Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Bids for the demolition of the buildings at the corner of Lake and Center streets for the Justice Building expansion project were opened Tuesday by the Kosciusko County Commissioners.
On Jan. 5, the first bids were opened, but it was determined the county did not properly advertise for bids. Last month's bids ranged from $572,500 to $876,725.
The bids Tuesday were all for amounts less than $600,000.
The bids included: Cripe Excavating, Syracuse, $570,000; Indiana Earth Inc., Osceola, $555,175; Richard Ness Excavating, Huntington, $545,886; Kreager Excavating Brothers Inc., $597,952; and G&G Hauling & Excavating, Warsaw, $559,722.
The bids will be reviewed and the architect will present the commissioners with a written recommendation in approximately one week.
In other business, the commissioners:
• Approved offering John L. Jones a settlement of $10,000, as recommended by the county's insurance company attorney.
In June 1998, Jones was arrested for nonsupport of a child and detained for a month, according to County Commissioner Attorney Mike Miner. It was later discovered Jones was disabled, which was why he did not pay child support.
In August, Jones sued then-county sheriff Al Rovenstine and the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department in U.S. District Court, South Bend, for unlawful detention and violation of his civil rights (keeping him in jail longer than he should have been before going to court). Jones seeks compensatory and punitive damages, as well as attorney fees.
• Approved a three-way stop sign at the intersection of CR 450N and CR 100E and a four-way stop sign at the intersection of CR 450N and CR 250E.
The Kosciusko County Highway Department's annual report to the state was approved.
County Highway Superintendent and Engineer Rob Ladson said the new radio tower at the highway department is installed. The tower is 150 feet tall, with an antennae adding an additional 10 feet.
Ladson also said the highway department is in the process of replacing bridge 267 on East Wawasee Drive, west of Enchanted Hills, in Syracuse. Construction should begin in late summer or early fall if all goes well, he said.
• Approved a host agreement between the Kosciusko County Solid Waste Management District and the operators of the landfill in Packerton.
• Approved a joint application with Hide-Away Hills Sewer District to apply for a community focus fund. The fund request is for $200,000 and the not-for-profit sewer district will provide a $50,000 match. The county commissioners will be the sub-recipients of the funds, as only a government body can accept the funds.
Hide-Away Hills is a manufactured home community, providing utility services to 162 manufactured homes. The funds will help upgrade sewer services to serve the needs of the residents, while keeping sewer rates affordable, according to information provided by Bob Murphy of R.P. Murphy & Associates.
• Approved the operational and capital claims for Kosciusko Area Bus Service to complete the 1999 grant year.
• Approved a contract with MedStat for drug testing for the county highway department.
"It's the same contract we had the last two years, except it's increased ... about $4," said County Administrator Ron Robinson.
Robinson also requested approval for the change orders for the dispatch center. With the changes, the county saved $3,525. Robinson said the only work left to be completed is the addition of the lockers to the locker room and several small items. The commissioners approved.
• Approved naming an easement in QSR subdivision in Harrison Township as Catalpa Lane. The easement is not county maintained and is just north of Ind. 25, north of Palestine.
• Approved a vacation request by Marcia Nelson to vacate a platted street within the Palestine Lake area. Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission assistant planner Matt Sandy said the county board of zoning appeals approved the vacation. No remonstrators were present.
Kosciusko County Commissioners are Eddie Creighton, Avis Gunter and Brad Jackson.
