From left, new Kosciusko Area Bus Service General Manager Tony Peterson and Cardinal Services Executive Vice President Matt Boren.

WARSAW —  Kosciusko County Commissioners approved Cardinal Services Executive Vice President Matt Boren’s recommendation for a new Kosciusko Area Bus Service general manager on Tuesday, Nov. 12.

Boren introduced Tony Peterson, Akron, at the commissioners meeting held Tuesday. Peterson has been employed with Cardinal Services for 16 years.

“He really has an incredible understanding of this community and this county’s needs,” Boren said. “He comes to us with a lot of really relevant experience. At the end of the interview process, we really felt like he was the best candidate and that he had a lot to offer to the public transportation system here in Kosciusko County.”

Peterson is currently the adult services director for Cardinal Services in Kosciusko County. 

“I’ve really been impressed with his leadership and his ability to approach challenges,” Boren told commissioners. 

Two requests by County Clerk Ann Torpy were approved. The first was related to a contract for the purchase of e-poll books. This includes 50 iPads, printers, software and updates.

The second request by Torpy involved additional cybersecurity for voting systems. The state will pay for this service through 2022 and at that time the cost may go to the counties, Torpy told commissioners.

Emergency Management Director Ed Rock received additional appropriation approval for a grant involving perimeter chemical testing and communications, specifically dual-band radios. 

“We have actually purchased both of those items,” Rock said. “The equipment for the perimeter is on-site and the training is being conducted immediately after this meeting. The radios are being programmed as we speak.”

“The important part is that this grant expires very quickly. It was set up as a quick turnaround. What I need is approval to actually cut those checks contingent on approval of additional appropriations,” Rock explained. “I just need to have the ability to ask the auditor to cut those checks and get this material paid for so that we can process the claims through the state to get our reimbursement for it.”

Rock gave the general public an update on weather-related travel warnings. 

“We did move our travel status to a yellow or advisory status this morning, but what I want to do is remind the public that our travel status has three levels to it and all of those levels are indicators of what our county road conditions are,” Rock said. 

He explained that the yellow or advisory status means there are issues, such as slick roads; orange or watch level involves taking precautions and not traveling if it can be avoided; and red or warning level, which takes a declaration by at least one county commissioner.

Rock said travel statuses can be found using an app called Indiana Travel Status.

County Highway Superintendent Scott Tilden intended to come to the Nov. 12 commissioners meeting with a recommendation regarding bids for the Bridge #9 construction project on Husky Trail in Warsaw; however, Tilden told commissioners today that the lowest of the three bids received was $1,585,075.42 — submitted by HRP Construction Inc., South Bend. Even though this bid was the lowest, Tilden said, it was still well over the engineers’ estimate of $1,269,418.22.

Tilden then announced that HRP sent an email letter to the county earlier this month requesting that their bid be withdrawn due to an error on one of the line items. 

The second-lowest bid, from Rieth Riley, South Bend, is $711,907.78 above the engineers’ estimate, Tilden said.

“My recommendation would be to reject all the bids and get with our consultant, The Troyer Group, and have them work on an alternate structure type that would work in that location and would fit in the budget the county has laid out,” Tilden said. Commissioners approved this recommendation. 

An ordinance for CR 800W, from US 30 to SR 19, prohibiting commercial or agricultural vehicles that would have a gross vehicle weight rating greater than 26,000 lbs. or any combination of vehicles such as a truck and trailer that would have a combined gross weight rating of 26,000 was approved. Those vehicles would be restricted from utilizing CR 800W from US 30 to SR 19. This is only for through traffic, County Attorney Chad Miner clarified. If a farmer has fields they need to get to or if deliveries need to be made to that area, it may be used for those purposes. The ordinance includes a $100 fine for a first violation and a $200 fine for a second violation. 

Bids for 2020 annual highway supplies were opened at today’s meeting. Tilden will review the bids and return to the Nov. 26 commissioners meeting with a recommendation. 

Other News:

• William Miller of Warsaw was honored as Veteran of the Month.
• Commissioners approved a contractual agreement with Purdue Extension.
• A grant request by Kosciusko County Teen Court Director Betsey Vastbinder was approved. Vastbinder said they would be applying for the same amount they asked for last year. The grant total is $129,039.
• The next regular meeting will be held at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 26.