Commissioners Approve Increase In Planning Dept. Filing Fees
June 26, 2019 at 12:21 a.m.
Commissioners Approve Increase In Planning Dept. Filing Fees
By David [email protected]
Permit fees were not changed as the county is looking at software to put those applications online and the cost is yet unknown.
Assistant Planner Matt Sandy presented the amendment to the commissioners, which was recommended by the Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission by a vote of 6-1 at its June 5 meeting. It included the increase in the filing fees and the permit fees. County Surveyor Mike Kissinger was the sole vote against it as he felt it was premature to look at permit fees at this point.
Sandy said the last couple of months the Area Plan has been “kicking around” its fee schedule.
“What got the discussion going was, in looking at our advertising, all of our public hearings do have to be properly advertised in the newspaper. Part of that filing fee for those hearings goes toward paying for those ads. In looking at our ads over the last six months or so, we noticed we were not covering those fees any longer,” Sandy said.
The last time the ordinance was amended was in 2000.
At the same time, the Plan Commission wanted the planning department to consider or look at writing into the amendment a potential permit fee.
“We put together an amendment looking at all permit fees for construction, looking at raising our filing fees for variances through rezonings, our subdivision and mobile home. Those are the different ordinances that have fees associated with those,” Sandy said.
He said the department is looking at redoing its permitting system down the road, which would include an online application.
Commissioner Brad Jackson said he wanted to hold off on the permit fees until the county sees how much it will cost to put that online.
“We definitely need to cover our costs for that. We need to identify the costs since we’re so close,” he said.
Jackson also expressed some concern with some of the fees going from $75 to $300, but said if that covered the county’s costs and not excessively over, he was OK with that. He made the motion to approve the ordinance amendment regarding filing fees effective Sept. 14, but not permit fees.
Following that discussion, county attorney Chad Miner presented a procurement policy, which was approved by the commissioners, effective Sept. 1.
Miner said the policy was a result of the state’s request for the county to have a policy that “would document and govern the various purchasing that happens in the county.” It will govern the purchases made by the various departments, offices and agencies.
The policy deals with two broad types of purchases: services and goods. It also sets the rules for purchases based on anticipated dollar amounts of purchases.
In other business, the commissioners:
• Approved Butt & Timmons to repair the granite steps on the north side of the jail. County Administrator Marsha McSherry said the steps need to be reset, and the cement at the top and the top landing need replaced. Cost is $18,961.
Cost to replace the ramp for handicapped accessibility is $13,871.
McSherry said those are the only estimates she was able to get as two other companies told her to go someplace else and get an estimate as they didn’t have time to do the work.
Commissioner Cary Groninger said, “Right now, I know everybody is struggling to get people to bid on projects.”
• Approved an estimate from Kone out of Fort Wayne to repair the elevator at the jail. The elevator has been down, McSherry said.
Kone’s estimate was for $78,174.60. It is a Kone elevator and the company has been the county’s elevator service provider.
The other estimate was from Schindler Elevator Corp., Ohio, for $99,510.
• Approved the 2019 Senior Hub Grant as requested by Prosecuting Attorney Dan Hampton.
He said his office applied for the grant after the commissioners gave their approval. The grant is for $20,000, which is similar to the amount awarded in 2018.
“The Senior HUB Grant applies to the IV-D Office in the prosecutor’s office to offer our services to the northern Indiana senior prosecutors who have to serve in those counties where there’s a conflict of interest for the child support collections,” Hampton explained.
• Were reminded by Miner that the Indiana Department of Environmental Management will hold its public hearing on the Tippecanoe and Chapman Lakes Regional Sewer District at 6 p.m. today at the North Webster Community Center, 301 N.?Main St., North Webster.
Jones Petrie Rafinski will have staff available to answer any questions from the public prior to the public hearing beginning at 5 p.m. and project materials will be on display in the hallways outside of the auditorium.
• Reappointed Larry Yeiter to the Bell Memorial Public Library Board.
• Announced the next meeting is at 9 a.m. July 9.
Permit fees were not changed as the county is looking at software to put those applications online and the cost is yet unknown.
Assistant Planner Matt Sandy presented the amendment to the commissioners, which was recommended by the Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission by a vote of 6-1 at its June 5 meeting. It included the increase in the filing fees and the permit fees. County Surveyor Mike Kissinger was the sole vote against it as he felt it was premature to look at permit fees at this point.
Sandy said the last couple of months the Area Plan has been “kicking around” its fee schedule.
“What got the discussion going was, in looking at our advertising, all of our public hearings do have to be properly advertised in the newspaper. Part of that filing fee for those hearings goes toward paying for those ads. In looking at our ads over the last six months or so, we noticed we were not covering those fees any longer,” Sandy said.
The last time the ordinance was amended was in 2000.
At the same time, the Plan Commission wanted the planning department to consider or look at writing into the amendment a potential permit fee.
“We put together an amendment looking at all permit fees for construction, looking at raising our filing fees for variances through rezonings, our subdivision and mobile home. Those are the different ordinances that have fees associated with those,” Sandy said.
He said the department is looking at redoing its permitting system down the road, which would include an online application.
Commissioner Brad Jackson said he wanted to hold off on the permit fees until the county sees how much it will cost to put that online.
“We definitely need to cover our costs for that. We need to identify the costs since we’re so close,” he said.
Jackson also expressed some concern with some of the fees going from $75 to $300, but said if that covered the county’s costs and not excessively over, he was OK with that. He made the motion to approve the ordinance amendment regarding filing fees effective Sept. 14, but not permit fees.
Following that discussion, county attorney Chad Miner presented a procurement policy, which was approved by the commissioners, effective Sept. 1.
Miner said the policy was a result of the state’s request for the county to have a policy that “would document and govern the various purchasing that happens in the county.” It will govern the purchases made by the various departments, offices and agencies.
The policy deals with two broad types of purchases: services and goods. It also sets the rules for purchases based on anticipated dollar amounts of purchases.
In other business, the commissioners:
• Approved Butt & Timmons to repair the granite steps on the north side of the jail. County Administrator Marsha McSherry said the steps need to be reset, and the cement at the top and the top landing need replaced. Cost is $18,961.
Cost to replace the ramp for handicapped accessibility is $13,871.
McSherry said those are the only estimates she was able to get as two other companies told her to go someplace else and get an estimate as they didn’t have time to do the work.
Commissioner Cary Groninger said, “Right now, I know everybody is struggling to get people to bid on projects.”
• Approved an estimate from Kone out of Fort Wayne to repair the elevator at the jail. The elevator has been down, McSherry said.
Kone’s estimate was for $78,174.60. It is a Kone elevator and the company has been the county’s elevator service provider.
The other estimate was from Schindler Elevator Corp., Ohio, for $99,510.
• Approved the 2019 Senior Hub Grant as requested by Prosecuting Attorney Dan Hampton.
He said his office applied for the grant after the commissioners gave their approval. The grant is for $20,000, which is similar to the amount awarded in 2018.
“The Senior HUB Grant applies to the IV-D Office in the prosecutor’s office to offer our services to the northern Indiana senior prosecutors who have to serve in those counties where there’s a conflict of interest for the child support collections,” Hampton explained.
• Were reminded by Miner that the Indiana Department of Environmental Management will hold its public hearing on the Tippecanoe and Chapman Lakes Regional Sewer District at 6 p.m. today at the North Webster Community Center, 301 N.?Main St., North Webster.
Jones Petrie Rafinski will have staff available to answer any questions from the public prior to the public hearing beginning at 5 p.m. and project materials will be on display in the hallways outside of the auditorium.
• Reappointed Larry Yeiter to the Bell Memorial Public Library Board.
• Announced the next meeting is at 9 a.m. July 9.
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