At its Feb. 10 meeting, the Kosciusko County Commissioners approved an ordinance that instates a registration fee for violent offenders and sex offenders.

The ordinance was requested by Kosciusko County Sheriff Aaron Rovenstine at the commissioner’s Jan. 13 meeting. With the acceptance of the ordinance, sex offenders and violent offenders will have to pay a registration fee $50 each year when they register with the sheriff’s department. The ordinance also instates a $5 change of address fee.

Rovenstine stated that similar policies are already in place with other agencies across the state. The money brought in by the new ordinance will help offset the cost of managing the sex offender and violent offender registry.

Also at the meeting, the commissioners approved supplemental contract for the Kosciusko County Highway Department’s bridge inspection project.

Scott Tilden, highway department superintendent, said that phase one of the project was completed last year with the inspection of 110 county bridges. Phase two of the project should be completed next year.

The supplemental agreement pays for the inspection of four additional bridges in between the two phases. Tilden stated that INDOT had approved the contract, which would add a little more than $15,000 to the cost of the project. The commissioners followed suit and approved the agreement.

The next commissioners meeting is set for 9 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24.

Related Article: Commissioners Honor Burkhart As Veteran Of The Month