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Two proposed J-turns in Kosciusko County were denied recently by the Michiana Area Council of Governments (MACOG) Policy Board, and county officials are grateful.
A J-turn is an alternative to traditional intersections on multi-lane divided highways, according to an online definition. “Instead of driving straight across fast-moving traffic or taking a dangerous direct left turn from a side street, drivers are required to turn right. Once in the flow of traffic, they proceed to a designated median opening, perform a safe U-turn, and then go in their desired direction.”
At Tuesday’s Kosciusko County Commissioners meeting, Commissioner Cary Groninger, reiterating what County Council Vice President Kathy Groninger mentioned last week, stated, “Last week, there was some movement on the U.S. 30 front. I just want to make people aware of what was going on. U.S. 30 INDOT had proposed adding two J-turns, or RCIs - Reduced Conflict Intersections - at 800 West and State Road 19 in our county.”
Those projects, as they go through the process, to be added into the transportation program for the state, have to be voted on by the MACOG Policy Board that Cary sits on, he said.
“Those two proposed projects did come in front of the group, and they were denied, so both the 800 and State Road 19 RCIs, or J-turns as I would call them, were denied and will not be going forward at this time,” he said. “One project that was approved is a planning study on U.S. 30 - like we haven’t done enough planning on U.S. 30 already - but it’s a more in-depth planning study from Fox Farm Road, our western boundary, to 450 East. This study really takes a good eye to look at that section of U.S. 30, how that can be broken up into different segments so that those projects could start to be built out and understand what the costs of those could be. So, overall, it was a good meeting and our fellow commissioners, councilmen, mayors in our four-county region supported our viewpoint and we had a good vote to be able to stop those J-turns.”
He said they had met with the Amish Safety Council, the highway department, town of Etna Green and all agreed the proposed safety improvements (J-turns) were not what was best for Kosciusko County.
Earlier in the meeting, county attorney Ed Ormsby presented to the commissioners a resolution to transfer a parcel of land from the county to the town of Sidney.
The parcel is 0.11 acres in Jackson Township. The town wants to establish a town park, which would include the parcel, he said. The commissioners unanimously approved their resolution to transfer the property, and the town council must approve a resolution to accept the parcel of land.
In other business, the commissioners approved:
• The Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) Financial Operations Report for 2025, as presented by Kosciusko County Highway Department Superintendent Steve Moriarty.
“The annual operations report is done by all county highways, is reported and given to Indiana LTAP, that they can regulate and kind of compare throughout the state so that they can compile data for legislative involvement and policies as they go forward,” Moriarty explained.
• The 2026 annual maintenance agreement for hardware for the county’s phone system from Advanced Products Group, also known as New Paris Telephone, for $18,518.08, as requested by County Administrator Marsha McSherry. She noted it is an increase over last year’s contract for $16,991.86.
• Kosciusko County Judge Karin McGrath’s request, on behalf of the Reentry Court, to apply for a $40,000 grant from the county’s opioid national settlement funds committee. The county council approved the request last week.
County Commissioner Sue Ann Mitchell said the committee will hear the request at their meeting at 8 a.m. Thursday.
• The county’s health insurance renewal.
Groninger said the health insurance is always a big cost to the county.
“Our consultants, Creative Benefits, really worked hard for us this year. They were able to get those rates down ... it was quite a process, but in the end, good results,” he said, noting a lot of things are trending in the right direction.
• The purchase of five tablets for the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office, as requested by Eric Sorenson, county IT.
• The Kosciusko Area Bus Service (KABS) first quarter operating claim, for Jan. 1 through March 31, as presented by KABS General Manager Kristin Rude.
She said KABS incurred $238,062 in eligible operating expenses. Less fares, KABS’ net project cost was $226,779. “That is funded as follows: $113,389 from federal funds; $56,695 from state; and the other from local sources,” she said.
• The recommendation from the Area Plan Commission to deny the vacation of a portion of Treasure Island Road, a county-maintained road, in the Enchanted Hills subdivision in Cromwell, as presented by Assistant Planner Shannon Shepherd. Attorney Steve Snyder spoke on behalf of the petitioner, Aitch LLC, and several people spoke against the petition, including the president of the Home Owners Association and County Councilwoman Kimberly Cates.
• The recommendation from the Area Plan Commission to approve the vacation of the remaining 16.5 feet of alleys and the 60 feet of platted rights-of-way within the plat of Galveston, as presented by Shepherd. Currently, she said the areas are being used as just yard and not developed for roadways.
“None of the properties will be landlocked because all of the properties will be combined when they’re vacated, if approved,” she said.
• A request from Healthy Lifestyles to rezone a property zoned agricultural to commercial, as presented by Shepherd. The property is at 8412 W. CR 1350N.
“The only change regarding this property is a change in use from just warehousing for agricultural purposes to offices, also,” she said.
The Area Plan Commission unanimously agreed to recommend approval for the rezoning.
Snyder, representing Healthy Lifestyles, said the property has been a storage building occupied by the purchaser now, who wants to relocate his office, as well as storage for his equipment.
“It is an underground boring operation, so, for the most part, the equipment is in the building and all the work takes place off-site,” he said.
• The Planning Unit Development (PUD) zoning ordinance amendment, as presented by Shepherd.
“The intent of this section is to encourage and permit innovative, creative and unique residential and commercial development through the use of a Planned Unit Development project,” she said. “This provides our Area Plan Commission with another tool to bring housing into the community, and also businesses.”
To do a PUD, Shepherd said a petitioner has to have sewer and 2 acres or more of property. It will go through a review process, just like it does for zoning, she stated.
The next meeting of the Kosciusko County Commissioners is at 9 a.m. Tuesday, June 2 in the old courtroom of the Kosciusko County Courthouse.
