Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Kosciusko County will continue its arrangement with Workforce Development Services of Northern Indiana in efforts to move welfare recipients into the workplace.
The county and agency began working together in 1995 and formed the local planning council used to draft a local plan. The new arrangement will provide time to further implement the plan, said Juan Manigault, director of Workforce Development Services.
Kosciusko County has seen its number of welfare cases decline while other counties such as Elkhart and St. Joseph saw increases despite welfare reform efforts, Manigault said.
According to Workforce Development, about 1 percent of the county population receives Aid to Families with Dependent Children.
Manigault said he believes Kosciusko County's strong economic condition and relatively low number of welfare recipients should make it easier to help move more recipients from welfare to work.
Some of that may entail establishing mentor programs to make sure new workers adjust to the new lifestyle.
"Those are simple solutions that don't cost a lot of money that allow businesses to participate," Manigault said.
With such a low level of recipients, churches and other organizations could adopt families and provide support mechanisms, he said.
The committee includes representatives from the commissioners, welfare department, education and other agencies. The positions should be filled by September.
In other matters, the commissioners approved a recommendation from the area plan commission to rezone 30 acres from agriculture to residential. The property, owned by Jerry Grady, is located west of Dogleg Drive East near Syracuse.
Several reductions in speed limits from 55 mph were also approved. Recommendations from the highway department included reducing the speed limit to 45 mph on County Road 175N, from CR175E to 300E. Two sections of CR 300E were also reduced from 55 mph. A stretch from Old 30 to CR 200N was reduced to 50 mph, while the stretch from CR 200N to CR 250N was reduced to 40 mph.
The commissioners also approved a request from residents in Bel Rohr Park north of Oswego for additional seasonal speed bumps.
