By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — Kosciusko Area Bus Service has a new general manager.

The Kosciusko County Commissioners approved Chad Kaltenbach for that role at their meeting on Tuesday, March 29.

Chad Kaltenbach

Kaltenbach is to replace Tony Peterson, who’s taken a different role within Cardinal Services, which runs KABS, explained Cardinal Services Executive Director Matt Boren.

Boren noted Kaltenbach, a Kosciusko County native, comes into the position with much experience.

“He’s got 16 years of transportation experience either as a driver, as a trainer or as an administrative assistant within the transportation department,” said Boren. “He has been with Cardinal for four years and (has been) a driver and had some interest and desire to step up his responsibilities and take on more.”

Boren added Kaltenbach has met with Peterson to learn the responsibilities of being general manager.

“He’s got just a real passion for helping people and relates to Cardinal’s mission and purpose and so we’re really pleased to be able to present him and to have a candidate that we think is very qualified for the position,” said Boren.

Railroad agreement

Commissioners also heard from County Attorney Ed Ormsby that the county has reached an agreement with Norfolk Southern railroad.

That’s “for the closure and elimination of a highway grade crossing at CR 400E,” said Ormsby.

“The agreement also requires that Norfolk Southern do some work with regard to the closure, some in-kind work that is due to be completed this summer. And the hope is that once that is done, we will have less railroad closures especially at SR 13,” he said.

The county received $250,000 from the railroad due to the agreement, which was higher than the $80,000 originally to be received. Ormsby said that was achieved through negotiations.

In other business, the commissioners:

• Approved a request allowing Lois Kunce to have her property be part of the Tippecanoe and Chapman Lakes Regional Sewer District. Her single-family residence is located on 2.67 acres at the intersection of Stanton Road and EMS T25 Lane south of Lake Tippecanoe on what was considered to be outside the district.
• Approved a request from Kosciusko County Community Corrections Director Barry Andrew to apply for two grants through the Indiana Department of Correction. They are a $350,755 one for home detention and a $75,746 one for drug court.
• Approved a quote of $8,300 for Anderson Property Management Solutions to do maintenance work for the year around the Kosciusko County Courthouse and Justice Building. Commissioners’ President Cary Groninger noted that County Administrator Marsha McSherry had sought out quotes from other companies, but they didn’t want to bid.

The commissioners’ next meeting is 9 a.m. Tuesday, April 12, at the Kosciusko County Courthouse’s Old Courtroom.