If the public has any interest in the Western Route Project, they didn't show it Thursday night at the joint Kosciusko County Council/Commissioners meeting.

The two county government bodies met to discuss the contract with The Troyer Group, Mishawaka, for the corridor study of the project.

By 7:18 p.m., a few minutes after the meeting began, the contract was approved and the funds for the contract - approximately $145,000 - were transferred.

"That meeting went a whole lot faster than I anticipated," said Rob Ladson, Kosciusko County highway superintendent and engineer, after the contract was unanimously approved by the commissioners.

The council approved the transfer of funds for the corridor study early in the meeting, before public comments were heard.

However, only one person spoke during public comments.

Grant McGuire, an R.R. Donnelley and Sons Co. employee, said Donnelley supports the project. The company now has 15,000 trucks a year in and out of their plant, and they expect that to continue to grow. The Western Route Project, he said, is good for the community and the company.

Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins said he agrees with McGuire's sentiments. He said he appreciates the city having the opportunity to work with the county on the project. "I appreciate your commitment," he said.

Not since the mid-1970s have any significant road improvements in the county been done, said county commissioner Ron Truex. He said the Western Route Project was the first step in the county moving ahead.

If the county waits until they need the Western Route Project, said commissioner Brad Jackson, "it'll be too late."

"I wish we could have this tomorrow," said county councilman John Kinsey.

The contract approved between the county and The Troyer Group includes $98,000 for the corridor study; the fee for The Troyer Group to coordinate the project with environmental agencies at $24,700, and to coordinate the project with the Indiana Department of Transportation for approximately $22,000.

Client service leader and senior civil engineer for The Troyer Group, Steve J. Benczik, said the company believes the project is going to be a valuable asset to the county and to Warsaw. He said the corridor study will help determine the best place for the western route from U.S. 30 to Ind. 15 to go. The environmental coordination will require The Troyer Group to work with environmental agencies so if the project requires any work through a protected area, that aspect can be dealt with beforehand.

By coordinating the project with INDOT, Benczik said, the road could be made to meet INDOT standards so they could eventually accept and maintain the road.

"One of the goals could be to get Ind. 15 and 25 out of Warsaw," said Benczik, to alleviate the traffic congestion.

The county already had the money for the corridor study, Kosciusko County Auditor Sue Ann Mitchell said, in the capital cumulative development fund. It just had to be transferred to be used.

In June, the county council approved an additional appropriation of approximately $1.98 million for the commissioner's cumulative capital development from the County Option Income Tax fund. The approximate $1.98 million is the county's share of a revenue growth exceeding the Indiana State Budget Agency's forecasts of the County Option Income Tax.

The total cost of the Western Route Project is estimated at $16 million to $23 million. Eighty percent of the construction cost is eligible for federal aid. The county's share, including fees not covered by federal aid such as architects' fee, will be an estimated $5 million to $8 million.

For several years, the county had federal funds for work for roads in the area of CR 350W. Ladson discovered the money was there late last year.

With the money, the county can upgrade CR 350W, build a new road and bridge from Old Road 30 to Park Schramm Road over the Tippecanoe River and put in a new road from Park Schramm Road to Crystal Lake Road, including an overpass for the railroad.

In December, the commissioners decided to proceed with the project "in all three phases and with the use of federal aid." The aid will cover 80 percent of the construction costs but none of the engineering and right of way acquisition cost. If federal funds are used, federal guidelines must be followed.

In other business:

• The county council approved drafting a letter to the state saying they endorse the Operation Pull Over project. The letter is now required for the county to receive grants.

• Approved paying half the salary of a new employee in the county's Geographical Imaging Systems department. The city of Warsaw will pay the other half and the employee will work for both the county and city.

Members of the Kosciusko County Council are: president Jim Tranter, vice president Brad Tandy, Harold Jones, Tom Anglin, John Kinsey, Larry Teghtmeyer and Maurice Beer.

County commissioners are: president Brad Jackson, Avis Gunter and Ron Truex.

Budget meetings for the county council will be at the county courthouse Monday and Tuesday at 6 p.m. and Thursday at 7 p.m. The commissioners' next meeting is 9 a.m. Tuesday. [[In-content Ad]]