Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Multiple highway matters came before the Kosciusko County Commissioners Tuesday.
Highway Superintendent and Engineer Rob Ladson told the commissioners the Indiana Department of Natural Resources wants a letter from Kosciusko and Whitley counties as to who will be the lead agency for the CR 350N project.
As most of the road is in Kosciusko County, Ladson said, he thought Kosciusko County should be the lead for the project. The commissioners approved as such.
Previously this year, the county received a letter from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources wanting to upgrade the road. The commissioners approved the DNR to upgrade it as long as there was no cost to the county.
About a year ago, the DNR wanted to close the road completely, but the commissioners chose to keep it open.
"We weren't allowed to fix it before," Brad Jackson, northern district county commissioner, said.
"Now we are," replied Ladson.
Ladson told the commissioners Tuesday he has a meeting with the DNR and Whitley County highway superintendent at 10 a.m. Monday in Indianapolis to discuss the road upgrade. At this point, the DNR, Ladson said, is saying they want to pave, widen and upgrade the road between Ind. 5 and 13. The project is targeted for 2007 but the DNR will try to get the project fast-tracked.
Cost for the project will include engineering and construction costs, but no cost to the county.
In other highway matters, the commissioners:
• Approved for Ladson to replace a 1986 loader as it is need of repair. Ladson first will need approval from the county council for an additional appropriation of approximately $100,000 to pay for the vehicle.
• Repealed the stop sign at CR 800W, north of Davis Road, just west of Burket. Gates and lights are up.
• Approved for Woodfield Manor Property Association, CR 225S, to put up barricades for Halloween for safety concerns. Outside trick-or-treaters will not be barred from trick-or-treatng at the subdivision.
• Approved South Shore Green subdivision's request that the highway department not apply salt or sand to a cul-de-sac in the subdivision.
• Heard the following updates on county bridges: Bridge 290 (Venetian Drive, Syracuse) project is moving along well, half of the structure is built; Bridge 289, Cedar Point Road, is at the final design phase and is planned to be an arch-type structure, construction may start in a year; Bridge 250, South Street to the island, North Webster, is in preliminary design stages and may be started next year or in 2005; Bridge 94, Old Road 30W over Walnut Creek will be ready to open Nov. 3; Bridge 226, Center Street near Warsaw's wastewater treatment plant, will be rehabilitated; and Bridge 227, Market Street, is complete.
Members of the county commissioners are Brad Jackson, northern district; Ron Truex, middle district; and Avis Gunter, southern district.
Their next meeting is Nov. 3 at 9 a.m. in the county courthouse, Warsaw.
