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In no particular order, the Kosciusko County Commissioners made their short list of three consultant firms' proposals for the CR 350W project, also known as the Western Route Project.
The final three firms, out of seven submitting proposals last month, are USI Consultants, Indianapolis; GAI Consultants, Fort Wayne; and The Troyer Group Inc., Mishawaka.
The three chosen companies will be interviewed and ranked.
The firm with the highest ranking will work with the county to develop a detailed scope of the project. Contract terms will be established and the firm will be asked for a fee. If no fee is agreed upon, the county will go to the next highest-ranked firm and the process will begin again.
Kosciusko County Highway Engineer and Superintendent Rob Ladson presented the commissioners with a tentative schedule for the project for the next couple of months. It is subject to change, he said, as needed.
On April 10, the three firms will be interviewed by the commissioners and ranked. By April 24, a committee will be established to develop the project's scope with the chosen consultant.
A draft of the project's scope will be presented May 8 and the completed final draft will be May 22.
June 5, a draft copy of the contract terms and fees will be established with the commissioners approving the final draft contract terms and fees on June 19.
The terms and fee will be reviewed at a joint meeting of the county commissioners and council July 5. On Aug. 2, the terms and fee will be approved by both bodies.
County commissioner Ron Truex asked Ladson when they could have a meeting for concerned residents on the progress of the project .
Ladson said that once an engineering firm is selected, they could meet before the project scope is developed so the engineering firm can hear all the concerns. Once the draft of the project is developed, they can have another meeting before the final draft is completed.
For several years the county had federal funds for road work in the area of CR 350W. Ladson discovered the money was there late last year.
With the money, the county can upgrade CR 350W; build a new road and bridge from Old 30 to Park Schramm Road over Tippecanoe River; and put in a new road from Park Schramm Road to Crystal Lake Road, including an overpass for the railroad.
In December, the commissioners decided to proceed with the project "in all three phases and with the use of federal aid." The aid will cover 80 percent of the construction costs but none of the engineering and right of way acquisition costs. Since federal aid funds will be used, federal guidelines must be followed.
However, many residents in the area oppose the project.
In other business, the commissioners:
• Approved an amendment to the subdivision control ordinance effective April 1.
Under the amendment, for all minor subdivisions the fee will be $75 per plat and $150 for major subdivisions per plat. For all replats, the cost for filing will be $50 plus $5 for every lot included in the replat for more than three lots with a maximum payment of $150.
A minor subdivision is any subdivision consisting of one to three lots. A major subdivision is any subdivision plat with four or more lots. For either subdivision size, a lot includes outlots or common areas.
• Approved the direct deposit agreement for county employees with Lake City Bank. More than 150 employees are signed on and the county pays only a minimal fee. If more than 300 employees sign on for the direct deposit, there will be no cost to the county.
• Approved an agreement to let county auditor Sue Ann Mitchell pay the reinsurance payments. The agreement, Mitchell said, will help the county pay its bills on time.
• Heard from Mitchell, who said April 22 to 29 is county government week. Several county departments may hold open houses for the public.
• Heard from Ladson that the county will receive approximately $39,390.39 in reimbursement funds from Federal Emergency Management Agency for December's snow emergency.
Ladson also presented the commissioners with an updated emergency call list.
Kosciusko County Commissioners are president Brad Jackson, Avis Gunter and Ron Truex. They meet at 9 a.m. in the county courthouse, Warsaw, every other Tuesday.
