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Some minor changes to the Eli Lilly Road relocation project were approved Tuesday by the Kosciusko County Commissioners.
The road's connection to Bishop Road now will be a true 90-degree angle. The newly relocated Eli Lilly Road will tie in with the existing Eli Lilly Road further west than originally proposed, approximately 14 to 15 feet.
Phil Beer, with USI Consultants, the engineers for the project, said the curve now will be at a 1,200-foot radius, flatter than the original 950-foot radius curve.
"Everything else is according to what we originally submitted," said Beer.
A proposal to widen the existing road 4 feet to make room for more bike path was nixed because of safety concerns. The entire road will remain at 22 feet wide.
By a vote of 2 to 1 last Oct. 7, the Kosciusko County Commissioners approved the Eli Lilly Road, Syracuse, vacation and relocation.
As part of the project, a portion of Eli Lilly Road, from the Tobias residence to Bishop Road, will be vacated and rebuilt north toward the former Wawasee Golf Course. A multi-use path will be built alongside the road. The existing road will remain open until construction of the new road is complete and approved by county highway superintendent and engineer Rob Ladson.
Beer told the commissioners, "Construction clearing has begun on Mr. Nicholas' property."
Nicholas was one of the petitioners for the road relocation.
Beer said they are hoping to start paving in October. In the next 30 days, Beer said, a number of structures along the road relocation route will be coming down, including the golf course clubhouse.
Phend & Brown is the contractor for the project and they already are on board, he said. They are "clearing the way as we speak."
All utilities will be on the north side of the road, and as much as possible, the utilities will be buried. No utility service will be interrupted.
In other business, the commissioners:
• Approved a bid from Morton Salt for salt for the county highway department at $36.43 per ton.
• Heard from Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission assistant planner Matt Sandy that the Kosciusko County government Web site at www.kcgov.com is now up and running, though the site is still a work in progress.
• Approved a 2004 grant application for Kosciusko Area Bus Service. Rita Baker, of KABS, said they are asking for $250,000 from the federal government and $94,000 from the state.
• Approved the purchase of a laser printer for the county clerk's office for check writing.
• Approved moving their Oct. 7 meeting to Oct. 6.
Kosciusko County commissioners are Brad Jackson, northern district; Ron Truex, middle district; and Avis Gunter, southern district. They meet at 9 a.m. in the county courthouse every other Tuesday.
