Mark Dobson, president and CEO of Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce, approached the Kosciusko County Commissioners during its April 21 meeting regarding Kosciusko County’s participation in the Regional Cities Initiative.

Gov. Mike Pence signed the initiative into law last year. It was originally proposed to fund $84 million of two years, but has since been reduced to $20 million. Still, there is significant funding to be gained by participating in the initiative.

Dobson explained that Kosciusko County’s proximity to both Fort Wayne and South Bend has made it necessary to side with a particular regional partnership. “We have to be in one, and we can only be in one,” Dobson said. “In this initiative only, we’re suggesting we go east.”

Dobson recommended the county partner with the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership – only for the purposes of the Regional Cities Initiative. The county is already partnered with the Michiana Area Council of Governments, which includes Elkhart, Marshall and St. Joseph Counties, for economic development opportunities. The collaboration with NIRP would not jeopardize Kosciusko County’s involvement with MACOG.

Commissioner Ron Truex broke it down by comparing it to dating two women and needing to pick a date for prom. “We either choose our prom date, or the state chooses our prom date for us,” he said.

Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer was at the meeting and voiced his support for partnering with NIRP. Bob Sanders, of the Kosciusko County Council, also voiced support, but with a caveat. “I’d like to make sure we have a voice on the board,” he said. Dobson did say that would be a concern moving forward, as NIRP currently represents 11 counties with only five board members.

Supporters also felt partnering with NIRP would give Kosciusko County an edge with the Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership program which Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation President George Robertson brought before the commissioners earlier this month. To tap into IMCP funding, the county would partner with Orthoworx, Whitley County and Allen County to establish the area between Warsaw and Fort Wayne along US 30 as the “Orthopedic Corridor.”

The commissioners expressed unanimous support for the partnership with NIRP. The matter will go before the Warsaw Common Council on May 4 and the county council on May 14.

Also at the meeting, Dr. Nate Bosch, Center For Lakes & Streams, offered updates to the commissioners on several CLS projects. Bosch stated that more samples were taken from Winona Lake last week to check the effects of the Warsaw Chemical spill into Winona Lake.

The results from the most recent tests have not come in yet, but tests thus far have not revealed any dangers for humans in the lakes. Bosch said he wanted to test the lake since the ice melted and the waters were allowed to mix. He expects test results will show all chemicals in the lake to be well below the toxic threshold for humans.

Bosch also reported that efforts on the Tippecanoe River logjam removal project have resumed. He expects that the project to be completed by the end of 2015. He’s also exploring options to establish a canoe livery along the river, which would assist in keeping the river clear in the future.

Also at the meeting:

• Kosciusko Area Bus Service reported pulling in approximately $103,000 in the first quarter of 2015. Kevin Planck also reported that KABS still has two openings for bus drivers. The positions pay $11 per hour with benefits. KABS will be presenting its 2016 budget at the next commissioner’s meeting.
• The commissioners approved a grant agreement for the Kosciusko County Highway Department for a reimbursement grant from INDOT. The grant would reimburse county highway $44,297.90 for signage and pavement markings.
• A request by Area Plan Commission to reclassify two acres in Mentone, near Viking Drive, from commercial property to residential was approved.

The next meeting of the Kosciusko County Commissioners is set for 9 a.m. Monday, May 4.