Intersection Changed To Two-Way Stop

Instead of a four-way stop, the intersection of CRs 350W and 200N will become a two-way stop.

The Kosciusko County commissioners approved the change Monday at their meeting.

Kosciusko County Highway Superintendent and Engineer Rob Ladson said they received the request to remove the stop signs at CR 350W from a county resident. The request was checked out and the county sheriff's department strongly recommended the removal, Ladson said.

He also said a traffic count was taken at the intersection and the level of traffic does not meet the requirement set by the state manual for a four-way stop. According to the manual, if the total vehicle count is 350 cars per hour for an eight-hour span, the intersection warrants a four-way stop. The intersection of CRs 350W and 200N "sees less than 180 vehicles coming in," said Ladson.

The peak is around 4 p.m. and the low point is around 2 or 3 a.m.

"My recommendation," said Ladson, "is that we remove this four-way and make it a two-way and let the traffic on 350 go through."

Other factors that may warrant a four-way stop include visibility and the number of accidents.

In other business, the county commissioners:

• Approved HRP Construction's request to put a temporary ramp across CR 250N at CR 1050W and to put up temporary stop signs for 30 to 45 days. No starting date was determined. The construction company is doing some work for the town of Etna Green, including dewatering.

"I don't see a problem with it," said Ladson. "It's better than cutting up the road."

Ladson said the state and the railroad again will close Ind. 13 in Syracuse. They will use the same detour as before, which is CR 1200N to Syracuse-Webster Road then to Main Street.

"The county has nothing to do with the closures," said Ladson.

• Approved signing the quarterly claims, capital and operational grants contracts for 2001 for Kosciusko Area Bus Service.

• Approved the appointment of Steve Walters to the Nappanee Library Board.

• Heard about preliminary changes to the county employee policies regarding holidays for jailers and central dispatchers and about a cap on the length of vacation time for all county employees in a year.

• Approved a substantial completion form for Ness Excavating Co. for the demolition of the buildings for the Justice Building expansion project. The form simply states the work is completed.

• Approved an agreement with NIPSCO regarding a change of service because the entrance to the new Justice Building will be different.

• Approved an agreement with Sprint PCS so that all 911 calls from cellular phones will ring into the 911 dispatch center instead of the state police. The county will receive money from cell phone service providers for providing the service.

• Approved the holiday schedule for county employees for 2001. County holidays will be Jan. 1, April 13, May 28, July 4, Sept. 3, Nov. 12, Nov. 22 and 23, Dec. 24 and 25, and Jan. 1, 2002.

• County administrator Ron Robinson reported some remodeling work is going to occur at the Munson Building, Lake Street. The county is leasing the building and parking lot while work on the Justice Building is in progress. He said a wall will be removed to make the building bigger, new carpet will be laid and the steps to the building will be changed.

"We needed the space," Robinson said.

• Tabled Quaker Haven's petition to vacate EMS D16B1 Lane, a platted right of way on EMS D16 Lane between EMS B and EMS C lanes, a portion between EMS D16B1 and EMS D16C lane and an alley between EMS D16 B1 Lane to the northernmost property line. A decision will be made on the petition Nov. 21 at 10 a.m. The commissioners want additional information from emergency medical and fire services.

• Approved Harold and Barb Welch's petition to vacate a portion of road right of way of EMS B6C Lane.

The county commissioners meet every other Tuesday at 9 a.m. in the county courthouse.

Commissioners are president Brad Jackson, Avis Gunter and Eddie Creighton.