Commissioners Meet New IT StaffBob Momeyer and Paul Henning, Kosciusko County’s IT staff, are both planning to retire in 2024.
During the Kosciusko County Commissioners meeting Monday morning, Momeyer officially introduced Eric Sorensen as the newest member of the county’s IT department. He is the assistant systems administrator, with Momeyer as the systems administrator, but the plan is for Sorensen to take over after Momeyer and Henning retire.
“It took a long time in getting this process and you’ve invested a lot of time and effort into this and I just want to thank you for that,” Momeyer told the Commissioners.
Commissioner Cary Groninger welcomed Sorensen aboard and told him they were happy to have him on the team.
“I just want to thank everyone for bringing me on board ... and I’m excited about it. Thank you,” Sorensen said.
After the meeting, Sorensen said he grew up in Warsaw. He and his wife Chantel, a Spanish teacher at Warsaw Community High School, have four children.
“Prior to this, I have 11 years of experience in K-12 - eight years at Warsaw Community Schools and 3-1/2 years at Tippy Valley,” Sorensen said.
He said he was interested in the county job because it was a change of pace and an opportunity to grow. Former Warsaw Community Schools Chief Technology Officer Brad Hagg also pointed Sorensen to the county position.
Momeyer said Hagg gave the county some options regarding filling the assistant systems administration job and it led to Sorensen.
Sorensen’s first official day with the county was Oct. 10.
Momeyer said what made Sorensen the best candidate was “just his level of experience and his similar experience at the school, compared to some things we do here. It just seemed like the best fit.”
He said he’s already been impressed with some of the initiatives Sorensen has taken in pursuing some projects. “I think it’s been working out really well and I’m very pleased,” Momeyer said.
Also during Monday’s Commissioners meeting, County Administrator Marsha McSherry presented two quotes for a project in the Justice Building.
“We’ve had some issues with the main entrance doors and we’re going to have to install heavy-duty closures on those. While we’re at it, we’ve got quotes for installing the ADA packages, the operator packages, and I’m requesting approval for those,” she said.
The first part of it is the installation of the electric for $3,878 from D & D Electric, with the second part being Automatic Door Controls, Roanoke, for $8,250.
“So, what that will do, there will be one operator inside and one operator outside on the south side, and then there will be one on the north side on the main entrance on the inside. So, three ADA operator packages,” McSherry said.
Commissioner Bob Conley asked if that will help the building become more ADA compliant and McSherry said yes. Conley made a motion to approve the two bids, Commissioner Brad Jackson seconded and it was approved 3-0.
McSherry then presented a quote of $7,935 from Core Mechanical Services.
“This was an emergency proposal. This is just the formal approval. I’ve already moved forward on this last week,” McSherry said. “We have an air handler, No. 10, on the Justice Building. We have a blower motor that needs replace.”
She said there’s parts on it that are going bad and the cost to fix the air handler on the roof of the Justice Building is $7,935.
The Commissioners approved the cost 3-0.
Highway Superintendent Steve Moriarty then presented the fifth amendment to the contract with The Troyer Group for the Husky Trail bridge project to continue service and support at a cost not to exceed $11,000.
“This is something that has to be done before we move forward with the Husky Trail project,” Moriarty stated.
Groninger asked if the Indiana Department of Transportation approved it under the 80/20 project, meaning the county would get reimbursed for 80% of the cost. Moriarty said that was correct. He said they tried to put it up for bid two other times, but it was too expensive and they couldn’t afford it.
“Finally, we did get federal aid for construction and construction inspection, with the construction 80/20 and the same thing for construction inspection, 80/20, which is huge. So we’ve already paid for engineering and paid for some permitting. This is an extension because of the new regulations that have come across the last few years for construction in a flood plain, just to make sure we’re all good with the DNR,” Moriarty said.
The Commissioners approved the contract amendment 3-0.
In other business, the Commissioners:
• Approved a contractual services agreement and memorandum of understanding between the county and Purdue Extension, as presented by Andrew Ferrell, Purdue Extension Kosciusko County director.
• Approved for the Kosciusko County Circuit and Superior I courts and the Probation Department to apply for a $70,000 Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative grant for fiscal year 2023-24. Of the $70,000, the amount of $15,000 will be for implementation and $50,000 will be for programming. This will be the sixth year for JDAI in Kosciusko County.
• Opened the bids for 2023 annual highway supplies. Moriarty asked to take the bids under advisement and return in two weeks with recommendations, which the Commissioners approved. The bids ranged from stone to diesel fuel and more.
• Announced the next Commissioners meeting will be at 9 a.m. Nov. 22.
