Kosciusko Commissioner President Brad Jackson.

KOSCIUSKO — At a lengthy Kosciusko County Commissioners meeting held Tuesday, Dec. 12, numerous residents showed up to express their opinions regarding the potential rezoning of a tract of ground, located on Black Point Road in Syracuse, from residential to commercial.

Although Andrew Rossell, representative of AR Engineering, Michigan, did not confirm or deny this, the understanding is that the land will be used as the location for a new Dollar General store.

The Kosciusko County Area Planning Commission recommended approval for the rezoning petition submitted by AR Engineering during its Oct. 5 meeting. The main argument in favor of the rezoning is the fact that the closest convenience store is currently 15 minutes away.

Arguments made in opposition are that the narrow and winding roads in that area make for a bad location and the concern that this would open up the area for further commercialization.

Attorney Steve Snyder spoke as a remonstrator against the petition. Snyder lives on Black Point Road and said the appropriate decision would be to leave the area residential because that is the nature of the area.

Kosciusko commissioners approved the rezoning request in a 2-1 decision.

The 2018 board appointments were approved. Kosciusko Commissioner President Brad Jackson stated there is a need for an Alcoholic Beverage Commission member.

Board appointments are as follows:

Robert Conley, Area Plan Board; Stanley Moore, Arrow Head RC & D; Charlie Haffner, Board of Zoning Appeals; Lee Harman, Board of Zoning Appeals; Walt Church, Board of Zoning Appeals; Dave Bumbaugh, Child Protection Team; Kristi Plikerd, KCCRVC; Mark Skibowski, KCCRVC; Dennis Darr, Drainage Board; Cary Groninger, Drainage Board; Cary Groninger, Emergency Mgmt. Advisory Board; Brad Jackson, KEDCo; Cary Groninger, MACOG; Brad Jackson, Ortho Worx; Susie Stookey, PTABOA; David Knisely, PTABOA; Steve Harris, Public Defenders Board; John Hall, Public Defenders Board; Alan Alderfer, Public Defenders Board; Bruce Woodward, Redevelopment Commission; David Mayer, Redevelopment Commission; Henry DeJulia, Redevelopment Commission; Jeremy Mullins, Redevelopment Commission; Brad Jackson, Wage Committee; Larry Marner, Weights & Measures; Brad Jackson, Strategic Planning; Marsha McSherry, Strategic Planning.

A motion was made to accept all department head appointments.

Department head appointments are as follows:

Dan Richard, Area Plan Director; Marsha McSherry, County Administrator; Chad Miner, County Attorney; Bill Holder, GIS; Scott Tilden, County Highway Superintendent; Ed Rock, Homeland Security/LEPC; Bob Momeyer, System Administrator; and Rich Maron, Veteran Officer.

Stu Rhodes, local government consultant, and Curt Coonrad of C.L. Coonrad & Co., Indianapolis, presented an offer to commissioners related to fiscal planning and locating available revenue.

“We think, if you would authorize us to do this, that we can identify some revenue that the county is entitled to receive and should receive, with relatively minimal amount of effort to pursue it,” Coonrad stated.

After some discussion, commissioners voted to table the matter for the time being in order to look into this further.

Other News:

• Kosciusko Prosecuting Attorney Dan Hampton requested permission from the commissioners to submit an application for a Kosciusko Teen Court grant.
• Kosciusko Superior Court Judge David Cates requested permission to pursue a grant for the Juvenile Detention Alternative Initiative.
• Kosciusko Highway Department Superintendent Scott Tilden recommended a bid award to JCI Bridge Group, LaPorte, in the amount of $819, 743.86, for the bridge 18 project over the Tippecanoe River.
• Tilden advised that he plans to delay installation of a four-way stop at the intersection of Ferguson Road and CR 200S, Warsaw. Tilden explained he would prefer to wait until spring as he does not want people trying to adjust to this change during bad weather with slippery road conditions.
• Attorney Scott Reust, Warsaw, attended the meeting on behalf of Friends of Tippy to request that commissioners implement a study to determine the necessity and feasibility of a regional sewer district in the area of Lake Tippecanoe. Commissioners voted to table this request and readdress it at a later date. Miner agreed to look into this further.
• Commissioners approved the 2018 contract for Chad Miner, which Miner explained was the same as his 2017 contract with the addition of the three percent county increase.
• George Robertson gave the KEDCo quarterly update.
• The next regular meeting will be held at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 19.