In Wednesday's newspaper, a proposed tax rate chart for 2003 pay 2004 is scheduled to run, Kosciusko County Auditor Sue Ann Mitchell told the county commissioners today.

The chart has nothing to do with 2003 taxes and doesn't apply to the Form 11s people have now.

Mitchell said she was hoping the rates for the 2002 taxes payable in 2003 would be received by now, but they had not as of this morning, though they could arrive any day. If they were to arrive today, Mitchell said, the earliest people would be notified of the rates would be next week.

Townships in the Wa-Nee, Triton and Whitko school districts will not be billed in time for the Nov. 10 tax payment deadline because the counties of Whitko, Elkhart and Marshall did not certify their assessed values as early as Kosciusko County, Mitchell said. The deadline for tax rates to be mailed out for everyone else in the Warsaw, Wawasee and Tippecanoe Valley school districts is Oct. 24 with payment due by Nov. 10, and those deadlines should be met.

Mitchell said the deadlines for filing for exemptions are expected to be extended for 2003 taxes due in 2004, but not for 2002 taxes due in 2003. She said her office is encouraging people to verify that they have applied for all the exemptions they are qualified for, including the $35,000 homestead credit.

Besides stopping in at the county courthouse to verify exemptions, Mitchell said, property owners can verify the exemptions online at kcgov.com

Once at kcgov.com, click on "online services," go to "GIS," select "search" and put in your own property for the search. The auditor's records should tell taxpayers what 2002-pay-2003 exemptions they have applied to receive.

Along with the Nov. 10 tax bills, Mitchell said, the county is sending out personal property tax bills. Personal property includes such items as snowmobiles, travel trailers, farm equipment, mobile homes, etc.

In another matter, Emergency Management Director Ed Rock told the commissioners about the disaster simulation held Saturday at R.R. Donnelley & Sons, Old Road 30, Warsaw.

Personnel from more than 16 emergency response organizations and local industries came together to test a portion of the county's disaster preparedness system. The "disaster" began at 9 a.m. with a simulated explosion and fire at Donnelley. Donnelley's internal response team was first on the scene, followed closely by Warsaw Fire Department, Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department and Multi-Township EMS.

When WFD arrived, they called for the special hazards and operations team. As more resources were needed, Mentone EMS, Etna Green First Responders and Winona Lake Fire Department were activated.

Across town, Kosciusko Community Hospital prepared to receive and treat disaster victims. Security was handled by the Warsaw Police Department. A decontamination area was established with the help of DePuy's Emergency Response Team and the WLFD.

During these activities, the American Red Cross local chapter mobilized and opened a shelter for area residents who would have to be evacuated during a real disaster.

Communications for the disaster drill were coordinated by the 911 Central Dispatch Center and augmented by the local Amateur Radio Operators organization.

The exercise is required as a portion of the state emergency management agency criteria to ensure local preparedness in the event of a disaster. It was sponsored and funded by the Local Emergency Planning Committee and the Kosciusko County Emergency Management Agency.

In a rezoning matter, the commissioners approved William Bibler's petition to rezone 30.72 acres from an agricultural to an industrial II district. The property is on CR 200N, near CR 100E in Wayne Township.

Kosciusko County commissioners are Brad Jackson, northern district; Ron Truex, middle district; and Avis Gunter, southern district. Their next meeting is at 9 a.m. Oct. 21 in the county courthouse, Warsaw. [[In-content Ad]]