Effective Jan. 1, the number of members on the Kosciusko County Redevelopment Commission will grow by two.
County Councilwoman Joni Truex, president of the Redevelopment Commission, requested the county commissioners increase the number of members from five to seven. She said the commission voted unanimously to bring the request to the commissioners.
“The reason for the increase is the terms are currently one year, and there is turnover on the Redevelopment Commission and will continue to be for 2025. So the request was made that we increase the number of members so we’re satisfying two issues: one would be a quorum issue, and making sure we have a quorum; and two would be that there would be, hopefully, a little bit more knowledge by adding that many more members who understand redevelopment commissions. It’s a little complicated,” Truex said.
Commissioner Brad Jackson asked if they were still going to have one-year terms. Truex said they would really like to see two-year staggard terms, but they didn’t vote on that at the Redevelopment Commission. She, however, said her recommendation would be for two- or three-year staggard terms.
County attorney Ed Ormsby said, in discussing it with Redevelopment Commission member Doug Hanes, it was Ormsby’s understanding that Hanes’ thinking was that one-year terms would stay for now. Truex said she talked to him Monday and, while they can do one-year terms for now, they’ll probably come back and ask for longer terms later.
Ormsby said since the commissioners don’t have a recommendation from the Redevelopment Commission at this point on the staggering and length of terms, he recommended the commissioners amend the ordinance to increase the number of members from five to seven, effective Jan. 1, 2025, but keep the terms at one year for now. If the commissioners want to make other changes, including staggering and length of terms, they have the remainder of the year to do so.
Commissioner Cary Groninger asked how the Redevelopment Commission appointments would be made. Truex said four will come from the commissioners, and three from the county council.
The commissioners unanimously approved a motion to increase the number of members of the Redevelopment Commission from five to seven. Truex said she will be back to ask for an increase in the term lengths and staggering of the terms.
In other business, the commissioners approved:
• For Kosciusko County Highway Department Superintendent Steve Moriarty to apply for a Community Crossings Matching Grant from the state for $1.5 million.
The state increased its maximum match from $1 million to $1.5 million, so the county can do $3 million in road projects and only pay half of that.
The commissioners also approved a financial commitment letter to go along with the grant application. The letter is for Armstrong Road, from Ind. 13 to over the bridge in Oswego; Packerton Road from South County Line to the town of Packerton; and then Chapman Lake Drive, C19, and then Warner Drive to Eli Lilly Road.
• For Moriarty to apply for a grant for at-grade crossings paint markings for $29,500. He said the county has received the grant, which is 100% reimburseable, the last four years.
• For Kosciusko Area Bus Service to purchase two new Ford E450 medium-size transit buses, to replace two older buses in the KABS fleet, as requested by Marcie Arndt, Cardinal Services vice president of programs.
Each bus costs $121,954. The federal match for each bus will be $93,985, with the locally applied match being $27,969 per bus. In total, the federal match for both buses will be $187,970, with the total local match $55,938, which will come from the KABS general fund.
• The renewal of an agreement with Meraki for wireless access points for three years at $11,166.30, as requested by Bob Momeyer, County Systems Administration.
• The purchase of a new intercom recording system in the Kosciusko County Jail that records when inmates to speak to officers. The recording system for the communication is failing, and the system in place is no longer supported, Momeyer said. The new system is $20,400.
The sheriff’s office will pay for half of that expense out of the commissary fund, with the remaining portion of the commissioners’ land improvements fund.
• An ordinance establishing a donation fund for the Kosciusko County Re-Entry Court, as requested by the court’s interim coordinator, Kelly Krugman, probation department.
• A $10,000 change order for the county courthouse fire alarm system project, as presented by County Administrator Marsha McSherry. Koorsen Fire & Security is having installation complications with the existing old building and requested 100 additional hours of man hours. McSherry said Koorsen agreed to split the cost because they originally looking at an additional 200 additional hours.
The next commissioners meeting is at 9 a.m. July 16.