By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — The Kosciusko County Commissioners have heard concerns regarding drainage into Lake Wawasee.

At the commissioners’ meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 31, Carson LLP Attorney Andy Boxberger spoke.

He represents Jim Marcuccilli, who lives at Woodys Lane, Syracuse, by the lake. Marcuccilli is concerned about silt along the Crows Nest Drive housing development, which is near his home, going into Lake Wawasee.

Boxberger presented several photos and a video of the reported pollution to commissioners.

“The first picture going out there, you can see the amount of silt going into the lake,” he said.

Boxberger also commented that he came before commissioners because the county has control over a road in the area and “it appears that the road doesn’t maybe have the proper guttering and stormwater prevention issues.”

“There probably needs to be some retention to be able to prevent this silt from going into the lake,” he said, mentioning he wants to work toward a resolution.

He also had Dr. Jerry Sweeten with Ecosystems Connections Institute speak. Sweeten, who’s studied Lake Wawasee and is a former Manchester University biology professor, noted the damage that can be caused to lakes by runoff due to phosphorus.

Kosciusko County Commissioner Cary Groninger said commissioners recently went to the area in question and have spoken with those behind the housing development and county department heads.

“We’re still trying to work through this to try and come up with a good solution because we realize that these lakes are a huge asset to our community and we want to make sure we can maintain them for years to come,” said Groninger, adding that a committee may be formed to address the problem.

Grant Applications

Commissioners also approved allowing county officials to apply for several grants.

They allowed Kosciusko County Community Corrections Director Barry Andrew to apply for two grants: a $350,755 one for community corrections and an $82,746 one for drug court.

They also allowed Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Chris McKeand to apply for a $15,000 Indiana Department of Natural Resources grant to help pay for the KCSO’s boat patrol.

Fee Increases

Commissioners also approved several fee changes.

One was brought by Kosciusko County Jail Matron Michelle Hyden. Commissioners agreed to raise a fee related to sheriff’s sales from $200 to $300 based on the portion of that amount for legal fees going up.

They also approved new fees for Kosciusko County Health Department services at the request of its Administrator Bob Weaver. Those include: Annual food permit, $50, up from $20; daily food permit, $15, up from $3; birth certificate, $10, up from $7; death certificate, $10, up from $5; paternity affidavit, $10; septic permit, $50, up from $25; and well permit, $25, up from $10.

In other business, commissioners:

• Approved appointing Katie Wonderly to the Pierceton and Washington Township Library Board.
• Approved requests for two properties to be part of the Tippecanoe and Chapman Lakes Regional Sewer District. One is located by Forest Glen Avenue and Stanton Road in Tippecanoe Township and the second is on Chapman Lake next to the sewer district.
• Heard an update on the Kosciusko County Parks and Recreation Board from its President Rob Bishop. He was joined by three of the other four members of the board: Mike Cusick, Aggie Sweeney and Vice President Troy Turley. Bishop said the group is currently working on a master plan, which will allow the board to apply for grants. That plan should be submitted by April 15. Before it’s submitted, the board will have three meetings for public input on it.
• Approved making Bob Conley the president of the county Board of Finance again and Kosciusko County Treasurer Michelle Puckett its secretary.
• Approved a request brought by Kosciusko County Highway Department Superintendent Steve Moriarty to reroute traffic from SR 19 on CR 900N to SR 15 for about two to three weeks due to upcoming roadwork in the area.

 

Commissioners’ next meeting is 9 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14, in the Kosciusko County Courthouse’s Old Courtroom.