Commissioners Hear About Memorial, Wind Tower Ordinance
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Daniel [email protected]
The board heard from Ken Locke, who is a member of the county's 9/11 Committee.
Locke said the committee designed a memorial they want to put on the Northeast corner of the courthouse lawn.[[In-content Ad]]Locke said the memorial would recognize the events of Sept. 11, 2001, on one side and the names of emergency personnel killed in the line of duty on the other side.
Locke said during the committee's research they've found that only four people from Kosciusko County have died while working as emergency personnel, like fire, police and EMS.
Locke presented a design of the prospective memorial.
"The only thing we're asking the county for is a place to put it," said Locke. "As far as cost, we plan to bear the whole cost."
Commissioner Bob Conley said he first heard of this memorial during the Kosciusko County Fair.
Conley said in talking to people, they didn't support a 9/11 monument on the courthouse lawn.
"I don't question the motivation at all," said Conley. "I think the concept is tremendous. I think we need to protect the courthouse proper."
Conley pointed out that one side of the monument talked about the terrorist attacks in New York, Washington, DC, and rural Pennsylvania.
"People who I've talked to wouldn't support that," said Conley.
Commissioners asked Locke to take the design back to the 9/11 committee and make some changes to focus more on local emergency personnel.
The board also approved a vacation of Shelf Drive on Sechrist Lake that was recommended by the Area Plan Commission.
Matt Sandy, assistant plan director, presented the wind tower ordinance to the commissioners.
After reviewing it, Commissioner Ron Truex took some issue with language that made it sound like the county would inspect wind towers after a permit had been issued.
"I don't believe the county should be in the inspection business," said Truex.
The commissioners also took issue with a $2,500 user fee that would be levied against those wanting to build wind towers.
"Any user fee that exceeds costs are taxes," said Commissioner Brad Jackson.
Sandy said he will take the ordinance and make the necessary changes.
The board also approved the appointment of Mike Long, Etna Green, to the county drainage board.
The board heard from Ken Locke, who is a member of the county's 9/11 Committee.
Locke said the committee designed a memorial they want to put on the Northeast corner of the courthouse lawn.[[In-content Ad]]Locke said the memorial would recognize the events of Sept. 11, 2001, on one side and the names of emergency personnel killed in the line of duty on the other side.
Locke said during the committee's research they've found that only four people from Kosciusko County have died while working as emergency personnel, like fire, police and EMS.
Locke presented a design of the prospective memorial.
"The only thing we're asking the county for is a place to put it," said Locke. "As far as cost, we plan to bear the whole cost."
Commissioner Bob Conley said he first heard of this memorial during the Kosciusko County Fair.
Conley said in talking to people, they didn't support a 9/11 monument on the courthouse lawn.
"I don't question the motivation at all," said Conley. "I think the concept is tremendous. I think we need to protect the courthouse proper."
Conley pointed out that one side of the monument talked about the terrorist attacks in New York, Washington, DC, and rural Pennsylvania.
"People who I've talked to wouldn't support that," said Conley.
Commissioners asked Locke to take the design back to the 9/11 committee and make some changes to focus more on local emergency personnel.
The board also approved a vacation of Shelf Drive on Sechrist Lake that was recommended by the Area Plan Commission.
Matt Sandy, assistant plan director, presented the wind tower ordinance to the commissioners.
After reviewing it, Commissioner Ron Truex took some issue with language that made it sound like the county would inspect wind towers after a permit had been issued.
"I don't believe the county should be in the inspection business," said Truex.
The commissioners also took issue with a $2,500 user fee that would be levied against those wanting to build wind towers.
"Any user fee that exceeds costs are taxes," said Commissioner Brad Jackson.
Sandy said he will take the ordinance and make the necessary changes.
The board also approved the appointment of Mike Long, Etna Green, to the county drainage board.
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092