Neighbors Want Pierceton Woods Closed
A Pierceton man came before Kosciusko County Commissioners this morning telling the board about problems at Pierceton Woods Academy.
Rick Wagner lives near the facility, which houses juvenile offenders. He said he objected to the facility from the beginning and even went before Pierceton Town Council objecting when it was first opened in 2008. “We were told no violent juveniles would be here, but there is,” he said. “We want it closed or properly licensed to operate.”
After reading off a slew of serious offenses of some of the juveniles, he said the academy is a social service agency not a law enforcement agency. “There is inappropriate use at the facility,” he said, adding, “We want to feel safe in our homes.”
Wagner’s, wife, Debby, also spoke out against the facility. She said some of the juveniles have walked off or escaped, and she doesn’t feel safe in her home. The most recent event happened Dec. 9 when a 17-year-old escaped the facility, hid in a car at nearby Paragon Medical and shot the owner of the car in a foiled carjacking attempt. (See related story)
“We feel our lives are being compromised,” she said. “We don’t feel safe.”
Commissioner Bob Conley assured the couple that he has been trying to get a solution to the issues. “We are doing what we can,” he said. Commissioner Ron Truex agreed, stating that State Representatives Dave Wolkins and Rebecca Kubacki are also aware of the problems at the facility and are looking into the situation.
In other news, appointments for 2013 for several county departments were approved. The appointments are:
- Gordon Vanator, Alcohol Beverage Commission
- Dan Richard, Area Plan Commission director
- Bob Conley, Area Plan Commission Board
- Dr. William Remington, Board of Health medical director
- Karen Scripture and Karen Boling, Board of Health
- Lee Harman, Charlie Haffner and Walt Church, Board of Zoning Appeals
- Ron Robinson, county administrator
- Mike Miner, county attorney
- Scott Tilden, county highway superintendent
- Wes Stouder and John Hall, CVB Commission
- Ron Truex and Steve Metzger, County Drainage Board
- Bill Holder, GIS office
- Ed Rock, Homeland Security/LEP
- Ron Truex, KedCo
- Brad Jackson, OrthoWorx
- Phil Beer, Gerald “Jake” Bitner and Gary Salyer, PTABOA
- John Hall, Alan Alderfer and Steve Harris, Public Defenders Board
- Max Courtney, Bruce Woodward and Henry DeJulia, County Redevelopment Commission
- John Roberts, St. Joe River Basin
- Bob Momeyer, systems administrator
- Rich Maron, veterans service officer
- Brad Jackson, wage committee
- Larry Marner, weights and measures
- Bob Conley, WCDC.
Conley said he has had positive comments about the new roundabout at Old U.S. 30 and Zimmer Road in Warsaw. Few changes were needed after a meeting with INDOT last week and the project cost less than anticipated.
In other county matters, the board:
- Approved Kosciusko County Convention and Recreation Visitors Commission’s 2013 inter-local agreement for the county auditor to be its controller.
- Approved the 2013 county attorney’s contract at a 2 percent increase.
- Approved bids for an 18,500-pound compact excavator and a compact track ladder for the highway department.
Bids will be opened at 9:15 a.m. at the Feb. 12, 2013, commissioners meeting.