Kosciusko County Council discussing the importance of the wheel/surtax. From left: John Fussle, councilman; Robert Sanders, president; Michelle Puckett, county auditor and Tom Anglin, councilman.

WARSAW — An update on the county’s status for the regional cities was among the topics at the the Kosciusko County Council meeting Thursday evening, March 10. Other topics included wheel and surtax status, appropriations and book scans.

John Sampson, president/chief executive officer of the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership, reported on the Northeast Indiana wheel and surtax status, the status of the county with the regional cities initiatives and the $42 million grant from the Indiana Economic Development Commission, which will fully fund two regional cities.

Sampson told the council, “The IDEC maybe got a little bit ahead of themselves, but authorized three cities.” Sampson said he found out today the third city will also be funded for the full amount of $42 million.

At the request of Ron Truex, Kosciusko County Commissioner President, and Robert Sanders, Kosciusko County Council President, Sampson discussed the wheel tax and surtax situation for the region.

Sampson said the NIRP hosts a mayor’s and commissioner’s caucus every month. They discuss common challenges that seem to be in every single community and confront some of these issues. According to Sampson the topic of wheel tax and surtax is very unpopular.

Sampson gave a handout to the council showing a listing of the 11 counties in Northeast Indiana that work together in a regional partnership. Six of the 11 counties have approved or authorized some form of wheel/surtax for their communities. Sampson said this “is one mechanism which is becoming increasingly important to a county to take advantage of for maintaining roads.”

Sampson told the council “there is just not enough support day in, day out from the state to make sure roads are maintained in a way that supports, not only the residents, but also the commerce of the community.”

In other news:

• Michelle Puckett, county auditor, requested $8,000 to have county plat books from 1962, scanned to PDF because she says some of the book’s pages are torn and the words are worn and soon would be unreadable. Puckett said it would be like losing a piece of history. The request was approved.
• Kosciusko County Convention, Recreation, and Visitors Commission President, Kristy Plickerd, presented the KCCRV budget to the council. The budget was approved.
• Jim Haney, president of Lakeland Regional Sewer District, requested reappointment to the position. It was approved. He will serve on the district for the next four years.
• Sue Ann Mitchell, Kosciusko County Treasurer, gave a report about the Kosciusko County Home and Garden Show Booth at the The Builders Association of Kosciusko Fulton Counties. Mitchell said there were over a 190 people signed up for the weather radio drawing. The radios were donated by Kosciusko County Emergency Management.