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County To Let City Take Title To Tinkey Oil Property

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County attorney Ed Ormsby presented the county commissioners Tuesday with a resolution to assign a tax sale certificate to the city of Warsaw.
“This is in regards to a 0.65-acre tract at East 715 W. Market St., it’s known as Tinkey Oil property,” he said. “This assignment of the tax sale certificate is so that the city of Warsaw can go ahead and go through the statutory procedures and take title to the property and access grants to clean that property up.”
He said it will keep the county out of the chain of title that will allow the property to be cleaned up by the city of Warsaw.
The commissioners unanimously approved the tax sale certificate resolution.
Another agenda item involving property was presented by Troy Turley, Kosciusko County Parks and Recreation Board, to the commissioners.
He reminded the commissioners on Jan. 13 he came before them regarding the Chinworth Bridge property. The conversation and feedback that followed was Ormsby could assist the Parks Board with the land transfer from the Kosciusko County Historical Society to the commissioners.
Historical Society President Greg Steffe was in attendance at Tuesday’s commissioner meeting to show his support for the land transfer.
“Today, I am here before you to request the approval for the property transfer from the Historical Society to the county for the success of the Chinworth Bridge project and for the protection of the infrastructure that’s in that area,” Turley said.
Ormsby said it will be a quick claim deed from the Historical Society to the county.
“The county does not accept property unless the commissioners so approve, so that’s the request before the commissioners today,” he said.
The commissioners unanimously approved the request.
In other business, the commissioners:
• Approved Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Chris McKeand’s request to purchase five 2026 Ford Explorer Police Interceptors from Kerlin Motors Silver Lake, at $43,426. He said the funds for four of those will come from the KCSO’s vehicle budget and one will come from the KCSO insurance repair/replacement.
The Kerlin bid was the lowest of the three, with Model 1 Ford of Warsaw bidding $43,493.68 per vehicle and City Ford, Columbia City, bidding $44,483.48. The KCSO also has a long-standing service agreement with Kerlin.
• Approved the revision of the Title VI Implementation Plan, as presented by County Administrator Marsha McSherry.
Reading a short paragraph that explains the requirement of that, McSherry said, “The Title VI Implementation Plan is a part of Kosciusko County’s continuing ongoing effort to proactively meet and exceed the minimum compliance requirements established under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and the related anti-discrimination statutes and regulations. As a recipient of federal funds, Kosciusko County conforms to Title VI and all related statutes, regulations and directives.”
• Approved a 2026 attorney agreement with Adam Turner for legal services, as requested by County Clerk Melissa Boggs.
• Heard the 2025 fourth quarter claims for Kosciusko Area Bus Service, as reported by General Manager Kristin Rude.
• Heard the 2025 fourth quarter report from Kosciusko County Community Coordinator Amy Roe.
• Heard a kudos from Commissioner Sue Ann Mitchell about Area Plan Director Matt Sandy.
“So this weekend, the legislature is in full gear, and this weekend I had some questions asked of me from the Association of Indiana Counties. And I did want to give recognition to Matt Sandy. On Sunday, I sent him a couple of issues and I asked for his response. Within 1-1/2 to 2 hours, I had great answers back that I was able to submit on to the director of the Association of Indiana Counties. He had a meeting on Monday morning, and those points that affect Kosciusko County were shared with the committees. And so, because we have dedicated people, who are willing to work at a moment’s notice, I think that’s great and I just want to give Matt credit for taking the time to do that, which caused our voice in Kosciusko County to be heard at the state legislature. So kudos to Matt for his effort,” Mitchell stated.
• Announced the next commissioners meeting is at 9 a.m. Feb. 24.