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Due to the overwhelming interest in the new Justice Building expansion project, an extra day has been added to the open house schedule.
"Just from the response I had, I don't think five hours will be enough," said Aaron Rovenstine, Kosciusko County Sheriff.
Today, he asked the commissioners to allow for an open house Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday's open house will be for the jail part only of the Justice Building.
Sunday's open house, from 1 to 4 p.m., will be for the entire Justice Building.
Rovenstine also invited the county commissioners and county administrator Ron Robinson to a meal at the jail Thursday at 5 p.m. He said the sheriff's department kitchen staff will be trained on the new kitchen equipment Thursday.
In another matter, Kosciusko County Auditor Sue Ann Mitchell said the phones in her office were "ringing off the hook" Monday due to incorrect information in The Indianapolis Star and other media.
Apparently, Mitchell said, the director of communications for the Indiana Department of Local Government released information regarding the shelter allowance to the media that was incorrect.
The shelter allowance (a tax break for homeowners) is under pending litigation and nothing is going to happen to it until that is settled, she said.
Mitchell said if people have a homestead credit, they already have the shelter allowance. No new exemption application needs to be filed for the shelter allowance. If a person has a homestead credit, they will get the shelter allowance. People who don't have the homestead credit are the only people who need to apply for a shelter allowance.
In other business, the county commissioners:
• Signed a contract with Manatron for assessment software and support. The contract was approved in March.
• Signed a letter for the Warsaw Housing Authority indicating that the property to be improved with community block grant funds has no historical value. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources requires the letter for WHA to renovate the houses involved.
• Heard a request from Sharon Howard to improve the intersection at CR 300S and County Farm Road. Howard presented to the commissioners a petition with more than 200 names on it asking to improve the intersection.
"We just want something done. It's starting to look like Parker Street and U.S. 30," Howard said.
Howard was involved in an accident at the intersection last year in which two males were killed.
County Commissioner Avis Gunter thanked Howard for her work and concern and said the intersection will be looked into.
• Approved closing CR 450W from CR 525S to CR 600S from April 15 to Aug. 31 due to cleanup work on the Lakeland Landfill Superfund site.
• Approved removing a driveway from the county's snowplowing route. Kosciusko County Highway Superintendent and Engineer Rob Ladson said the county has plowed the drive in the past but it was never on the state inventory map, there's no county right of way dedicated to it and it's actually in Marshall County. The drive is south of Etna Green and west of Ind. 19.
• County attorney Mike Miner congratulated Mitchell and the county on getting an A+ from Standard & Poor's on the bond issue for the Justice Building.
Mitchell said when she talked to the S&P representative, he told her the county manages its money well.
"The good thing about that is that it will probably result in a lower interest rate," Mitchell said.
• Approved a contract between the county and Warsaw to share in the cost for the aerial photos of the county and city.
• Robinson reported the fire alarm system at the work release center, East Center Street, is "in dire need of repair." He received one quote for the repair but it was rather high and he is seeking another quote.
He also reported the jail needs a new icemaker machine. The old one will be refurbished and put in the work release center and he wants to purchase a new one for the jail. The commissioners approved for him to purchase one.
• Mitchell reported the voting machines will be tested at 11 a.m. Friday in the county clerk's office. The testing is open to the public.
"It's required by law every year," Mitchell said.
County commissioners present at today's meeting were Ron Truex and chairwoman Avis Gunter. Not present was Brad Jackson. They meet at 9 a.m. every other Tuesday in the county courthouse.
