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Offices in the basement of the Kosciusko County courthouse will have to move once the courthouse renovation project begins.
The Veterans' Office is moving now to the basement of the Justice Building. The county surveyor's and Wayne Township offices eventually will move to the multipurpose room in the Justice Building, with the Extension Office moving across from the probation office.
The work on the courthouse's heating, plumbing and other mechanics may begin at the end of this month and are estimated to be completed by October.
"The basement level is the only one that's going to be affected," Ron Robinson, Kosciusko County administrator, told the county commissioners Tuesday. "The rest will continue."
The Kosciusko County Commissioners approved Tuesday to proceed with the county courthouse project at a cost of $3,046,486 with A. Hattersley & Sons. Robinson said the cost is a guarantee. The cost can come in less, but may not be more.
The commissioners also approved to proceed with the Work Release Center kitchen, for a cost of approximately $500,000.
In other business, the county commissioners:
• Approved a proclamation recognizing National Tourism Week May 7-14, as requested by the Kosciusko County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
• Decided not to close CR 600N in lieu of signals at other railroad crossings.
• Approved reducing the speed limit to 45 mph on CR 600W from Ind. 25 to CR 500S.
• Approved vacating 18 feet of the total 66-foot platted right of way as requested by Frank and Linda Hurd. The right of way is off Ind. 15, just north of the Warsaw city limits in Plain Township. The Hurds must get legal counsel to draw up an ordinance regarding the vacation of the 18 feet.
• Approved the vacation of a 7-foot right of way of Kokomo Road in the Beaver Dam area in Seward Township as requested by Archie D. and Deborah J. Johnston.
• Heard the petition to rezone 1.336 acres by Jeremy Makinson was withdrawn. Jeremy Makinson, petitioning as Mastercraft Construction, asked the commission to rezone the property from an agricultural to a residential district. The property is on the west side of Lakeview Boulevard, north and south of Cardinal Drive in Wayne Township.
• Approved Ben and Elise Guy's petition to rezone ground from an agricultural to a residential district. The property is on the east side of EMS W30A1 Lane and 115 feet south of EMS W30B Lane in Tippecanoe Township.
Kosciusko County commissioners are Avis Gunter, southern district; Brad Jackson, northern district; and Ron Truex, middle district. They meet at 9 a.m. in the county courthouse every other Tuesday.
