Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
The year's only half over, but Kosciusko County Commissioners said they don't have the money to help pay for an open-end file system for the county clerk's office.
County clerk Marsha McSherry asked for approximately $12,000 to purchase the filing system because the clerk's office is "living out of cardboard boxes now," she said. With the system, the clerk's office could reduce 38 file cabinets and many boxes to a 7-foot-by-7-foot space.
Commissioner Brad Jackson asked McSherry why they can't put everything on computer.
"They are on a computer system, but you have to keep hard copies," she said.
She told Jackson the old filing cabinets would then be used to replace the worn cardboard filing cabinets in the basement of the Justice Building.
"I think it's a good idea," said commissioner Avis Gunter, "but we don't have the money." She said there is only $7,000 left in the office equipment account. McSherry said she doesn't have the money in her equipment account because she just recently made another purchase.
Jackson then asked her if it was feasible to do the filing system in parts. McSherry said because the system works along with a computer program, it is not feasible.
Since the commissioners could not approve the filing system, McSherry said the clerk's office would buy more cardboard boxes.
Helen Hoy asked the commissioners to support her work in having all persons wanting to vacate right of ways to notify all people within 500 feet, not just adjacent neighbors. State law requires petitioners to notify only adjacent property owners, but Hoy said state Sen. Bob Meeks will introduce a bill this fall that would require a notification to all people living within 500 feet. She also said she thought the county should pass such an ordinance.
Jackson and county attorney Mike Miner said requiring petitioners to notify all persons within 500 feet creates an undue burden that they couldn't enforce.
Miner reminded Hoy that all vacations are published beforehand in local newspapers.
Hoy also asked the commissioners to support her work to prevent sexually oriented businesses from using trick words or suggestive figures on their signs. She said a similar ordinance was passed in South Bend and it worked there.
"I'm doing this because there is going to be a need for this," Hoy said.
Commissioner Eddie Creighton said he would like to talk to area plan director Dan Richard about it first and would like to see the ordinance she was referring to before making any decisions. She said she would provide a copy of the ordinance to the commissioners.
In highway matters, the commissioners approved a bridge project and an ordinance regarding cumulative bridge funds.
The bridge project includes the two bridges over Old 30E near East County Line and Old Trail Road. The two bridges will be replaced with a single bridge over Elder Creek.
"We have met with local property owners and got their input on the property," said highway superintendent Rob Ladson.
The intersection of the two roads will be improved, Ladson said, by bringing in the intersection at a 90-degree angle and allowing for an acceleration lane.
Bids for the project will be opened Aug. 3 and Ladson said he hopes to begin construction on the project as soon as possible.
Cumulative bridge fund ordinance 99-1B establishes guidelines for use of the cumulative bridge funds, effective Jan. 1.
Funds may be used for the maintenance or replacement of an existing bridge with a minimum span of 20 feet that is on a county-maintained road or municipality-maintained street. The funds cannot be used for the construction or installation of a new bridge.
Funds may be used for the maintenance or replacement of an existing small structure if it has a minimum span of 36 inches, is on a county-maintained road or municipality-maintained street and is on the small structure inspection list. Cumulative bridge funds can't be used to build or install a new small structure.
The agency having jurisdiction over the road or street has the responsibility to implement the necessary maintenance items, and municipalities must submit written funding requests to the commissioners by May 30 of the year preceding construction.
Projects may be partially funded or fully funded and subject to review by the county engineer.
