From left, Kosciusko Commissioner President Bob Conley with members of the Kosciusko County Health and Wellness Committee Amy Irwin, Marsha McSherry and Cary Groninger. InkFreeNews photo by Lasca Randels

By Lasca Randels
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — Tuesday’s Kosciusko County Commissioners meeting included recognition of achievements, hard work and heroic acts.

Among those were Richard Loos of Warsaw, who was honored as Veteran of the Month; Cory Black of Leesburg, who was presented with a framed certificate for rendering lifesaving aid to an injured motorist; North Webster Troop 726 members Charles (Charlie) Sexton and Megan Harris for achieving Eagle Scout rank; and Kosciusko County government for receiving the Health and Wellness in the Workplace Award through the Kosciusko County Annual Chamber of Commerce.

Kosciusko County implemented a new Health and Wellness Program in January 2019 consisting of workshops and classes to educate county employees and their families.

In addition, the county conducted a four-week class for those with diabetes.

The county developed and awarded incentives for participation. Incentives included a reduction in insurance premiums and a bonus flex day.

Over the first six months of the program, the county saw a 75 percent participation rate.

As part of the collaboration between the county and other organizations, between June 2019 and July 2020,
224 county employees participated in numerous Purdue Extension health-related programs.

Online classes and social distancing were implemented to allow classes to continue during the pandemic.

“I would just like to take a moment to recognize the people who worked hard on that committee that helped make this possible,” said Kosciusko Commissioner Vice President Cary Groninger. “Our health and wellness program is to try to improve the health of our employees in the county and we’re working hard to do that with a lot of innovative ways.”

Members of the Kosciusko County Health and Wellness Committee include Cary Groninger, Marsha McSherry, Amy Irwin, Anita Alcorn, Darron Longenecker, Deb Winger, Jackie Franks, Jeanne DeWilde and Mike Kissinger.

County Administrator Marsha McSherry pointed out specific contributions by several members of the Health & Wellness Committee.

“Anita Alcorn is our nurse practitioner. She’s been very insightful in the medical part of the committee in putting this together. Jackie Franks at Purdue Extension puts on a lot of classes and does a lot of training,” McSherry said. “Jeanne DeWilde is our health nurse at the clinic and has also contributed considerably as far as the medical side of that. Darron Longenecker is our consultant with our insurance so he’s been an integral part of putting this together and helping with the program in the county.”

In other news: 

• County Emergency Management Agency Director Ed Rock received approval to apply for a $16,000 cybersecurity grant.
• A proposal in the amount of $6,931.13, submitted by Precision Concrete Cutting, was approved. This is for concrete repair on county properties.
• County Highway Superintendent Steve Moriarty’s recommendation for accepting a $785,234.70 bid submitted by Phend & Brown of Warsaw was approved. The bid is for a community crossing 2022 matching involving roads CR 1050N, CR 300E, CR 325E, CR 200W and CR 700S.
• Commissioners approved a request by Robert and Phyllis Swanson to rezone a 1.27 acre parcel of land from an Agricultural to an Agricultural II District. This will allow the property, located at 6008 W. Old Road 30, Warsaw, to be subdivided.
• Commissioners approved two ordinance amendments presented by Kosciusko Area Plan Assistant Planner and Floodplain Administrator Matt Sandy. These were related to municipal clarification and online permit fees.
• A recommendation by County Systems Administrator Bob Momeyer was approved. The county will enter into a three-year contract with Daston, an information technology consulting and services firm, for email services.  
• The next regular meeting will be 9 a.m. March 30.

From left, Kosciusko Commissioner Vice President Cary Groninger and County Administrator Marsha McSherry during the Tuesday, March 16, commissioners meeting.