Ruchelle Sammons, Kosciusko County Coalition on Drug Education coordinator, appeared before the county commissioners Tuesday requesting permission to forward grants to various schools, non-profit organizations and police departments.

K-CODE is funded by drug interdiction fees. These fees are charged by the county courts to people convicted of illegal drug use. The state takes 25 percent of the money and 75 percent is allocated locally in the form of grants.

Organizations may submit plans for projects in three areas: education and prevention, intervention and treatment and law enforcement.

For 2006, 26 applications were made to K-CODE totaling $182,429.91. The group approved grants totaling $85,001, which includes a stipend of $3,667 for the coordinator. The commissioners approved K-CODE's recommendations.

County road supervisor Dennis Pletcher recommended the commissioners approve Pioneer Associates to repair Bridge 250 in North Webster. The structure is on South Street, three blocks east of Ind. 13.

Pletcher also advised the board that Main Channel Marina has asked the small bridge on Lakeside Drive, over the channel adjacent to the business, be raised and made wider to allow boats to pass under it.

Pletcher said the county will only pay to replace the current design. He said USI engineers will draw up plans replacing the bridge as is and provide plans to the marina's specifications.

The Syracuse town council has agreed to guarantee additional costs for the higher and wider construction of the small structure.

The commissioners also:

• Approved contracts for snow removal with Syracuse and Warsaw.

• Approved stop sign ordinances in the Blackberry Trace, Cherry Creek and White Tail subdivisions.

County commissioners are Avis Gunter, Brad Jackson and Ron Truex. [[In-content Ad]]