Burn Ban Continues In Kosciusko County
A burn ban that was issued last week in Kosciusko County is still in effect until this Friday. The announcement was made at the Kosciusko County Commissioners meeting this morning.
After Friday, commissioners will reassess the dry conditions and made a determination if the ban needs to be extended even more. Commissioner Bob Conley said fire departments have received 21 calls related to the burn ban, but none have been critical or out of control fires. “In the meantime, we need to pray for rain,” he said.
In other news, a vacation and relocation of a property in the Barbee Lakes area was tabled due to an error in the public notice. The petitioners are David and Vicki Metzger. The property in question is an unnamed public way in Mort’s addition on EMS B64 Lane.
Area Plan Commission voted 7-1 to vacate at its last meeting.
Attorney Steve Snyder argued that the public way is never used by the public nor maintained by the county. “It’s never been used or maintained, so let’s just vacate it,” Snyder said. A public notice stated the matter was to “relocate and vacate” when it should have been noted to just “vacate.” “It was a typo,” Snyder said.
Commissioners decided to re-advertise the petitioners’ request and take out “relocate” in the public notice.
A presentation was given by Troy Truly of the KCV Cycling Club concerning bike routes. He wants to establish posted bike routes throughout the county. Truly is working with Warsaw city planners to develop a comprehensive plan. He is also working with the highway department and other cyclists to have “safer roads.” There is no cost to the county as he has applied for a $25,000 grant to pay for signage.
A grant application for replenishing funds in the amount of $47,000 was approved and signed. The funds will be used by the county emergency management department to conduct training exercises.
Commissioner Brad Jackson said the wage committee met recently. Non-profits that requested funds at the last meeting will get the same amount they did in 2011, with no increases that were requested by some nonprofits.
County commissioners are President Bob Conley, Ron Truex and Brad Jackson. The next meeting is at 9 a.m. July 3, at the county courthouse in Warsaw.
For more coverage, see this week’s issue of The Mail-Journal.