Commissioners Hear Another Nature's Fuel Complaint
Posted
Daniel Riordan-driordan@timesuniononline.com
Atwood resident Phil Byrer appeared before the county commissioners this morning to bring to light another incident at Nature's Fuel.
Commissioner Ron Truex said that last night there was a situation where a safety valve popped off and it sounded like an explosion.
Truex said that valve was in place to prevent an explosion and that fire crews were on scene for a half hour and found there to be no injuries and no fire.
Neighbors complained that the sound was quite loud.
Nature's Fuel has an agreed order with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to move out of its location in Atwood by January.
Truex said Nature's Fuel is currently refining oil to sell before it moves out of the Atwood location.
Byrer asked if Nature's Fuel is allowed to refine oil there. Truex said he wasn't sure but he knows that IDEM keeps track of what Nature's Fuel produces there.
The commissioners also approved a resolution that allows Truex to sign paperwork on behalf of the county for a project for Enchanted Hills.
Bob Murphy, whose firm is the grant writer for the project, said originally the project was to be for $1 million with no local match needed.
Murphy said now the project is seeking $600,000 with a local match of $60,000 needed.
Murphy said that money will come from a line of credit established by the Enchanted Hills Homeowners Association and that the county won't be on the hook for any of the money.
There was some discussion on the wording of the resolution and whether it would bind the county.
County attorney Mike Miner said that the wording could be interpreted that if the money isn't available that the county may be on the hook for that $60,000.
Murphy said that since the county controls awarding bids for the project, if there is no money available they can simply not award any bids.
The commissioners approved the resolution though Truex abstained.
The project is to improve drainage issues in the Enchanted Hills area of Cromwell.
There will be a public meeting Thursday in Enchanted Hills to discuss the project.
The commissioners also approved a contract with a representative from the state attorney general's office who rents space in the county building.
A three-year contract with Maximus was also approved.
Maximus is a cost allocation and savings firm who, according to County Auditor Marsha McSherry, has recovered more than $700,000 for Kosciusko County.
The cost of the contract over three years is $6,300.
County Highway Superintendent Scott Tilden told the commissioners that federally mandated bridges inspections are set to begin.
Tilden also told the commissioners that his crews are doing a lot of road patching throughout the county.
There was a $1,186 change order for bridge 190, which is along Country Club Road.
The change order was to modify a guard rail.
The county will accept bids for a bridge on Old 15 south of Milford Dec. 7 at 9:30 a.m.
The bids will be accepted Dec. 21 and the project will start at the end of March. It is expected to be a 45-day project.
The commissioners allowed a 1991 Ford pickup to be salvaged.
