Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Rob Ladson, Kosciusko County Highway superintendent and engineer, submitted his resignation to the county March 2.
At the Kosciusko County Commissioners meeting today, county administrator Ron Robinson announced Ladson's resignation, which is effective April 1.
"I think we knew at some point this would happen to us, but it came a lot sooner than we expected," said Robinson.
He met with the county highway department employees this morning and told them of Ladson's resignation. "Everyone was a little shocked this morning," said Robinson. Ladson received a job offer he couldn't refuse, Robinson said.
Ladson is on vacation and was not available for comment.
Until Ladson's replacement is found, road supervisor Dennis Pletcher and drainage supervisor Warren Gruenewald will fulfill Ladson's duties. Robinson said the county is advertising for the job now. The highway department, Robinson said, is on good grounds and is heading in the right direction.
Ladson has been with Kosciusko County for approximately 7-1/2 years.
Of Ladson's leadership, Pletcher said, it's been "most excellent. He's going to be hard to match. He is a just and fair man. He is an overachiever. He graduated at the top of his class at Rose-Hulman. He's taken our department to a new level."
"Rob has provided probably the best work of any county in Indiana," said Avis Gunter, southern district county commissioner. In his first year with the county as engineer, she said, he was named the Indiana engineer of the year. "I don't know how we can replace him. I really don't."
She said one of the reasons Ladson came to Kosciusko County was because his family is from this area.
"I really appreciate what he has done for the county," she said.
Besides serving as the county engineer and superintendent, Robinson said, Ladson also wrote his own computer programs for the county highway department and other county departments.
In other business, the county commissioners:
• Opened the bids for a small structure bridge on Hickory Street over Turkey Creek in Syracuse. The bids were: Beer & Slabaugh, $61,475.50; Good Excavating, $48,179.60; LDP Excavating, $106,707.80; and Kelcon LLC, $85,675.
Pletcher said the engineer's estimate was $58,823. The highway department will review all the bids and submit a decision for approval to the county commissioners in two weeks.
• Heard that all tornado sirens in the county will be tested twice Wednesday. If there is severe weather, the sirens will be tested Thursday instead. "This is only a test," said Ed Rock, Emergency Management director.
Rock also said seven counties in emergency management District 2, including Kosciusko County, will participate in a drill April 28.
• Approved using Brightnet for Internet service at Turkey Creek, Tippecanoe and Clay township assessors' offices. Brightnet also will provide Internet spam and virus protection services to the county.
• Approved upgrading the county's court case management system with Maximus pending county attorney Mike Miner's approval of the contract.
• Held the public hearing on the application for the county commissioners to apply for a $500,000 Indiana Department of Commerce grant on behalf of the Bowen Center. The money, if approved, will be used for building a new inpatient unit. Gunter will sign the application at Miner's office later.
• Approved rerouting traffic on county roads for Silver Lake Days June 18 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Kosciusko County Commissioners are Brad Jackson, northern district; Ron Truex, middle district; and chairwoman Avis Gunter, southern district. They meet at 9 a.m. in the county courthouse every other Tuesday.
