Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
It's "very rare" the Kosciusko County commissioners vacate a right of way to water, commissioner Brad Jackson told Larry and Shirley Embry Tuesday.
Larry and Shirley petitioned the commissioners to vacate a 15-foot wide by 50-foot long portion of Barbee Street in Willow Cove Subdivision near Kuhn and Barbee lakes. The commissioners accepted the Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission recommendation to deny the request.
Matt Sandy, plan commission assistant planner, said there was a negative response from the fire department as well as joint property owners on the vacation. "It is a platted right of way used to access the water's edge," he said.
Shirley Embry said they sought the request for space to build on to their residence. Jackson asked her if she knew that she would only get half of the right of way and the other half went to the neighbor across the way.
"That doesn't accomplish what we want to do," she said, noting that she did not know they'd only get half.
Remonstrators also said the vacation would landlock their property, devalue their property and not provide access to the lake.
In other business, the county commissioners:
• Awarded the Bridge 95 project to R.L. McCoy for $367,295. The bridge is on Old Road 30W over Tippecanoe River.
• Approved to be the grant applicant for Housing Opportunities of Warsaw, as requested by Linda Bell. HOW is is working on a housing needs assessment for the entire county and is applying for grants for the assessment. Because the assessment is countywide, the county needs to be the applicant.
• Reappointed Ruth Jones to the Warsaw Community Public Library board.
• Approved Lisa and Gregg Robinson's petition to rezone 15.20 acres from an agricultural district to an agricultural II district. The property is on the east side of CR 250E and 1,770 feet south of CR 550N in Plain Township.
• Approved Wilmer and Alice Loher's petition to rezone 38 acres from an agricultural to a commercial district. The property is on the west side of Ind. 15 in Plain Township.
• Approved Jerry and Cheryl Ryman's petition to rezone a half acre be rezoned from agricultural to residential. The property is on the west side of CR 175E in Wayne Township.
Commissioners are Brad Jackson, northern district; Avis Gunter, southern district; and Ron Truex, middle district, who was not present at Tuesday's meeting. They meet regularly every other Tuesday in the county courthouse at 9 a.m.
