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Economic Development Income Tax and the CR 350W project highlighted the Kosciusko County Council meeting Thursday.
Sue Ann Mitchell, Kosciusko County auditor, told the council that for the cities, towns and the county to use money from EDIT, they have to adopt ordinances as to what they plan to do with the revenue from the income tax. She said that while the law says the county auditor has final approval on the plans, some counties have created boards to scrutinize the plans.
Currently, Kosciusko County does not have such a board, but Mitchell said if the council is interested, she could research the creation of such a board.
"There's nothing that says you have to audit (all plans), but other counties" have taken that on, she said.
Recently, Mitchell said, one town was told that the plan does not need to be substantial, just a guideline. She said that is not completely accurate. While the plan does not need to be etched into stone, it cannot be merely a guideline.
Council president Jim Tranter said representatives of the towns as well as laymen could serve on the board.
"Do all the towns understand," asked councilman Harold Jones, "they have to have a proposal?"
Mitchell said they did and that if she hasn't received their plans yet, she knows they are working on them.
County commissioners are the ones who spend the money, Jones said, so they should also have input into the formation of the board.
Jones also brought up the topic of the CR 350W project before the council.
For several years, the county has had federal funds for work for roads in the area of CR 350W. Kosciusko County Highway Superintendent and Engineer Rob Ladson recently discovered the money was there. In December, the county commissioners revived the project in all three phases and said they will use the approximate $3.9 million in federal aid for the project.
With the money, the county can upgrade CR 350W; build a new road and bridge from Old 30 to Park Schramm Road over Tippecanoe River; and put in a new road from Park Schramm Road to Crystal Lake Road, including an overpass for the railroad.
Jones asked if the council had any negative opinions on the project and if the funds are available sooner, if perhaps the project shouldn't be done sooner than anticipated.
"I personally think this is good long-range (traffic) planning for the county," said councilman John Kinsey.
Tranter said the council could have a commissioner or a representative for the commissioners address the council on where the county is with the project and what is expected of the council.
If the county must provide matching funds for the project, Jones said, it would be nice to know that ahead of time.
In another matter, the council approved additional appropriations for the county and township assessors/trustees for the reassessment.
The monies for the reassessment were not included at budget time in 2000. The assessors and township trustees did not know what to expect for the reassessment because the state did not provide any guidelines, Mitchell said.
Additional appropriations approved included: county assessor, $353,020; Clay Township, $13,390; Etna Township, $14,422; Franklin Township, $13,439; Harrison Township, $7,400; Jackson Township, $17,592; Jefferson Township, $8,834; Lake Township, $17,050; Monroe Township, $7,444; Prairie Township, $11,785; Scott Township, $6,754; Seward Township, $36,610; VanBuren Township, $17,075; Washington Township, $31,020; Plain Township, $32,286; Tippecanoe Township, $57,460; Turkey Creek Township, $105,803; and Wayne Township, $104,520.
In other business, the council:
• Elected Jim Tranter as council president and Brad Tandy vice president.
• Set council meeting dates as the first Thursday of every month except in April, when it will meet on the second Thursday.
• Named Tandy and Tranter to the wage committee; Maurice Beer to the Kosciusko County Solid Waste Management District; Larry Teghtmeyer to Kosciusko Development Inc.; and William Musser to the Syracuse Public Library board.
• Approved a transfer of funds for the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department from an anti-drug grant.
Members of the Kosciusko County Council are Jim Tranter, Brad Tandy, John Kinsey, Tom Anglin, Larry Teghtmeyer, Harold Jones and Maurice Beer.
Their next meeting is Feb. 1 at 7 p.m. in the county courthouse.
