By David Slone
Times-Union

WARSAW — As the ribbon-cutting ceremony nears for the Chinworth Trail extension project, Kosciusko County Parks and Recreation Board President Rob Bishop presented a change order decrease and a pay application to the Kosciusko County Commissioners on Tuesday, Sept. 23.

Bishop said the decrease change order of $10,012.50 from Niblock was because they had removed the bollards from the plan. The bollards are the posts that stick up in the middle of the path.

“However, from the Parks Board meeting we had last week, we found out that we already had people driving down the path in side-by-sides and golf carts, and so we are going to put half the number of bollards back in, which would cure that. So, this is a decrease, next one is going to be like half an increase to put that back in, just so you’re aware of what’s going on,” he said.

Bishop said the contract with Niblock is down to just the retainage. On Sunday, Sept. 21, he walked the path with Parks Board member Mike Cusick and thought it looked fantastic and all the lights work. The ribbon-cutting is scheduled for 3 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9. County Commissioner Cary Groninger said he was out at the trail on Saturday, Sept. 20. The grass was starting to fill in, and there were six or seven people on the trail out there.

“Definitely starting to see some uses, so I’m excited to see that,” he said.

Commissioner Bob Conley asked how they planned to keep the side-by-sides and golf carts off the trail. Bishop said the bollards and the “no motorized vehicles” signs help. Conley asked if there was any ordinance so the sheriff’s department or Warsaw Police Department can enforce the signage. Bishop said the ordinance is on their radar, it’s not drafted yet, but he’ll get together with County Attorney Ed Ormsby to get that put together.

“One of the things I want to make sure, Commissioner, is that it’s sort of consistent throughout the county. So if you’re a Warsaw PD or a county officer, the rule is the same every place, so nobody is guessing where their jurisdiction is,” Bishop responded.

The commissioners approved the change order decrease, which put the new contract with Niblock sum at $960,234.50; and the pay application to Niblock for $258,173.87. Only the retainage remains.

Sheriff Jim Smith presented to the commissioners a contract with Metzger Auction for an online auction of items that the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department no longer has need for. He said he presented that already to Ormsby.

Ormsby said it’s a simple auction agreement and approved by him as the county attorney, but the commissioners needed to ratify the contract, which they did unanimously. The list of sheriff’s department vehicles for sale include a 2014 Ford Explorer, 2017 Ford F-150, 2011 Ford Expedition, 2013 Ford Taurus, 2006 Ford Mustang, 2013 Ford Taurus, 2018 Ford Explorer, 2019 Dodge Charger, 2013 Dodge Caravan and a 2016 Cub Cadet. The commissioners accepted the list. There also will be equipment from the Kosciusko County Highway Department up for auction. The auction will be live online Oct. 1-13.

Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Chris McKeand requested permission to apply for a grant through the Indiana Department of Homeland Security for equipment. The maximum amount for the grant is $150,000 and doesn’t require any matching funds.

“One of the areas of emphasis on the grant itself is interoperability. With our current radio program that we have, we found a deficiency in the number of radios that we have. Right now we are down a little less than 10, but we also have a need for an emergency bank,” McKeand said. “So the application itself would provide for 20 portable radios, two to four in-car radios and the supporting equipment for the radio project itself.”

Groninger asked if it would all be compatible with what they already have, and McKeand said yes as all the quotes are from the county’s current system provider. The commissioners approved the grant application.

In other business, the commissioners approved:

• A letter of support for the Syracuse-Wawasee Trails’ application for an Indiana Trails Grant through the Indiana Department of Natural Resources that is due Sept. 30, as suggested by the Michiana Area Council of Governments and presented by Kosciusko County Community Coordinator Amy Roe. The Trails’ first support was a grant for $250,000 from the K21 Health Foundation. The second “domino,” Roe said, will be the $400,000 Indiana Trails Grant they are applying for. With those two specific grants, Roe said she believed the CAP (Community Amenities Program) grant will be the final one.

• A grant application of up to $150,000 from the Indiana Department of Homeland Security for fiber, as presented by County Systems Administrator Eric Sorensen on behalf of County Emergency Management Agency Director Kip Shuter. The fiber is for between the Justice Building and the Warsaw Police Department. “As you’re aware, we’re currently working on fiber between the police department and Work Release and highway. This would just complete the last leg back here in the Justice Building,” Sorensen said.

• The vacation request from JC Wood Properties Inc. in the Old Wray Homestead subdivision, as presented by Area Plan Director Matt Sandy. The subdivision is on the south side of Hoffman Lake, and the vacation request is situated between Lutes Drive and US 30 on the south side of the platted right-of-way. The Area Plan Commission (APC) unanimously recommended the vacation, and there were no remonstrators Tuesday.

• Rezoning 3.25 acres from Ag to Ag II, as requested by Alpheus and Lynae Eherenman, Monroe Township. Sandy said the 3.25 acres is part of a 63-acre tract of ground just south off Packerton Road on CR 550S, the south side of the road. The Eherenmans are looking to subdivide the 3.25 acres into up to three lots. The Area Plan Commission recommended the rezoning be approved. There were no remonstrators at Tuesday’s meeting, though there was some at the Area Plan meeting.

• Rezoning 8.88 acres from Ag to Ag II, as requested by Domenic and Sondra Politano. The property is on SR 14 in Jackson Township. The Area Plan Commission recommended the rezoning. There were no remonstrators.

• The reappointment of Randy Cripe to the Nappanee Library Board for another four-year term.

The next commissioners meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7, in the old courtroom of the county courthouse in Warsaw.