Kosciusko County Commissioners heard a road vacation petition at Tuesday’s meeting.
A vacation for Allan Clough was tabled until a compromise can be worked out. The road vacation request was recommended for denial by the Kosciusko County Area Planning Commission Nov. 5.
The road is located in the first addition of Brower Estates at Kuhn Lake in Tippecanoe Township. It involves a portion of a private drainage and 25-foot wide access easement on a lot that would be reduced from 25 feet to 10 feet wide, if approved.
A remonstrator said when the property was purchased, the owner should have known then there was a 20-foot easement on the property. Pat Meck, who owns two lots, said he and other nearby property owners would like access to the lake and possibly a pier.
However, Clough’s attorney, Laura Kauffman, said 10 feet would not be enough room for a pier. “You need at least 20 feet,” she said. She said a 2004 judge’s order said a private pier could not be installed near the area. She said 10 feet would be enough room for access to the lake by the public. It is too overgrown to launch a boat, however, said Meck, who insists he and others want a pier, adding, “10 feet would still allow us to do that.”
Department of Natural Resources decides piers, not the county, one of the commissioners stressed. After several minutes of discussion, the three commissioners could not all agree on the same decision. Therefore, the matter was tabled for two weeks so Meck can try and work out a solution concerning access to the lake and a pier. Commissioners will discuss the matter again Dec. 2.
In other news, commissioners approved the 2015 annual bid recommendations from the county highway department. The bids are for 14 different types of supplies and materials. Stone, gravel and asphalt aggregate bids only were awarded due to close geographical locations. There are 11 bidders for aggregate supplies.
Diesel fuel is awarded throughout the year. The department buys diesel fuel 12 times a year and use the lowest diesel fuel price at the time. Other bids include: dust control, sign posts, weed spray, corrugated metal pipe (culvert) and treated timber structures, among others.
Also, a sign replacement project will begin in April, when bids will be submitted. Approximately 2,200 signs will be replaced in the county. There are about 12,000 signs in Kosciusko County. Money has been allotted from the state’s highway safety improvement program for Elkhart and Kosciusko counties to use for highway work; the two counties will split about $800,000. Commissioners signed two letters for Indiana Department of Transportation for certification and insurance purposes.
Commissioners also approved the payroll process and internal controls for the state board of accounts.
Commissioners are President Brad Jackson, Bob Conley and Ron Truex. The next meeting is at 9 a.m. Dec. 2, at the county courthouse in Warsaw.