A painting of the Kosciusko County Courthouse hangs in the old courtroom of the courthouse. A plaque underneath shows that the painting was done by W. Don Anglin in 1952.

KOSCIUSKO —  Kosciusko commissioners heard information related to a program designed to shorten response time in active shooter situations at their meeting held Tuesday, Oct. 2. 

Kosciusko County Sheriff Rocky Goshert and Kosciusko County Emergency Management Director Ed Rock  presented the information. 

According to Rock, the program is called School Guard. Teachers and staff would download an app to their mobile phones. In the event of an active shooting, a teacher presses the panic button provided in the app. An alert is immediately sent to the mobile phones of all federal, state and local law enforcement officers within 25 miles of the school. The app simultaneously speed dials 911 and connects the teacher to emergency services. All other staff and teachers in the school with the app installed are immediately alerted as well. 

This notification addresses the need for quicker response time to school shootings by initiating a response as soon as the button is activated rather than waiting for a dispatcher to collect information and then dispatch response agencies.

According to research from the Department of Homeland Security, the average duration of an active shooter incident at a school is 12.5 minutes. In contrast, the average response time for law enforcement is 18 minutes. 

The initial cost to install the system and provide coverage for the first three years is approximately $97,000. Rock and Goshert have secured grant funding for this project.

The plan is for the system to be set up in four public school corporations, including Tippecanoe Valley, Wawasee, Warsaw and Whitko. This includes 29 educational and administrative buildings and three private schools, Lakeland Christian, Warsaw Christian and Sacred Heart, for a total of 32 buildings. 

“With your approval, I will process the grant,” Rock told commissioners. 

“What cost do you put on the safety and welfare of our kids?” asked Commissioner President Bob Conley. “I see no downside to this.”

Commissioners gave their approval.

Kosciusko County Highway Department Superintendent Scott Tilden stated the department will be requesting quotes for contract snow plowing. 

“We do one area of the county where there are 12.3 miles that we have contracted snow removal services out for the last 15 years. We have another part of the county where there are 58 miles done – a little over 70 miles out of 1,170 miles, so we do the majority ourselves,” Tilden stated. “The contractor who did the 12.3 miles informed me recently that he will be bowing out of that so we will need to seek quotes for a new one.”

Tilden prepared quote packets to send out to at least three contractors who deal with this type of service. Tilden requested permission to send the packets out today and asked that the packets be due back at the auditor’s office by 3:30 p.m. Oct. 15, with the bids to be opened at 9:15 a.m. Oct. 16 at the next commissioners meeting. This was approved.

Tilden was notified Sept. 28 of awarded funding through Indiana Department of Transportation for a railroad grade crossing fund for pavement markings. 

“We submitted for $44,250 and we were awarded 100 percent of the amount,” Tilden advised.”This would cover 34 different at grade crossings to put advance warning pavement markings down by the advance warning sign as well as to put stop bars at the railroad tracks.”  Commissioners approved the contract.

Other News:

• Winona Lake resident Paul Wright was honored as the October Veteran of the Month.
• Rock reported receiving two grant award letters.
• Goshert requested and received permission to purchase an SUV for the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department.
• Tilden submitted an LPA Consultant contract for bridge 227, carrying South Hand Street over Walnut Creek. The contract was approved by INDOT. Commissioners approved and signed the contract.
• The next regular meeting will be held at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 16. 

Pictured, from left, County Attorney Chad Miner and County Auditor Michelle Puckett.