By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — Steve Lockridge is the new general manager of Cardinal Services’ Kosciusko Area Bus Service.

Kosciusko County Commissioners heard that news at their meeting on Tuesday, March 14, from former KABS General Manager Tony Peterson before he gave the organization’s quarterly report.

Steve Lockridge

The position has been vacant since Chad Kaltenbach left last year.

“He started in February and comes with 30 years of experience in the transportation industry doing route sales, training and managing drivers,” said Peterson regarding Lockridge. “He’s been happily married for 34 years to Laura and has a son and daughter.”

“I’m really just excited for this opportunity,” said Lockridge after the meeting.

As for the quarterly report, Peterson said from October to December 2022, KABS did “8,475 trips and covered 33,873 miles.”

Kosciusko County Commissioner Cary Groninger inquired about the amount of drivers KABS had.

“It’s getting better,” answered Peterson. “We’ve actually gotten a couple more drivers. We’re down one driver.”

He mentioned that KABS provides rides until 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, starting at 5:30 a.m. each day.

ARPA Funding Requests

The commissioners also unanimously approved a number of requests for using some of the county’s American Rescue Plan Act money from the federal government.

Those, which were previously approved by the county’s ARPA committee, consisted of:

• $44,000 for security cameras, new doors and electrical and lighting at The Beaman Home’s charity store Mary Ann’s Place;
• $5,836 for a metal detector for Kosciusko County Work Release;
• $32,000 for radios for the Milford Fire Department;
• $23,898 for gutters and ceiling insulation for the Animal Welfare League of Kosciusko County’s cat house and paving for the AWL’s parking lot;
• $10,952 for radios for three Warsaw Police Department detectives;
• $86,322 for body camera equipment for the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office;
• $252,800 for roof repairs and new windows at the North Webster Community Center; and
• $19,100 for items for Court Appointed Special Advocates of Kosciusko County, including fingerprinting for its staff and volunteers and training manuals.

All those requests will also have to be approved by the Kosciusko County Council before funds can be spent.

In other business, the commissioners:

• Approved transferring grant money it had given to Kosciusko Home Care and Hospice over to Stillwater Hospice as KHCH recently was taken over by Stillwater. The grant money will still help Kosciusko residents, said KHCH Executive Director Glenn Hall, now Stillwater’s Kosciusko community outreach director.
• Reappointed Bob Marcuccilli to the Lakeland Regional Sewer District Board of Trustees.
• Appointed Kip Shuter to replace Ed Rock on the county’s public safety tech committee as Rock is retiring as the Kosciusko County Emergency Management Agency director.
• Allowed Rock to apply for two $150,000 grants for cybersecurity and security cameras around the Kosciusko County Courthouse.
• Appointed Kosciusko County Prosecutor Brad Voelz, Groninger, Kosciusko County Administrator Marsha McSherry, Kosciusko County Patrol Commander Lt. Mike Mulligan, Kosciusko County Circuit Court Judge Mike Reed, Mike Speigle from Kosciusko County Court Security and Kosciusko County Councilman Tony Ciriello to the county’s security committee.
• Approved four contracts with Koorsen Fire and Security for fire suppression and fire alarm equipment for county buildings for $13,833.40.

The commissioners’ next meeting is 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 28, in the Kosciusko County Courthouse’s Old Courtroom.