Pictured, from left, Kosciusko Commissioner Vice-President Cary Groninger and County Administrator Marsha McSherry.

KOSCIUSKO — Kosciusko County Council Member Sue Ann Mitchell asked commissioners to sign a declaration proclaiming April as Distracted Driving Awareness Month at the Kosciusko Commissioners meeting held Tuesday, April 3.

Mitchell said the 2nd Annual Fallen Rider Memorial Ride is being organized and will be held Saturday, April 14, at Wawasee High School in Syracuse. Proceeds from the ride will go to driver education classes at local high schools. Registration begins at 10 a.m., with the ride starting at noon. Cost is $25 per individual or $30 per couple. The 80 mile ride is held in memory of Erik Mounsey, who was killed in August 2016 while riding his motorcycle. The driver of the vehicle that struck Mounsey was texting. Commissioners signed the declaration. 

Kosciusko Superior Court Judge David Cates provided commissioners with updates related to the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative, informing commissioners that a grant was received in the amount of $55,000. 

“Overall, juvenile filings are up approximately 21 percent since I took office, but delinquency filings are up 51 percent,” said Cates. “One of my big frustrations as a judge is that within six months of me taking office, two of our local options for dealing with juveniles closed and we’ve been dealing with that ever since. This is one way to help address that locally.”

“The whole concept of JDAI is to reduce detentions while also reducing recidivism,” Cates explained. “It has worked in other counties within our state. I want to utilize that here. I want some different alternatives rather than sending kids up to the JJC in South Bend.”

County Highway Department Superintendent Scott Tilden presented an agreement between Phend & Brown Inc., Leesburg, and the Board of Commissioners of Kosciusko County regarding the CR 900N project, between SR 19 and SR 15. Tilden said the work will be completed this year. This includes resurfacing seven and a half miles of road. Commissioners signed the agreement.

Tilden also submitted a parking on right of way permit from the Backwater Retriever Club for the dates of April 14 and April 15. Tilden explained that this is at the location of CR 1000E, between CR 750N and CR 1000N in the Tri-County area. 

“They’ve had this event for several years now and we’ve never had any issues,” said Tilden. Commissioners approved the permit. 

Other News: 

• County Administrator Marsha McSherry presented two quotes to replace a grease trap at the Kosciusko Work Release building. The quotes were submitted by Everest Excavating and LDP Excavating, both from Warsaw. Commissioners voted to accept the quote submitted by LDP, in the amount of $14,286.
• McSherry also presented an appointment to the Alcoholic Beverage Commission Board. Alan Alderfer agreed to accept the appointment. This was approved by commissioners.
• KABS General Manager Amanda Landis informed commissioners that Indiana has signed over Medicaid rights to a private broker, meaning that in order to provide rides to citizens of Kosciusko County, the rides and billing will all go through Southeastrans Inc. According to Landis, every public transit is being required to do this. Landis asked the commissioners to sign a form stating that KABS wants to be a provider through Southeastrans Inc. Commissioners agreed to this.
• Landis also requested that commissioners sign a form granting permission for KABS to close out their 2017 grants. This was approved. 
• The next regular meeting will be held Tuesday, April 17.