With no significant rain fall over the past two weeks, the Kosciusko County Commissioners decided to extend its burn ban for another two weeks.
With rain possible Wednesday, Commissioner Ron Truex asked Emergency Management Director Ed Rock about ending the burn ban if the county receives a substantial amount of rain.
Rock suggested to the county commissioners during their regular meeting this morning that the burn ban be extended.
Rock advised that if the commissioners wanted to end the burn ban before it expires July 31, they’d have to call a special meeting to do so.
The commissioners thanked the community for supporting the burn ban and said that during the Fourth of July weekend, no major calls of burning or fires were received.
Neal Brown, deputy administrator and environmental scientist for the county’s department of health, asked for the commissioners’ help this morning.
Brown said the county is being told by the state that counties will no longer be allowed to do soil borings for people in the county. That instead would go to the state as would the revenue derived from them.
“So this is yet another unfunded state mandate,” said Truex.
“I don’t know why the state is picking on us,” said Brown.
“Let me get this straight. In the years we’ve been doing it there has never been any sort of safety issue,” said Commissioner Bob Conley.
“There’s been no record, no issues,” said Brown.
Brown said he and County Health Administrator Bob Weaver have more than 37 years experience.
“This is a situation where the state is taking away a service from county residents,” said Truex.
Brown asked the commissioners to sign a letter of support asking the state to allow Kosciusko County to maintain its current soil boring program.
The commissioners agreed. County Health Officer Dr. William Remington sent a similar letter to the state.
A group of citizens from the Barbee Chain Of Lakes were on hand to voice their concerns on a variety of topics.
Greg Mitchell, who lives on EMS B48A Lane, told the commissioners that his neighborhood has had issues with the EMS road because while it is a public way, it’s not maintained by the county.
The conversation then segued into concerns of safety and crime in the neighborhood.
Barb Sledge, who lives on EMS B42 Lane, heads up the neighborhood watch, and along with several other residents told the commissioners of issues they had with intoxicated and underage people driving golf carts and small utility vehicles, like John Deere Gators throughout the neighborhood.
County attorney Mike Miner suggested that a group come together and attempt to vacate the road way to keep non-residents off it.
Sheriff Rocky Goshert was also on hand to field some of the complaints.
Dave Patterson, Yellow Creek Lake Conservation Club president, said that two signs for the lake were recently taken down.
Patterson said he was told by the state that the signs could only be put back up if a portion of the shoreline was owned by the Department of Natural Resources or there was public access with at least 500 feet of frontage.
Patterson said for smaller lakes like Yellow Creek Lake that’d be impossible.
No action was taken on the signs.
Follow staff writer Daniel Riordan on Twitter at @TUNews_Riordan
