County Discusses Budgets, Conexus
Budgets were the primary issues discussed at the Kosciusko County Council met at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 10 at the Kosciusko County Courthouse. Several budgets were the primary issues addressed.
First, County Highway Department Superintendent Scott Tilden requested a transfer of $78,555 from miscellaneous to other equipment. The transfer is due to issues with the Cummulative Bridge projects. The motion was approved.
Kosciusko County Sheriff Rocky Goshert requested $50,000 for inmate medical expenses. Goshert explained that the state has moved Class E felons, primarily drug offenders, from state-level to county-level handling. That means there are more drug addicts in the Kosciusko County Jail.
“We need to get this cost off the state and down to the counties,” said Goshert. “We’re looking for ways to get the cost under control, but for right now, it is what it is.” Goshert also mentioned that the sheriff’s department has stayed “pretty well with its budget for the last seven years.”
The motion was approved, but not before councilman Larry Teghtmeyer asked, “What can we do to help?” No solid conclusions were drawn, but councilman Jon Fussle noted, “We, as a council, need to do a better job of bringing this to our state representatives.”
Bob Weaver, administrator of the health clinic, requested $4,179.99 to cover rent for the next quarter. The motion was approved. Weaver stated that three of the four quarters were covered with medicaid funding. “We hope that in 2014 we can cover the whole year with medicaid,” he said.
Kosciusko County Convention, Recreation and Visitors Commission President Dave Taylor presented the KCCRVC 2014 budget. He cited several of the organizations recent success, such as the new Viking Trail. The budget of $481,000 was approved.
County administrator Ron Robinson, requested $500,000 for the 100 East project in Milford. He stated the projected shouldn’t cost that much money, but, “we wanted to make sure we had enough appropriated until the bonds come in.”
The final order of business for the meeting was brought up by Teghtmeyer. He wanted to make everyone aware of the Conexus Indiana project. The statewide initiative includes several roadway projects, which includes a limited access highway along U.S. 30 between Valparaiso and Fort Wayne and an southern extension of CR 17 to U.S. 30. Teghtmeyer distributed maps outlining the plans.