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Plans are under way toward construction of a new county jai, and the county commissioners are planning what may be an illegal executive planning session with architects.
In a letter of response to the Civil Liberties Union regarding the overcrowding at the Kosciusko County Jail, County Attorney Mike Miner indicated the county was in the process of selecting an architect for the project.
Eddie Creighton, Kosciusko County commissioner, gave a brief report about the current progress of the new jail at Tuesday's county commissioners meeting.
The commissioners are planning on having presentations from two architects Aug. 18 after their regular meeting.
They are planning on holding the presentations in executive session, which could be illegal.
According to Stephen Key, of the Hoosier State Press Association, the commissioners are required to hold the interviews in a public meeting because the commissioners are gathering information.
"If they're taking information about these architects," said Key, "if they are receiving information, that's official action."
Since the architects will be discussing the building of the new jail, which is public business, the commissioners are required to hold a public meeting and cannot meet in executive session.
Exceptions are allowed for the executive session but, according to Key, independent architects do not fall into those categories.
Despite the fact that Creighton said no decisions would be made until after the presentations, any time a governing body gathers information, it is considered public business and cannot be held in executive session, Key said.
Creighton said today that the commissioners will still hear the architects' presentation in executive session, but that he will check first with Miner on the legality of the session.
He also said that whatever decision he would make would be made in the best interest of the county.
In other business, Trish Brown, of the Warsaw Community Development Corporation, told the commissioners that the Indiana Mainstreet Conference would be held in Warsaw this year.
Brown asked for permission to hold some of the classes and meetings in the Kosciusko County courthouse and other county buildings, which the commissioners approved.
As part of the conference, Indiana's first lady, Judy O'Bannon, will be in Warsaw Oct. 1, teaching about the Hoosier Millennium and how the community can participate.
Indiana Lt. Gov. Joseph Kernan will be in town Oct. 2 to speak about the importance of healthy downtowns to Indiana's overall economy.
Connie Myers, Silver Lake, shared her concern for the lack of road maintenance in Silver Lake.
She told the commissioners that she was thankful for the sewers that were installed but the process tore up the roads. She said the roads have not been repaired.
She also said there were not enough road signs posted in Silver Lake.
She asked the commissioners to look into the possibility of improving some of the roads and having the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department enforce the speed limit signs already in place.
The commissioners acknowledged the need for some attention in Silver Lake and told Myers they would investigate what could be done.
