Commissioners OK ARPA Funds Requests For Digital Sign, Improvements
June 6, 2023 at 10:41 p.m.
By David [email protected]
The requests were already approved by the county’s ARPA committee and go before the county council on Thursday.
Cori Humes, executive director of the Kosciusko County Convention and Visitors Bureau, presented for the KCCVB’s request for $100,000 for a new digital message sign. The current “V” sign has been in place for over 24 years.
She said the KCCVB is hoping replacing the “V” sign with a digital sign will be a great way to share “why Kosciusko County is a great place to live, work and play and learn.” It’s estimated that over 8 million vehicles travel U.S. 30 annually, she said, so they’re hoping to direct those people who pass through to destinations in the county. With that, Humes said they’re hoping to expand the tourism impact, which was over $2 million in 2019.
“The capability of this sign has over 13 million marketing impressions a year,” she said.
The full cost of the 24-foot-high digital sign is $160,000, and the ARPA committee recommended $100,000 toward that. Humes said there are other grant possibilities to cover the remainder of the cost.
“We’re hoping this will further our success in promoting Kosciusko County to travelers, as well as residents of things happening across the county,” she concluded.
Commissioner Cary Groninger said when the ARPA committee heard the request they thought the sign was an opportunity to market the events and everything else in the county. He said 13 million views a year was a lot of people looking at the sign and it could have a big impact. He made a motion to approve the request and it was approved 3-0.
Highway Superintendent Steve Moriarty made a request for $1.888 million in ARPA funds for CR 1300N improvements.
“It’s the 1300 North extension. So, currently, we’re having an overpass being put up in the town of Milford, and this would connect that town of Milford overpass, to where we put that in, all the way to the city limits of Syracuse. This would be a partial match, trying to use other funds to complete the whole road section,” he said. “This would be widening of the shoulders, overlaying with new asphalt, making sure it could handle the semi traffic going between State Road 13 and State Road 15, from Milford to Syracuse.”
Moriarty said it would have a financial impact to the county, hopefully bringing new enterprises and new jobs to the northern part of the county.
Commissioner Brad Jackson said it would also help preserve existing businesses like Polywood that’s been “astronomical.”
The commissioners approved the recommendation.
While he was up at the podium, Moriarty requested the commissioners approve the signing of an agreement with United Consulting on the engineering and construction inspection of small structure No. 320, which is on T26 Lane in Oswego.
“We’re wanting to get the preliminary design done and also put in there for construction inspection and right-of-way,” Moriarty said. “This is for so that we can apply for Community Crossings matching grant to pick up half of this, so they’ll pay for half if we get this in. It’s just so we can go through and get the application prepared.”
The commissioners approved.
County Administrator Marsha McSherry presented the last two ARPA fund requests for Tuesday.
The first was for $76,000 for the fire alarm system for the county courthouse. Last fall, she said they replaced the alarm system in the Justice Building as it was outdated, and the courthouse is just as outdated. The alarm system in the courthouse will be connected to the system that was installed in the Justice Building. The commissioners gave their OK.
The second request was for $2.4 million for the Justice Building redecorating project. McSherry said it was an update to a lot of the carpeting, wallpaper and painting. It’s been over 20 years since it’s been done, she said.
Jackson said they’ve had lots of conversation about it over years as they’ve tried to avoid a big expenditure.
The commissioners unanimously approved the request.
The commissioners also heard requests from nonprofits for funding for 2024. No action was taken. The commissioners will decide on funding amounts later and submit those figures in their 2024 budget for approval by the county council.
Kosciusko County 4-H Council requested $46,589.91 for 2024, up from the $45,233 approved in 2023; Cardinal Services, $111,373 in 2024, up from $108,129 approved in 2023; Stillwater Hospice, $50,000, the same as 2023; Kosciusko County Historical Society, $25,000 for 2024, up from the $23,230 approved in 2023; Beaman Home, $40,000, up from the $33,425 approved in 2023; Kosciusko County Senior Services, $40,000, up from $33,425 approved in 2023; and St. Joe River Basin, $3,794, up from the $3,705 approved in 2023.
Total amount requested for 2024 is $316,756.91. The total amount approved for 2023 was $297,147. In 2022, the total amount approved was $287,734.
County attorney Ed Ormsby presented a resolution to establish Kosciusko County as a Broadband Ready Community through the state of Indiana’s Broadband Ready Communities Program.
He said the program was created by the state to encourage infrastructure investment for broadband.
Part of the resolution states that County Plan Commission Director and Floodplain Administrator Matt Sandy is appointed the single point of contact for all matters related to a broadband project. The county will establish procedures to allow all forms, applications and documentation related to a project to be filed or submitted and signed by electronic means. The county will review and approve or reject all applications for a permit related to a project within 10 business days after an application is filed or submitted, and it was assure that after an application is approved, any inspections related to a project will occur in a timely and expeditious manner.
Groninger said the reason for the resolution is to the get the county broadband ready. “I think there’s going to be additional funding sources through the state and this is going to be one of the boxes that will probably need to be checked when you’re applying for a grant,” he said.
Internet infrastructure is key in trying to attract people to Kosciusko County, he said, as internet is no longer a “nicety but a necessity.” He made the motion to approve the resolution and it was approved unanimously.
In other business, the commissioners:
• Approved the quarterly reimbursement reports for Kosciusko Area Bus Service (KABS), as presented by General Manager Steven Lockridge.
• Approved the grant Community Corrections applied for and already received without asking the commissioners’ permission first. It was for $10,000 for Drug Court and will help pay for incentives for participants, graduation supplies, some of the travel to a national conference and some of the indigent funding for treatments, according to Director Barry Andrew.
• Announced the next commissioners meeting is June 20.
The requests were already approved by the county’s ARPA committee and go before the county council on Thursday.
Cori Humes, executive director of the Kosciusko County Convention and Visitors Bureau, presented for the KCCVB’s request for $100,000 for a new digital message sign. The current “V” sign has been in place for over 24 years.
She said the KCCVB is hoping replacing the “V” sign with a digital sign will be a great way to share “why Kosciusko County is a great place to live, work and play and learn.” It’s estimated that over 8 million vehicles travel U.S. 30 annually, she said, so they’re hoping to direct those people who pass through to destinations in the county. With that, Humes said they’re hoping to expand the tourism impact, which was over $2 million in 2019.
“The capability of this sign has over 13 million marketing impressions a year,” she said.
The full cost of the 24-foot-high digital sign is $160,000, and the ARPA committee recommended $100,000 toward that. Humes said there are other grant possibilities to cover the remainder of the cost.
“We’re hoping this will further our success in promoting Kosciusko County to travelers, as well as residents of things happening across the county,” she concluded.
Commissioner Cary Groninger said when the ARPA committee heard the request they thought the sign was an opportunity to market the events and everything else in the county. He said 13 million views a year was a lot of people looking at the sign and it could have a big impact. He made a motion to approve the request and it was approved 3-0.
Highway Superintendent Steve Moriarty made a request for $1.888 million in ARPA funds for CR 1300N improvements.
“It’s the 1300 North extension. So, currently, we’re having an overpass being put up in the town of Milford, and this would connect that town of Milford overpass, to where we put that in, all the way to the city limits of Syracuse. This would be a partial match, trying to use other funds to complete the whole road section,” he said. “This would be widening of the shoulders, overlaying with new asphalt, making sure it could handle the semi traffic going between State Road 13 and State Road 15, from Milford to Syracuse.”
Moriarty said it would have a financial impact to the county, hopefully bringing new enterprises and new jobs to the northern part of the county.
Commissioner Brad Jackson said it would also help preserve existing businesses like Polywood that’s been “astronomical.”
The commissioners approved the recommendation.
While he was up at the podium, Moriarty requested the commissioners approve the signing of an agreement with United Consulting on the engineering and construction inspection of small structure No. 320, which is on T26 Lane in Oswego.
“We’re wanting to get the preliminary design done and also put in there for construction inspection and right-of-way,” Moriarty said. “This is for so that we can apply for Community Crossings matching grant to pick up half of this, so they’ll pay for half if we get this in. It’s just so we can go through and get the application prepared.”
The commissioners approved.
County Administrator Marsha McSherry presented the last two ARPA fund requests for Tuesday.
The first was for $76,000 for the fire alarm system for the county courthouse. Last fall, she said they replaced the alarm system in the Justice Building as it was outdated, and the courthouse is just as outdated. The alarm system in the courthouse will be connected to the system that was installed in the Justice Building. The commissioners gave their OK.
The second request was for $2.4 million for the Justice Building redecorating project. McSherry said it was an update to a lot of the carpeting, wallpaper and painting. It’s been over 20 years since it’s been done, she said.
Jackson said they’ve had lots of conversation about it over years as they’ve tried to avoid a big expenditure.
The commissioners unanimously approved the request.
The commissioners also heard requests from nonprofits for funding for 2024. No action was taken. The commissioners will decide on funding amounts later and submit those figures in their 2024 budget for approval by the county council.
Kosciusko County 4-H Council requested $46,589.91 for 2024, up from the $45,233 approved in 2023; Cardinal Services, $111,373 in 2024, up from $108,129 approved in 2023; Stillwater Hospice, $50,000, the same as 2023; Kosciusko County Historical Society, $25,000 for 2024, up from the $23,230 approved in 2023; Beaman Home, $40,000, up from the $33,425 approved in 2023; Kosciusko County Senior Services, $40,000, up from $33,425 approved in 2023; and St. Joe River Basin, $3,794, up from the $3,705 approved in 2023.
Total amount requested for 2024 is $316,756.91. The total amount approved for 2023 was $297,147. In 2022, the total amount approved was $287,734.
County attorney Ed Ormsby presented a resolution to establish Kosciusko County as a Broadband Ready Community through the state of Indiana’s Broadband Ready Communities Program.
He said the program was created by the state to encourage infrastructure investment for broadband.
Part of the resolution states that County Plan Commission Director and Floodplain Administrator Matt Sandy is appointed the single point of contact for all matters related to a broadband project. The county will establish procedures to allow all forms, applications and documentation related to a project to be filed or submitted and signed by electronic means. The county will review and approve or reject all applications for a permit related to a project within 10 business days after an application is filed or submitted, and it was assure that after an application is approved, any inspections related to a project will occur in a timely and expeditious manner.
Groninger said the reason for the resolution is to the get the county broadband ready. “I think there’s going to be additional funding sources through the state and this is going to be one of the boxes that will probably need to be checked when you’re applying for a grant,” he said.
Internet infrastructure is key in trying to attract people to Kosciusko County, he said, as internet is no longer a “nicety but a necessity.” He made the motion to approve the resolution and it was approved unanimously.
In other business, the commissioners:
• Approved the quarterly reimbursement reports for Kosciusko Area Bus Service (KABS), as presented by General Manager Steven Lockridge.
• Approved the grant Community Corrections applied for and already received without asking the commissioners’ permission first. It was for $10,000 for Drug Court and will help pay for incentives for participants, graduation supplies, some of the travel to a national conference and some of the indigent funding for treatments, according to Director Barry Andrew.
• Announced the next commissioners meeting is June 20.
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