Landowner Withdraws Rezoning Petition
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
A remonstrated petition by James Evans to rezone 40.71 acres from an agricultural district to a residential district was withdrawn from consideration before the Kosciusko County Commissioners Tuesday, sending remonstrators home before the meeting even began.
It was one of six petitions that were to be presented before the commissioners.
The property is on the north side of CR 1000N and approximately 500 to 600 feet east of Ind. 13.
The petition was denied by a vote of 5 to 2 by the Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission three weeks ago. The plan commission is a recommending board to the county commissioners.
The property is across from Wawasee Middle School and the proposed development was for 76 lots.
A petition by Richard L. Gilberts to rezone ground from an agricultural district to an industrial II district was unanimously denied. The property is on the east side of Kyle Road and 1,320 feet south of CR 250N in Tippecanoe Township.
Gilbert wants to expand his home occupation business. He is in the business of utility contracting.
Commissioners unanimously approved Dennis and Pam Polk's petition to rezone 8.10 acres from an environmental district to an agricultural district. The property is 1,350 feet east of Harper Road and 1,470 feet south of CR 700N in Plain Township.
Roger Buss' petition to rezone 42 acres from an agricultural district to a residential district was unanimously approved. The property is on the east side of Ind. 19 and 1,700 feet north of CR 1350N in Jefferson Township. The property will be annexed by the town of Nappanee.
They denied Mark and Lynn Davis' petition to rezone 7.37 acres from an agricultural to an agricultural II district. The property is on the west side of CR 400E and 765 feet north of CR 750N in Plain Township.
Roger and Cynthia Heckman's petition to rezone 1.49 acres from an agricultural to a commercial district was approved. The property is on the west side of Ind. 13 and 420 feet south of CR 800N in Tippecanoe Township.
In other business:
• Bob Barker, of Group Alternatives Insurance, told the commissioners that due to changes in the county's insurance, if an employee is injured or becomes ill while working for wage or profit for someone other than the county, the insurance will no longer cover that employee's injury or illness. They also will not cover any claims to a covered family member who is injured while working elsewhere.
Though county employees have been notified, Kosciusko County Administrator Ron Robinson said there is still some confusion. Rob Ladson, superintendent and engineer for the highway department, agreed. He said, "They've been notified but it's still confusing."
Barker said if the employee is working for another party and is injured, the other party is responsible.
"We need to notify you that it is happening," said Barker, "and why it is happening."
In another insurance matter, the commissioners approved extending to county employees a voluntary additional term life insurance policy. The minimum insurance that must be bought is $20,000 in coverage, and at least 25 percent of the county employees must accept it for the insurance to take effect.
• Commissioners approved the placement of several stop signs in the county. Ladson recommended the signs.
Five stop signs will be placed in Windmill West addition, Old 30 West. Some stop signs will be placed in Sellers Lake, and Whitko School Corp. recommended the signs, Ladson said.
Stop signs also will be placed at the railroad crossings at the northeast corners of CRs 900N, 1050N and 1150N and Kilmer Drive.
At CR 900N, the state plans to install crossing gates and flashing lights, but it will be at least two years before they are in place, Ladson reported. He said he found out about the crossing when he contacted the state two weeks ago after an accident occurred there.
• Robinson reported trees at the courthouse were trimmed over the weekend. Some were in bad shape and two may need to be taken out if they cannot be salvaged.
He also reported that two jail trusties refurbished much of the county's furniture in the courthouse during their free time.
"We owe them a lot of thanks," said Robinson. "They did a beautiful job on lots of furniture that would have been pitched."
He also added, "They have more than paid for their keep."
• A petition to vacate an easement by Joanne F. Crown, R. Steven Hearn and Delores M. Hearn was unanimously approved. It is on the southeast side of Oswego, off EMS T26 Lane.
Commissioners are president Brad Jackson, Avis Gunter and Eddie Creighton. [[In-content Ad]]
A remonstrated petition by James Evans to rezone 40.71 acres from an agricultural district to a residential district was withdrawn from consideration before the Kosciusko County Commissioners Tuesday, sending remonstrators home before the meeting even began.
It was one of six petitions that were to be presented before the commissioners.
The property is on the north side of CR 1000N and approximately 500 to 600 feet east of Ind. 13.
The petition was denied by a vote of 5 to 2 by the Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission three weeks ago. The plan commission is a recommending board to the county commissioners.
The property is across from Wawasee Middle School and the proposed development was for 76 lots.
A petition by Richard L. Gilberts to rezone ground from an agricultural district to an industrial II district was unanimously denied. The property is on the east side of Kyle Road and 1,320 feet south of CR 250N in Tippecanoe Township.
Gilbert wants to expand his home occupation business. He is in the business of utility contracting.
Commissioners unanimously approved Dennis and Pam Polk's petition to rezone 8.10 acres from an environmental district to an agricultural district. The property is 1,350 feet east of Harper Road and 1,470 feet south of CR 700N in Plain Township.
Roger Buss' petition to rezone 42 acres from an agricultural district to a residential district was unanimously approved. The property is on the east side of Ind. 19 and 1,700 feet north of CR 1350N in Jefferson Township. The property will be annexed by the town of Nappanee.
They denied Mark and Lynn Davis' petition to rezone 7.37 acres from an agricultural to an agricultural II district. The property is on the west side of CR 400E and 765 feet north of CR 750N in Plain Township.
Roger and Cynthia Heckman's petition to rezone 1.49 acres from an agricultural to a commercial district was approved. The property is on the west side of Ind. 13 and 420 feet south of CR 800N in Tippecanoe Township.
In other business:
• Bob Barker, of Group Alternatives Insurance, told the commissioners that due to changes in the county's insurance, if an employee is injured or becomes ill while working for wage or profit for someone other than the county, the insurance will no longer cover that employee's injury or illness. They also will not cover any claims to a covered family member who is injured while working elsewhere.
Though county employees have been notified, Kosciusko County Administrator Ron Robinson said there is still some confusion. Rob Ladson, superintendent and engineer for the highway department, agreed. He said, "They've been notified but it's still confusing."
Barker said if the employee is working for another party and is injured, the other party is responsible.
"We need to notify you that it is happening," said Barker, "and why it is happening."
In another insurance matter, the commissioners approved extending to county employees a voluntary additional term life insurance policy. The minimum insurance that must be bought is $20,000 in coverage, and at least 25 percent of the county employees must accept it for the insurance to take effect.
• Commissioners approved the placement of several stop signs in the county. Ladson recommended the signs.
Five stop signs will be placed in Windmill West addition, Old 30 West. Some stop signs will be placed in Sellers Lake, and Whitko School Corp. recommended the signs, Ladson said.
Stop signs also will be placed at the railroad crossings at the northeast corners of CRs 900N, 1050N and 1150N and Kilmer Drive.
At CR 900N, the state plans to install crossing gates and flashing lights, but it will be at least two years before they are in place, Ladson reported. He said he found out about the crossing when he contacted the state two weeks ago after an accident occurred there.
• Robinson reported trees at the courthouse were trimmed over the weekend. Some were in bad shape and two may need to be taken out if they cannot be salvaged.
He also reported that two jail trusties refurbished much of the county's furniture in the courthouse during their free time.
"We owe them a lot of thanks," said Robinson. "They did a beautiful job on lots of furniture that would have been pitched."
He also added, "They have more than paid for their keep."
• A petition to vacate an easement by Joanne F. Crown, R. Steven Hearn and Delores M. Hearn was unanimously approved. It is on the southeast side of Oswego, off EMS T26 Lane.
Commissioners are president Brad Jackson, Avis Gunter and Eddie Creighton. [[In-content Ad]]