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County Looks For Solution To Wawasee Bus Turnaround Problem

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When there are many cars parked in the cul-de-sac on Rumpelstiltskin Road, Cromwell, Wawasee School Corp. bus drivers can't turn the bus around in the cul-de-sac.

Tuesday, Kosciusko County Highway Superintendent and Engineer Rob Ladson told the Kosciusko County Commissioners the school corporation sent a letter to the highway department asking if the department could help them with their concern about the cul-de-sac.

Ladson suggested the commissioners approve a no parking sign at the cul-de-sac which would prohibit parking from 7 to 8 a.m. and 3 to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. If the no parking sign doesn't work, Ladson said, they can try something else.

Commissioner Ron Truex said no parking for one hour seemed "optimistic" to him that people would move their cars for that short period of time. Ladson said the intention of the no parking sign is to get the cars off the cul-de-sac when the school buses are there.

The cul-de-sac is in a residential area, Kosciusko County Sheriff Aaron Rovenstine said, so he wasn't sure if their parking should be limited too much.

"To be fair to the residents who park there, what Rob is suggesting is fair," said Rovenstine.

"If Aaron's comfortable with it," said Truex, "I guess we can give it a shot."

"I don't have a better solution," said Ladson.

The no parking sign was unanimously approved.

In other business, the county commissioners:

• Approved for Kosciusko County Sheriff Aaron Rovenstine to apply for a 75-25 grant to upgrade technology in sheriff's department vehicles. The technology would allow officers to check license plates and information when they make stops. The Warsaw Police Department, Rovenstine said, already has the technology. With the federal grant, the county's share would be approximately $6,000 to $7,000.

• Approved a grant application for Beaman Home so they can continue their services.

• Approved a detour on June 16 in Silver Lake for Silver Lake Days.

• Approved CASA to hold a candlelight vigil at the courthouse April 20 at 5:30 p.m.

• Approved the Warsaw Community High School theater department to hold a play in the courtroom May 4-6, 11 and 12. The play will benefit the Kosciusko County Historical Society.

• Approved $500 for the St. Joseph River Basin to cover expenses for mailings.

• County administrator Ron Robinson reported the courthouse clocks were repaired by Don Lockeridge.

• Approved an ordinance establishing the general rates for the work release program and giving the program director some direction if a deviation from the rates is needed.

Previously, county commissioner attorney Mike Miner said, they had an "understanding" of the rates but no ordinance.

Truex said the work release center is practically a self-supporting program that reduces the cost to the taxpayers.

• Approved Miner's contract to be the attorney for the county commissioners and all other county departments except for the drainage board and the area plan commission. His fee, Robinson reported, includes a 6 percent increase.

• Approved a resolution that the money the county receives from the Economic Development Income Tax will be used for the Justice Building expansion project.

• Approved a contract with First Christian Church that states that if the church decides to sell their property, before the church offers their property to anyone else, they will first offer the property to the county.

• Approved Sycamore Fields LLC's petition to rezone ground from an agricultural district to an agricultural II district. The property is on the west side of Sullivan Road and south of CR 450N in Tippecanoe Township.

• Approved a petition by Greg Smith to rezone ground from an agricultural district to an industrial II district. The property is on the east side of Ind. 15 and a half-mile south of CR 600N in Plain Township.

Kosciusko County Commissioners are president Brad Jackson, Avis Gunter and Ron Truex. They meet at 9 a.m. every other Tuesday in the county courthouse.