Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission Director Matt Sandy speaks at the Kosciusko County Commissioners’ meeting on Tuesday, June 20, in the Kosciusko County Courthouse’s Old Courtroom. InkFreeNews photo by Leah Sander.

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — Kosciusko County Commissioners have OK’d sending a letter of support for a memorial for a highway worker killed along SR 13 in Syracuse in 2019.

If approved by the Indiana General Assembly, a section of SR 13 would be named in honor of Benjamin Fisher.

The 29-year-old from Plymouth who worked for Traffic Control Specialists was killed on July 26, 2019, when a truck struck him while he and a coworker were collecting construction signs. The driver of that truck, Joshua E. Ratliff, who was high on meth at the time, was sentenced to seven years in prison.

Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission Director Matt Sandy brought the letter of support request before commissioners at their meeting on Tuesday, June 20.

He said State Sen. Mike Bohacek contacted the county about the matter, with Bohacek to try to pass a bill next year creating the memorial. Sandy also said the letter would help in that matter, with commissioners agreeing to it.

Financial Group Contract

Commissioners also approved contracting with Reedy Financial Group.

Representatives from the company will provide financial advice to the county for the rest of the year. If leaders like the help the company is giving them, they can renew the contract.

Kosciusko County Council Vice President Kathy Groninger, who presented the matter before commissioners, said the cost was about $60,000 for a year, but this year’s amount is prorated due to only half the year being left.

Leaders noted the measure will assist the county as it makes decisions related to $30 million coming to OrthoWorx from the state for orthopedic retention and possible funds coming in to the Kosciusko County Health Department due to new state legislation.

Highway Department Ordinance

Commissioners also approved an ordinance allowing Kosciusko County Highway Department employees to complete “public work projects” like paving when the costs of the projects fall under $250,000.

State leaders recently approved legislation allowing that. Previously county employees could only do projects below a lower monetary threshold.

Kosciusko County Commissioner Cary Groninger noted the ordinance allows the county “to stretch our taxpayer dollars and be able to self-perform additional work.”

In other business, commissioners:

• Approved vacating an alley in Atwood at the request of Blake Palmer. It allows him to unite some of his properties.
• Approved spending $37,127.71 out of budgeted funds to replace 30 computers for the county.
• Approved the calendar for county holidays for 2024. Those are the following: New Year’s Day, Jan. 1; Good Friday, March 29; primary Election Day, May 7; the Fourth of July, July 4; Labor Day, Sept. 2; Election Day, Nov. 5; Veterans Day, Nov. 11; Thanksgiving break, Nov. 28 and 29; and Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, Dec. 24 and 25.
• Approved commissioners’ meeting dates for 2024, which are generally at 9 a.m. on biweekly Tuesdays as they are now. For 2024, those dates are: Jan. 2, 16 and 30; Feb. 13 and 27; March 12 and 26; April 9 and 23; May 6 and 21; June 4 and 18; July 2, 16 and 30; Aug. 13 and 27; Sept. 10 and 24; Oct. 8 and 22; Nov. 4 and 19; and Dec. 3, 17 and 31.
• Approved council meeting dates for 2024, which are at 6 p.m. on the second Thursday of the month as they are now. Those are: Jan. 11; Feb. 8; March 14; April 11; May 9; June 13; July 11; Aug. 8; Sept. 12 with the budget public hearing then; Oct. 10 with the budget adoption then; Nov. 14; and Dec. 12.
• Approved department head meetings for 2024, which are generally at 8 a.m. on the first Thursday of the month. Those are: Jan. 4; Feb. 1; March 7; April 4; May 2; June 6; Wednesday, July 3; Aug. 1; Sept. 5; Oct. 3; Nov. 7; and Dec. 5.

Commissioners’ next meeting is 9 a.m. Wednesday, July 5, in the Kosciusko County Courthouse’s Old Courtroom due to the Fourth of July being on Tuesday.