Bridges and rezonings took up most of today’s Kosciusko County Commissioners meeting. One of the biggest bridge projects is in Warsaw, located on CR 300 North over the Tippecanoe River.

It was discussed that an environmental impact study must be conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Division because of mussels in the river. The city of Warsaw is helping with the cost of the study and engineering fees, however, the study is increasing the cost of the project and delaying it. The project, in which box beams need to be replaced, is tentatively expected to begin next summer. A supplemental agreement for the study was approved at today’s meeting.

The sole bid for a bridge project in Syracuse was opened at the meeting. The bid, from LaPorte Construction Co. Inc. for $586,304, is well over the engineer’s estimate. Since there was only one bid, and it was high, it will be re-bid. On July 29, a new bid date will be announced. The bridge is located on Front Street, north of Medusa Street. The project is tentatively expected to begin after Labor Day.

An engineering agreement for a bridge project on Country Club Road, south of Warsaw, was approved, as was a bridge rehabilitation project on Packerton Road, south of Pierceton Road. Both will start next year.

“We have to keep up on our bridges,” said Kosciusko County Highway Superintendent Scott Tilden. Bridges over 20 feet must be inspected every two years. The four-year contract is with USI Consultants.

Three rezoning requests were heard at the meeting and all were approved. Nifong Farms Holdings’ petition is to have an 8.9 acre tract of ground rezoned from an agricultural district to Agricultural II district. The property is located on CR 875 West in Etna Township and was once part of a much larger tract known as the Klinger farm. Agricultural II allows for housing subdivisions.

Steve Nifong, co-owner of the property, wants to sell the tract. If rezoned, it will become a one-lot subdivision. Nifong wants to combine three tracts of ground into one.

S & L Builders’ rezoning request from agriculture to residential district was also approved. The property is .802 acres and is located on CR 1150 North, east of Old SR 15 near Waubee Lake in Milford in Van Buren Township.

Michael and Pamela Hamman’s petition for a rezoning from agriculture to Industrial II district was approved. The one-acre property is located on the north side of CR 200 North, 280 feet west of Cessna Road in Plain Township.

In other highway news, a speed limit ordinance in South Shore Green Subdivision, off SR 13 in Syracuse, was approved. The new speed limit is 25 mph. Commissioners also gave permission to sell highway equipment in an auction next month. The surplus is nonusable equipment.

In other news, the board:

• Approved a four-year contract with the state attorney general’s office for space in the Justice Building.
• Approved the upgrade of computers for all county departments except the highway department, whose upgrade was already conducted

The next commissioners meeting is at 9 a.m. Tuesday, July 29. Commissioners are president Brad Jackson, Ron Truex and Bob Conley.