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A street name, liability insurance and a road vacation were the only business conducted by the Kosciusko County Commissioners Tuesday.
County Administrator Ron Robinson told the commissioners he received three quotes from local insurance companies for general liability on all county buildings.
There is an $1,800 difference between the lowest two quotes. Robinson said he needs to contact the two companies with the lowest quotes and get some clarifications on some differences.
Both quotes are lower than quotes received last year when the cost for the liability insurance was $148,000. The lowest bid received this year is $23,554 lower than last year and the second lowest is $21,699 less than last year.
"They are telling me the reason we are getting this is because we have a good track record," Robinson said.
Five years ago, the cost was $258,000 for the insurance. Robinson said the prices are also declining for the county because more companies are offering general liability insurance.
He said they may want to go with the second lowest bid because it may pay more on claims, but he needs to ask the company more about it.
Because a decision must be made by Monday, the county commissioners approved Avis Gunter to sign the insurance terms once everything is clarified.
Lee Taylor, Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission, said the road to the east of Eisenhower Elementary School was accepted into the county system in 1991. It was not given a name, as required by state law.
Taylor and County Commissioner Gunter contacted Eisenhower and asked the school to name the road. Taylor said the school couldn't go with the names Eisenhower or Eagle because there are already streets with those names. Eagle is the school's mascot.
Eisenhower Student Council voted to name the street Dwight Drive. The commissioners unanimously approved.
Paul and Michele Obermeyer petitioned the county commissioners to vacate a portion of EMS B6C Lane, Leesburg. The portion they want vacated runs in front of the Obermeyer's lots five and six.
The road is a county maintained road.
Area Plan Commission recommended the commissioners grant the petition. Highway engineer and superintendent Rob Ladson said the county highway is opposed to the vacation.
"We would be opposed to it just on the basis of snow removal and where to put the snow," Ladson said.
Attorney Jack Birch, representing the Obermeyers, said adjacent property owners consented to the vacation. The road, he said, provides access only to lot six, which the Obermeyers own. Birch also said the vacation would not hinder the growth of the neighborhood, there would be access to all lots and all property owners agreed to the vacation.
"It's not going to affect the neighbors out there and their access to the road," he said.
Ladson said, "I just know these EMS lanes, they're small and tight and the more room we have for turn-around the better."
The county commissioners unanimously approved the vacation.
