Thursday night, the Kosciusko County Council approved an abatement for Buhrt Engineering and funds for the Convention and Visitors Bureau Inc.

Dennis Buhrt, president of Buhrt Engineering, said the abatement was for two new pieces of equipment. Once the equipment is fully operational, four new employees will be hired. The council approved the request for five years.

The $50,055.62 for the CVB Inc., according to Kosciusko County Convention and Recreation Visitors Commission member Joy McCarthy-Sessing, includes $26,885 for administration, $600 for community services, $16,362.12 for current resident and visitor services, $3,708 for outreach, $600 for community relations and $900 for attractions.

In addition, she requested another $35,000 for a tourism consultant to work on a long-range strategic plan. McCarthy-Sessing said the commission spent a day interviewing consultants to choose the best one to help them make a 10- to 20-year plan.

"I was at the meeting when the presentations were made and I think they're on the right track," said Bob Sanders, county councilman.

County auditor Sue Ann Mitchell reported the county received its bill for the Microvote voting machines. Total cost is $775,900. The county will be reimbursted for $564,900. The council may have to approve an additional appropriation out of the cumulative capital development fund to pay for the remaining costs.

Local non-profit organizations made their annual requests to be included in the county commissioners' budget. The agencies already made the requests to the commissioners, but also must make the requests to the council, who have final approval over budgets. The requests include $49,948 for Kosciusko County Fair Board 4-H; $102,500 for Cardinal Center; $40,000 for Home Health Care; $21,850 for Kosciusko County Historical Society; $33,500 for Beaman Home; $35,000 for the Kosciusko County Council on Aging and Aged; $65,835 for the Animal Welfare League; $475 for St. Joe River Basin; $500 for Arrow Head RC&D and $100,000 for Kosciusko Development Inc.

In other business, the council:

• Approved transfers for county health, $1,521.31 and $400; 911 Emergency Telephone Service, $1,500; county general, $28,187.29; county highway, $11,605; and county sheriff, $2,410.

• Approved additional appropriations for county highway, $200,000 for gas and motor oil; circuit and superior court, $5,000 for court-ordered services and $40,000 for public defender services; and county sheriff, $60,000 for gas and oil.

Additional appropriations also were approved for the county prosecutor from the infraction deferral account to local law enforcement agencies for equipment, including $2,335.25 for North Webster Police; $16,740.75 for county sheriff's department digital lab; $9,156 for KCSD patrol division; and $300 and $2,562 for Indiana State Police.

• Approved their own 2006 budget, except salaries. Salaries will be approved during the budget hearings. However, the preliminary 2006 county council budget hearing, including salaries, is $53,509.

• Set budget dates for Aug. 8, 6 p.m.; Aug. 9, 6 p.m.; and Aug. 11, 7 p.m.

• Appointed Robert Bowerman to the Milford library board.

County council members are John Kinsey, Harold Jones, Charlene Knispel, Tom Anglin, Larry Teghtmeyer, Bob Sanders and Brad Tandy. [[In-content Ad]]