Commissioners Address Concerns About Snow Emergencies
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Daniel [email protected]
"What I hear from the public is they want us to call it something," said commissioner president Brad Jackson.
It was noted that during a winter storm earlier this month, the county did take precautions including keeping plows at EMS and fire stations as well as closing the county buildings.
Emergency Management Director Ed Rock said that if the roads get bad enough a declaration could be called it doesn't mean it can prohibit anyone from staying off the road. A declaration also would limit the county's ability to perform a rescue.
The commissioners agreed that in the future they will continue to take the precautions they have before in working with the county highway department as well as the sheriff's department.
Also, they will report their activities to the Homeland Security department which will then put Kosciusko County on a map relating to what each county in Indiana is doing regarding inclement winter weather.
The commissioners agree though that they would leave it up to the residents and businesses of the county on whether to travel and/or be open.
Jackson noted that the conditions aren't uniform for all of the county.
"Some people who live on major roads will have an easier time traveling than those people who live out in the country," said Jackson.
Rebecca Phend, who lives north of Sidney, came before the commissioners to complain about spraying near her home.
Phend explained that she has an allergic reaction to the chemicals used when spraying for mosquitoes takes place.
She said she has placed no spray signs on her lawn and the contractor who sprays has ignored them.
Phend said she has dealt with commissioner Bob Conley, county administrator Ron Robinson and the highway department because she can't get in direct contact with the contractor.
She said if the spraying happened this year should would have to seek litigation against the contractor as well as the county.
Phend said she had suggested a list be compiled for those who ask their area not be sprayed, those people pay a $10 permit fee and the county checks that the areas not being sprayed are being maintained.
The county approved giving $700 toward a grant that would improve the drainage at Enchanted Hills in Cromwell.
County Dispatch's David Rosenberry gave statistics for the dispatch center for 2010.
67 percent of calls to dispatch came in from a cell phone.
In 2010, dispatch received 27,884 911 calls which amounts to 76.3 per day and 25.4 per shift.
There were 79,739 calls for service in 2010 which is up 3,159 (4 percent) from 2009.
Bids for new county highway vehicles was set for April 12 at 9:15 a.m. during the commissioners meeting.
Two issues from the Area Plan Commission were continued for next meeting because the plan commission's February meeting was cancelled due to weather.
The commissioners heard to presentations from consultants looking for work with the county.
Charles Malinowski from Malinowski Consulting gave a presentation concerning child support payments while Kenneth Jones gave the commissioners information on what his consulting firm out of Elkhart does.
The commissioners approved sewer and floor projects for county buildings.
The commissioners also approved an agreement with the company EGov to help the county develop a new website.
An $80,000 grant was accepted through Homeland Security that allows for training.
The commissioners next meeting is March 1 at 9 a.m. in the old courtroom at the courthouse.[[In-content Ad]]
"What I hear from the public is they want us to call it something," said commissioner president Brad Jackson.
It was noted that during a winter storm earlier this month, the county did take precautions including keeping plows at EMS and fire stations as well as closing the county buildings.
Emergency Management Director Ed Rock said that if the roads get bad enough a declaration could be called it doesn't mean it can prohibit anyone from staying off the road. A declaration also would limit the county's ability to perform a rescue.
The commissioners agreed that in the future they will continue to take the precautions they have before in working with the county highway department as well as the sheriff's department.
Also, they will report their activities to the Homeland Security department which will then put Kosciusko County on a map relating to what each county in Indiana is doing regarding inclement winter weather.
The commissioners agree though that they would leave it up to the residents and businesses of the county on whether to travel and/or be open.
Jackson noted that the conditions aren't uniform for all of the county.
"Some people who live on major roads will have an easier time traveling than those people who live out in the country," said Jackson.
Rebecca Phend, who lives north of Sidney, came before the commissioners to complain about spraying near her home.
Phend explained that she has an allergic reaction to the chemicals used when spraying for mosquitoes takes place.
She said she has placed no spray signs on her lawn and the contractor who sprays has ignored them.
Phend said she has dealt with commissioner Bob Conley, county administrator Ron Robinson and the highway department because she can't get in direct contact with the contractor.
She said if the spraying happened this year should would have to seek litigation against the contractor as well as the county.
Phend said she had suggested a list be compiled for those who ask their area not be sprayed, those people pay a $10 permit fee and the county checks that the areas not being sprayed are being maintained.
The county approved giving $700 toward a grant that would improve the drainage at Enchanted Hills in Cromwell.
County Dispatch's David Rosenberry gave statistics for the dispatch center for 2010.
67 percent of calls to dispatch came in from a cell phone.
In 2010, dispatch received 27,884 911 calls which amounts to 76.3 per day and 25.4 per shift.
There were 79,739 calls for service in 2010 which is up 3,159 (4 percent) from 2009.
Bids for new county highway vehicles was set for April 12 at 9:15 a.m. during the commissioners meeting.
Two issues from the Area Plan Commission were continued for next meeting because the plan commission's February meeting was cancelled due to weather.
The commissioners heard to presentations from consultants looking for work with the county.
Charles Malinowski from Malinowski Consulting gave a presentation concerning child support payments while Kenneth Jones gave the commissioners information on what his consulting firm out of Elkhart does.
The commissioners approved sewer and floor projects for county buildings.
The commissioners also approved an agreement with the company EGov to help the county develop a new website.
An $80,000 grant was accepted through Homeland Security that allows for training.
The commissioners next meeting is March 1 at 9 a.m. in the old courtroom at the courthouse.[[In-content Ad]]
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