New Highway Supt., Louis Dreyfus Funding Highlights At Commissioners Meeting
Posted
Daniel Riordan-driordan@timesuniononline.com
After a summer-long letter-writing campaign that included Kosciusko County residents and commissioners, Louis Dreyfus will be eligible for federal subsidies.
Jeremy Mullins, general manager of the Louis Dreyfus plant in Claypool, thanked the commissioners and the community this morning for their input.
During this morning's commissioners meeting, Mullins said the United States Department of Agriculture was sent more than 1,300 letters in support of Louis Dreyfus being eligible to receive money from the USDA's Biofuel Payment Program.
There is $300 million available in the program, though Mullins said it was unclear how much would now go to Louis Dreyfus.
Mullins told the commissioners that any money it received would go toward paying farmers and the plant's 100 employees.
"We're here for the long haul," said Mullins. "We continue to hire and have never laid anyone off."
Commissioner Bob Conley, whose district Louis Dreyfus is in, said this is an example of where local input can have an effect on the federal level.
Louis Dreyfus was made aware of the change that allowed them to receive subsidies Aug. 12.
In other business, the commissioners announced Scott Tilden will take over for Dennis Pletcher as the Kosciusko County highway superintendent.
Tilden spent the last 14 years as the highway superintendent in Fulton County.
Pletcher took over as highway superintendent in 2005 after Rob Ladson left the post.
At that time, Pletcher told the commissioners he would serve in that post until they got a suitable replacement.
"Dennis has done an outstanding job for us and for the county," said commissioner Ron Truex.
Pletcher will move back to his old position of road supervisor.
Tilden will take over his new position Sept. 13.
County Administrator Ron Robinson had the commissioners sign two contracts for the pending Fox Farm roundabout.
Pletcher told the commissioners he received a request to lower the speed limit at the Woodland Acres subdivision.
The subdivision is south of Syracuse and currently has a speed limit of 35 mph.
Pletcher said he gave the resident options of things that could be done.
Truex told Pletcher to take a request of a 25-mph speed limit to the subdivision.
The commissioners also approved a road vacation that previously was tabled.
Judy Jordan's request to vacate a road from public use at her residence on Roy Drive at Yellow Creek Lake was approved.
The commissioners said that this decision would hopefully open the door for others in that neighborhood to fully vacate that road as a group.
