Kosciusko County commissioners approve routine contracts, tax rates, rezoning and adopt trails plan

Kosciusko County Commissioners approved a slate of routine administrative items during their meeting, including the annual reestablishment of cumulative fund tax rates, multiple procurement and service agreements, two zoning map changes and formal adoption of the county trails master plan.

The county opened a public hearing to reestablish cumulative fund rates used for capital projects and bridges. Melissa, a county staff member, told commissioners: "So each each year, we reestablish the the cumulative rate for the, capital fund and the and the bridge fund. ... The cumulative capital rate will be 0.0333, and the bridge fund will be, 10¢." No members of the public spoke for or against the reestablishment and the commission approved the rates by voice vote.

Commissioners approved several purchases and service agreements that county staff said were budgeted or routine. Steve, a county department head, said the county had budgeted for a pickup and that the lowest of three quotes was $61,850 from McCormick's Motors for a 2025 GMC 2500; the commission voted to accept the purchase request. The board also approved a three-year occupational health services agreement for employee health planning, a service agreement for two annual maintenance visits for UPS units at four new public-safety tower sites (contract amount given in the meeting as about $16,005.85 for one year), and an addendum to a grant-administration service agreement with MACOG to administer reporting tied to previously federal-funded revolving loan fund dollars.

Renovation and maintenance contracts advanced. The commission accepted a recommendation to contract with the Jack Lowery Group for combined painting, minor wall repairs and some paneling/flooring work in three courthouse offices after staff presented competing quotes (staff presented a higher paint quote from Matthews Painting Company at $36,202.39 and a lower one from Jack Lowery Group at about $19,004.75). The board also approved a $13,000 spring-cleanup contract with Anderson Property Management and awarded grounds/mowing services to Turf Master for approximately $22,005.23.

The sheriff’s office requested and received approval for continued participation in the 2025 CHIRP program (Comprehensive Highway Injury Reduction Program, formerly OPO) and permission to apply for a TRIP grant for 2026 on behalf of the sheriff’s department after a county partnership was dissolved. The sheriff’s office also requested permission to apply to the First Soarscribe Foundation to fund radios for jail-based peer recovery coaches and “care packages” including clothing and hygiene items for released program participants; the commission approved that application request.

Two zoning petitions that had come with favorable planning commission recommendations were approved. Matt, a county planner, described a rezoning request for 20.84 acres for Michael Chuck (rezoning case 2025-5) that would move the property from agricultural to AG2, with the planning commission recommending approval 8–0 contingent on two small parcels being absorbed by adjoining owners to avoid creating additional sub-20-acre parcels. The commissioners took public comment, recorded no opposition, and approved the recommendation by voice vote. A separate rezoning for a 3.77-acre tract owned by Lisa, Linda and Donald Scott near Palestine Lake to AG2 so the owners can split two buildings into two lots also received a favorable 8–0 planning commission recommendation and was approved by the board.

Commissioners also formally adopted the county’s trails master plan after Parks and Recreation staff presented the plan and said the adoption does not obligate spending; the board approved the plan by voice vote. Park staff also described a donor-established fund at the Community Foundation to support Friends of the Trails activities; staff said the fund would be administered through the foundation and that Parks and Recreation would have approval over expenditures.

All motions recorded in the meeting passed by voice vote with no opposition announced in the transcript. Several items were described as routine or budgeted; where staff supplied dollar amounts, those figures are reported above.