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County Road 350W, between old and new U.S. 30, is Kosciusko County's first - and so far, only - designated "quiet zone."
In a quiet zone, trucks are prohibited from engine braking. A sign will be posted prohibiting engine break noise.
The ordinance takes effect immediately. Any truck driver violating the ordinance will be fined $50 for the first offense; $75 for the second; $150 for the third and an amount not to exceed $2,500 for every offense thereafter.
Commissioner President Brad Jackson said Tuesday he doesn't want the ordinance to expand beyond what the commissioners intended and he doesn't want people asking for quiet zones all over the county.
Commissioner attorney Mike Miner said the ordinance is against engine braking only. Someone else could request another area be designated as a quiet zone or the prohibition of another noise, but where the line is drawn is up to the commissioners.
"I just don't want the commissioners to become the sound police," Jackson said.
Many residents in the area oppose the Western Route project. By designating the area as a quiet zone, the commissioners hope to alleviate some of the potential noise problems in the area.
The county is proposing to 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. They may make alterations to the project.
In another matter, Miner presented an agreement to the commissioners regarding the Lakeland landfill expansion.
Miner said with the landfill the county has possible liability and the agreement will settle the liability.
With the agreement, the county will provide a place for the landfill to get dirt but won't be responsible for delivering the dirt to the landfill. Any damage done to roads from the trucks hauling dirt will be the responsibility of the county.
The county also will have to provide mowing at the landfill a few times a year.
To replace a wetland, the landfill is setting up an alternative wetland. After five years, the county will have to help maintain the wetland.
In addition, the commissioners were given an access agreement to allow access to the new wetland, which will be eventually deeded over to the county.
Miner told the commissioners they need to review the agreements and no decision was needed Tuesday.
The property is on the east side of Packerton Road and north of CR 800S.
Packerton Land Co., which operates the landfill, has acquired 227 acres to the north and west of the current landfill for expansion. Last year, the Kosciusko County Board of Zoning Appeals approved the landfill's petition to expand the sanitary landfill in an agricultural district.
In other business:
• Kosciusko County Highway Superintendent and Engineer Rob Ladson reported Packerton Road from CR 400S to Pierceton Road will be repaved this summer, depending on funding.
The commissioners approved moving the stop sign at the intersection of CR 300S and Packerton Road to stop traffic on Packerton Road instead of on CR 300S.
• The committee for the Western Route project, formerly known as the CR 350W project, was approved. The members of the committee will include Ladson, commissioner Ron Truex, Chris Garza, a representative of The Troyer Group and a county council representative.
• Bill Holder, Geographical Imaging System director, discussed the GIS with the county commissioners and the possibilities of upgrading the photos. The next GIS photos are to be taken in 2002 and are taken every five to six years.
The 1996 photos cost $486,000.
• Kosciusko County Administrator Ron Robinson and Truex will review the county's NIPSCO rate. If Truex and Robinson agree with the rates, the commissioners approved for Truex to go ahead and sign the rate change release form.
• Robinson reported there were several change orders on the Justice Building expansion project, with the largest being $19,910. The largest change will provide for all the computer lines and sound system in the courts, which were not in the original contract.
• Ruth Jones was reappointed to the Warsaw Community Public Library Board for a four-year term.
• Sponseller Brothers' petition to rezone property from an agricultural district to a residential district was unanimously approved. The property is on the south side of Gault Street and west of CR 650W in Harrison Township.
• Also unanimously approved was Kevin Dwyer's petition to rezone ground from an agricultural district to a residential district. The property is on the west side of CR 60W and 200 feet north of CR 1250N in Van Buren Township.
Members of the Kosciusko County Commissioners are Ron Truex, Avis Gunter and Brad Jackson. They meet at 9 a.m. every other Tuesday in the county courthouse, Warsaw.
