a vehicle excise tax and a wheel tax that is payable at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles when registrations are due. The revenue generated, which will double what the county highway department currently has available, can be used to construct, reconstruct, repair or maintain streets under county, city or town jurisdiction.
Marshall County Commissioners to Discuss LOHUT in Today’s Meeting
A local resident will be giving her opinion about a wheel tax to the Marshall County Commissioners when they meet this morning.
The Culver Town Council and the Plymouth Common Council have approved letters of support to the Marshall County Commissioners and the council for a proposed Local Option Highway User Tax (LOHUT). A LOHUT includes a vehicle excise tax and wheel tax that is payable at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles when vehicle registration is due. Those fees will be distributed to the county for use to construct, reconstruct, repair or maintain streets under county, city or town jurisdiction.
Marshall County Government Leaders Discuss Road Funding with Possible Tax
Government leaders from Marshall County and Pulaski County, along with the City of Plymouth and town council representatives attended a joint meeting of the Marshall County Commissioners and Marshall County Council Wednesday night to learn how to generate funding for local roads and streets.
Pat Conner, Research Manager at the Indiana Local Technical Assistance Program through Purdue University, explained how counties can use the Local Option Highway User Tax (LOHUT) to generate funds for road projects. The combined bodies of government are concerned that the state will not be giving counties any more funding for roads in the proposed biennial state budget.
Meeting Scheduled in Marshall County to Discuss Road Funding
A representative from the Indiana Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) will be meeting with the Marshall County Council and the Marshall County Commissioners this week to discuss funding options for the highway department.
Commission President Kevin Overmyer said in a previous meeting that the state will soon cut funding for local roads and highways, and it will be left to local governments to provide funding for projects.
Video Conferencing Approved for Courts, Jail
The video conferencing equipment in the Marshall County Superior Court 1 and Superior Court 2 courtrooms and the Marshall County Jail will soon be upgraded to include high definition quality.
Judge Dean Colvin told the county council members this week that the county can conduct court hearings via video conferencing to reduce the cost of transporting inmates from the jail to the courthouse for hearings.
The video conference systems are currently inoperable at this time, so the staff is looking to replace the equipment.
Additional Appropriation for E-Poll Books to be Advertised
E-poll books are being considered for Marshall County.
Steve Shamo from KnowInk demonstrated how the digital process would work to the Marshall County Council members Monday morning. A driver’s license or a legal state I.D. card is scanned, and the voter’s information comes up on the screen. The voter then provides a signature on the screen. Once the signatures are compared, a receipt is printed, and the voter takes that receipt to a poll worker who then sets up a ballot for voting purposes.
The council members asked questions about connectivity issues. Shamo explained that WiFi or an internet hot spot would need to be on site in order for the software to function. Clerk Deb Vandemark said seven of the 14 precinct voting locations do offer WiFi service. A password would need to be obtained for the poll workers to use the service. A plan would need to be formulated to find internet connectivity for the other locations.
Marshall County Council and Commissioners to Evaluate Options for Road Funding
It is the hope of the Marshall County Council and the Marshall County Commissioners to come together soon to address funding for county roads.
Commission President Kevin Overmyer told the county council Monday morning that the state appropriated money for INDOT but nothing for local roads for the next two years. He said representatives from the Build Indiana Council, Association of County Commissioners, and Indiana Association of Cities asked for those funds, but the request was not approved.
Overmyer said he’s been in contact with an Indiana Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) representative who has gathered numbers for a Local Option Highway User Income Tax.
“The fee is set by state statute of $25 for cars and vehicles and then on top of that there’s a wheel tax that is for trailers, semis, and other vehicles,” said Overmyer. “Pat Conner from LTAP has some information. They use information from the BMV to calculate what the revenue would entail. Hopefully, I will know soon when he can come up and make a joint presentation between the council and the commissioners.”
Overmyer believes that additional funding for local roads and streets will not come from the state government. He believes that counties will need to raise the funds themselves.
“I think we’re going to have to address it here locally whether we like it or not. We have about $800,000 to spend on roads this year, and we all know the condition of the roads. It’s just been two bad winters.”
The county highway department has a plan to repair what they can with the resources they have.
“We are out grinding roads right now. We’re going to start berming these roads to get the water off the roads. We’re starting to put a plan together. Some of these roads may not be going back to chip and seal for a year. Some of the roads that go out to the new U.S. 31 or cul de sac will get ground up, and we’ll maintain the gravel roads there. We’re going to have to do something.”
A few of the council members have ridden the county roads with the crews and know of the damage to the roads.
Commissioner Deb Griewank says the county remains under an Advisory Level travel advisory due to the condition of some of the roads.
“We had lowered it, but with this coming on we decided to move it back up to the advisory level just for the safety factor. Our roads are bad,” commented Griewank.
The crews will be working on the newly purchased pug mill this summer and the crews will do what they can to repair what they can.
Marshall County Council to Continue E-Poll Book Discussion
The Marshall County Council members will continue a discussion into the purchase of e-poll books when they meet this morning.
During the council’s last meeting in March, Clerk Deb Vandemark explained that 15 iPads would be purchased for placement at all of the voting sites for the purpose of signing in voters at the polls. There are 14 poll sites for the county’s 29 precincts. One extra iPad would be on hand as a backup. The purchase price is $32,225 which is not included in the clerk’s budget for this year.
Highway Department to Get New Pug Mill
The Marshall County Council discussed several additional appropriation requests at their meeting Monday morning.
The highway department had a request for a $310,000 additional appropriation for a new pug mill. Highway Superintendent Jason Peters discussed looking into a used pug mill in Missouri but decided against the purchase. Peters previously said the pug mill had been used for a different need. It was decided to go with a new pug mill for the requested amount that the council approved.
Marshall County Clerk Requests Money for E-Poll Books
The Marshall County Council members held a lengthy discussion about the purchase of e-poll books for the November election.
Clerk Deb Vandemark explained that 15 iPads would be purchased to be placed at all of the voting sites for the purpose of signing in voters at the polls. There are 14 poll sites for the county’s 29 precincts. One extra iPad would be on hand as a backup.
Marshall County Council to Meet Today
The Marshall County Council members will be discussing an additional appropriation for the highway department for equipment.
Jerry Ambrose and Highway Superintendent Jason Peters explained to the Marshall County Commissioners last week that they would like to purchase a more expensive loader that will guarantee better service and reliability. The loader is a Caterpillar brand and is higher than two other bids sent in for consideration.
