Commissioners Bob Conley, left, and Brad Jackson listen to residents express their concerns.

KOSCIUSKO — The Kosciusko County Commissioners meeting was heavily attended this morning, Oct. 17, as residents came to express their opinions regarding the potential rezoning of a residential area near East Wawasee Drive, Syracuse. While not specifically stated by the engineer, the land will be used to build 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 public hearing began with Andrew Rossell, representing AR Engineering, requesting the vote be tabled until a new commissioner is appointed to the board. Currently, the board sits at two commissioners due to Ron Truex’s recent resignation.

Opinions for and against the property seemed equally weighted as three residents spoke in favor of the rezoning and three residents spoke against it.

The main arguments for the rezoning included the fact that the closest convenience store is currently 15 minutes away, land near the suggested property is zoned commercial and that the Enchanted Hills homeowner associated recommended the rezoning.

Arguments made in opposition of the rezoning included that the narrow and winding roads make for a bad location, residents live in that area to be away from commercial areas and that the zoning would open up the area for further commercialization.

In the end, the commissioners took all comments under advisement and tabled the decision until the Dec. 12 meeting.

Bids were opened for the new county highway administration building and additions to the existing highway maintenance garage. There were three different bid packages which included the projects separately and combined.

The bids received for the combined package are as follows:

• Robinson Construction, Warsaw — $3,183,328
• James S. Jackson Company, Bluffton — $3,197,000
• Mosaic Building Solutions, Fort Wayne — $3,403,500

The bid will be awarded during the next meeting on Oct. 31.

In other news:

• Commissioners signed a proclamation declaring October as Domestic Violence Awareness month in Kosciusko County. Beaman Home Executive Director Tracie Hodson presented the proclamation.
• Prosecutor Dan Hampton was approved to use a Drug Prosecution Grant to fund case management software for the Warsaw Police Department.
• The Commissioners approved the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department to apply for the annual Operation Pull-Over grant.
• The 2018 Interlocal Agreement was approved which allows for terminal services data.
• A contract between Indiana Department of Transportation and Kosciusko County Highway was approved for bridge inspections.
• The request to rezone a tract of ground less than 1 acre in size from residential to commercial on the south side of Armstrong Road, northwest of First Street in Oswego, was approved.
• The next regular meeting will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 31.

Pictured, from left, are Commissioner Brad Jackson, Beaman Home Executive Director Tracie Hodson and Commissioner Bob Conley with the domestic violence awareness proclamation.