County Considers Paving Roads In Blacks Trailer Court

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.

By DEB McAULIFFE, Times-Union Staff Writer-

Kosciusko County commissioners are considering a proposal that would improve roads at Blacks Trailer Court north of North Webster.

Tippecanoe Township trustee Dick Mitchell told the commissioners Tuesday of a statute that would allow the county to complete a paving project and assess the costs back to the taxpayers.

If the roads are paved, property owners would benefit by increased property values. Then the cost would be assessed back to the people who benefit from the improvement.

Township attorney Jay Rigdon said he hoped the increase in property values would be enough to cover cost of the project, but if not, the county would pay the remainder.

Cost of paving the roads is estimated at $70,000, and cost for grading and gravel would be about $35,000.

Mitchell said the roadways in the area are "absolutely deplorable." He expressed concern that fire trucks, ambulances and other emergency vehicles have problems getting to the area because of the poor conditions of the roads.

County Sheriff Al Rovenstine said county police are called to Blacks four or five times a week. "There's just no road there, and it's very difficult for us to get back there," he said.

Commissioner Eddie Creighton said he's not ruling out that something needs to be done, but he would like to go look at the area before making a decision.

In other business:

• Kosciusko Superior Court II Judge James Jarrette gave an update on a community service program for youthful offenders. Instead of going to jail, the young people will be cleaning up cemeteries - three around Sidney and two in Tippecanoe Township. Yard waste that accumulates from the cleanup will be shredded by the city of Warsaw.

Anyone with similar projects may contact Missy Donovan or Judge Jarrette.

• Ruth Long was appointed to the Warsaw Community Public Library Board. She replaces Donna Lee, who resigned.

• Commissioners approved spending up to $20,000 for the rest of 1997 for juvenile detention. Superior Court III Judge Duane Huffer said the Office of Family and Children is running out of funding and asked that funding come from the Boys School/Girls School fund, which has used only $2,660 for juvenile detention as of May 6.

• Commissioners approved two recommendations from the area plan commission: To rezone the northern half of the Harley Mellott estate in Etna Township from agricultural to residential; and to deny Hugh Dunithan's request to rezone land in Turkey Creek Township from residential to commercial. [[In-content Ad]]

Kosciusko County commissioners are considering a proposal that would improve roads at Blacks Trailer Court north of North Webster.

Tippecanoe Township trustee Dick Mitchell told the commissioners Tuesday of a statute that would allow the county to complete a paving project and assess the costs back to the taxpayers.

If the roads are paved, property owners would benefit by increased property values. Then the cost would be assessed back to the people who benefit from the improvement.

Township attorney Jay Rigdon said he hoped the increase in property values would be enough to cover cost of the project, but if not, the county would pay the remainder.

Cost of paving the roads is estimated at $70,000, and cost for grading and gravel would be about $35,000.

Mitchell said the roadways in the area are "absolutely deplorable." He expressed concern that fire trucks, ambulances and other emergency vehicles have problems getting to the area because of the poor conditions of the roads.

County Sheriff Al Rovenstine said county police are called to Blacks four or five times a week. "There's just no road there, and it's very difficult for us to get back there," he said.

Commissioner Eddie Creighton said he's not ruling out that something needs to be done, but he would like to go look at the area before making a decision.

In other business:

• Kosciusko Superior Court II Judge James Jarrette gave an update on a community service program for youthful offenders. Instead of going to jail, the young people will be cleaning up cemeteries - three around Sidney and two in Tippecanoe Township. Yard waste that accumulates from the cleanup will be shredded by the city of Warsaw.

Anyone with similar projects may contact Missy Donovan or Judge Jarrette.

• Ruth Long was appointed to the Warsaw Community Public Library Board. She replaces Donna Lee, who resigned.

• Commissioners approved spending up to $20,000 for the rest of 1997 for juvenile detention. Superior Court III Judge Duane Huffer said the Office of Family and Children is running out of funding and asked that funding come from the Boys School/Girls School fund, which has used only $2,660 for juvenile detention as of May 6.

• Commissioners approved two recommendations from the area plan commission: To rezone the northern half of the Harley Mellott estate in Etna Township from agricultural to residential; and to deny Hugh Dunithan's request to rezone land in Turkey Creek Township from residential to commercial. [[In-content Ad]]

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