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County Highway Engineer Rob Ladson brought up a problem with Bridge 267 on East Wawasee Drive at the Kosciusko County Commissioners meeting Tuesday.
Ladson assured the commissioners the bridge structure is fine and the foundation is running under budget by $15,000. However, the excavating for the new foundation reconstruction is causing the existing retaining wall to fall.
Ladson presented three options for the commissioners to consider. One option would be to replace the retaining wall and combine it with the seawall. The property owner of the driveway supported by the retaining wall didn't like that option.
The second option would be to replace both the retaining wall and the seawall. The retaining wall would be replaced with concrete and the seawall with sheet piling. The last option would be to replace both the seawall and the retaining wall with concrete.
The property owner prefers option three. Ladson said the big issue with the project is timing. The commissioners needed to immediately choose which option to use because the construction company, R.L. McCoy Inc., would run out of work in the next two or three days.
"The timing is critical," said Ladson.
The commissioners approved option three so the contractor can continue with the work on the bridge.
In other business:
• Mary Ellen Rudisel- Jordan of Scearce Rudisel Architects requested permission for restoration work on the County Courthouse tower.
Rudisel-Jordan said the paint on the tower is peeling off in large pieces, exposing the wood. This will make the wood susceptible to rot. She requested the commissioners put an amount in the budget for spring to paint the tower. According to Rudisel it cost about $12,000 to paint the Wabash tower four years ago.
Commissioner Eddie Creighton said the budget for next year is finished, but the commissioners will look into it.
• The following positions were appointed: Gordon Vanator as alcoholic beverage commissioner; Faye Medlock will replace Candy Wolkins at the Kosciusko County Convention and Visitor's Bureau; Charlie Kerr for Property Tax Assessment Board of Appeals; and Peggy Shively appointed Talitha Fair for Child Protection.
• County Administrator Ron Robinson gave an update on the 800-megahertz program for the police department.
The 800 trunking system is state-of-the-art radio technology that will allow all police agencies statewide to communicate without having to go through dispatchers.
This program was discussed by the Warsaw City Council in July and at the time the police department hoped to have the program up and running by Dec. 31. Robinson said that won't be possible because there are too many issues to address first. One major issue is the cost of $134,000 to add the program to the dispatch center.
"It's a good program and it's going to be the thing of the future," said Robinson.
The county commissioners are Brad Jackson, Eddie Creighton and Avis Gunter.
