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Property owners will see a few differences in the format of their property tax bills this year, Kosciusko County Treasurer Stephanie Esenwein told the County Commissioners Tuesday.
The tax bill will be in three parts instead of four. In the past, the bill consisted of two A parts and two B parts to pay property taxes in the spring and fall. The new bill will be in three parts. Part A is for the spring payment, B for the fall payment and C is the receipt. Part C includes a breakdown of where the tax money is going.
County Auditor Sue Ann Mitchell said the new format will reduce the number of mailings by 20,000 because the billing for ditches also will be included. In the past, she said, Kosciusko County has never put the ditch bill with the property tax bill.
Mitchell said anyone who has more than three ditches will get those as separate bills because only three ditches fit on the statement.
The whole form, along with a self-addressed stamped envelope, Mitchell said, should be mailed with each payment so the treasurer can keep what they need. For example, when a person sends their spring tax payment in, the treasurer will keep part A and return parts B and C in the self-addressed stamped envelope. In the fall, the taxpayer then returns parts B and C with their payment, and then will get part C back as their receipt.
In other business, Esenwein gave a report on the county board of finance. She said in 1999, $11 million was invested in CDs at First Source and Lake City banks. As far as investments go, she said, she always seeks bids and goes with the bank that provides the highest interest. That policy wasn't always followed before she became treasurer, but letting bids is in the best interest of the county.
She also said this is the last year for the sweeping account with Lake City Bank. A sweeping account is a cash management system for two years that is bid on by local banks. The sweeping account is separate from the investments. Lake City Bank won the bid two years ago. Later this year, the county will need to advertise again for a sweeping account for 2001-02. The county made $900,000 in interest from the account in 1999.
Creighton was named the president of the county board of finance again for 2000.
The commissioners also:
• Approved an agreement between the county and the city of Warsaw for combining their dispatch centers. Next year, County Administrator Ron Robinson said, the dispatch center will have its own budget. In time, he said, they hope to operate on their own funds.
• Were told by County Highway Engineer and Superintendent Rob Ladson that there was a mistake last month regarding an ordinance. The stop sign the commissioners repealed on CR 50W by Dome Pipeline at the railroad is not at the northeast corner but at the northwest corner. There are now flashing lights and gates at the railroad, so a stop sign is no longer needed at the crossing. The commissioners approved the new ordinance.
• Robinson said the county will need to re-solicit bids for the demolition of the buildings at the corner of Lake and Center streets for the Justice Building expansion project. The bids will be opened Feb. 1. New bids must be taken because the county did not meet the advertising requirement.
• Approved Dec. 26 as a 2000 holiday for county employees. When the holidays were approved for 2000, the commissioners approved only 13 instead of 14.
• Robinson said the flags were lowered to half-staff Monday for Indiana State Trooper and Kosciusko County resident Jason Beal, who was killed last week while assisting at an accident. Robinson asked the commissioners how long they wanted the flags to be kept at half staff. Creighton motioned for the flag to be at half staff for one week after the death.
Robinson also told the commissioners the county council will meet Jan. 24 at 7 p.m. to approve an additional appropriation for the demolition of the buildings at the corner of Center and Lake streets for the Justice Building expansion project. The appropriation will help carry the county through the Justice Building expansion project remonstration period and until the bonds are sold.
• Approved a rezoning request by Roger and Mary Phillips. The property, bordered by CR 400N and CR 400E in Plain Township near Chapman Lake, will be rezoned from agricultural to residential. Crooked Creek Campground is currently on the property, which will be turned into a subdivision for high-end residential development.
No remonstrators were present, but two letters of remonstration were sent. The Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission recommended the commissioners approve the rezoning.
Kosciusko County commissioners are Avis Gunter, Brad Jackson and Eddie Creighton.
