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The five nonprofit agreements for 2027 were approved by the Kosciusko County Commissioners at their meeting Tuesday morning.
The agreements, which were approved by the Kosciusko County Council during the budgeting process, include $33,425 for The Beaman Home; $89,129 for Cardinal Services; $46,590 for Kosciusko County 4-H Council; $23,230 for Kosciusko County Historical Society; and $33,425 for Kosciusko Community Senior Services.
Commissioner Cary Groninger asked County Auditor Alyssa Schmucker if the $89,129 for Cardinal Services was the reduced amount the council approved, and she said it was.
“The commissioners sent it to the council with the amount of $109,129, and the council reduced that to the $89,129 amount during the budget process,” she stated.
Commissioner Sue Ann Mitchell made a motion to approve the agreements as presented, Groninger seconded the motion and it passed 3-0.
Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation (KEDCO) CEO Peggy Simmons, filling in for KEDCO Director of Projects and Operations Dawn Wilkinson, said Wilkinson was out on a site visit.
“We have a company that is very interested in coming to Warsaw and Kosciusko County, so we’re really excited about that. Hopefully, we can talk about that soon,” she said. “But you have in front of you, our budget request. These special project dollars have been approved in the budget and set aside for KEDCO to work on the projects as they come throughout the year. You have those in front of you, do you have any questions?”
Groninger said the summary request and the fund reason were different and asked if the total was $65,500 as it was listed on the agenda as $45,500. County attorney Ed Ormsby said the difference is the $20,000 for the wastewater study.
Simmons said Etna Green has a sewer issue so those funds will go toward a study that will hopefully allow Etna Green to connect to Warsaw’s infrastructure.
“It’s helped us to be able to locate a business in Etna Green and the potential for housing as well,” she said.
“And the connectivity they need for that,” Commissioner Bob Conley said, and Simmons agreed.
The commissioners approved the $65,500 request from special project funds.
Simmons then presented the commissioners with a replica of the Community of the Year Award from the Indiana Chamber of Commerce.
Kosciusko County was named Community of the Year by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce for 2025-26. For the first time in the history of the award, it was given to a county rather than a city or town.
“That recognition didn’t happen by accident. It happens because people show up, they invest, they lead and they believe in something bigger than themselves. This award belongs to us all,” she stated, in part.
KEDCO has been presenting replicas of the award to each of the 14 communities across Kosciusko County.
“Because excellence doesn’t just live in one place. It lives in every town, every neighborhood and every corner of the county. This replica is more than a symbol, it’s a reminder: It’s a reminder that you are a part of something exceptional. A reminder that the community helped earn this recognition. And a reminder that works continues, because awards are not the finish line, they are a call to go even further. So today, as we present this replica, we do with gratitude, with pride and with a challenge: Let’s continue to build. Let’s continue to collaborate and let’s continue to prove every single day why Kosciusko County is not just the community of the year, but the community of the future,” Simmons concluded.
Earlier in the meeting, County Administrator Marsha McSherry asked for the commissioners’ approval of the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) Title VI Assurances and Implementation Plan.
“We review this every year and we add anything to this that we might have amended throughout the county buildings,” she said. “This year, we added ADA-compliant work orders for all of the public restrooms in all three floors of the Justice Building, and we are in plans with updating the restrooms in the courthouse to make them ADA compliant.”
The commissioners approved the plan.
McSherry said that will be sent down to the state and when the Kosciusko County Highway Department does projects, that information is pulled and is a requirement to receive funding.
She then presented a proposal from Core Mechanical for $11,633.80.
“In the Justice Building, we have two lift stations. In the south lift station, there are two pumps. One pump has gone out. That one has been removed. This would require us to rebuild it as opposed to purchasing a new one. The approximate cost of a new one would be $23,000. We hope to have it back within two weeks,” McSherry explained. “And then, once that one comes back, we’ll look at purchasing a new one to keep on hand for when the other one goes, and then we’ll rebuild it if it’s possible, and then we’ll have one on hand for that lift station. Like I said, there’s two lift stations but the pumps are not the same in both lift stations.”
The commissioners approved the proposal as presented.
In other business, the commissioners approved:
• Community Corrections Director James Henry’s request to enter into a contract with Adams Remco for $11,259.25 for a new copier. He said Community Corrections’ current copier is almost 11 years old and prints blue lines across the paper as it prints. He said the funds are in his budget.
• A petition to vacate an unnamed platted public way located in Kuhn’s 2nd Addition to Kuhn’s plat. Charles and Joan Baker are the owners of lots 21 and 25 in Kuhn’s 2nd Addition to Kuhn’s plat, as well as a tract of land located north of lot 26, which is adjacent to the platted public way, according to Shannon Shepherd, Kosciusko County Area Plan. The Area Plan Commission recommended the vacation be approved. There were no remonstrators.
• A petition from Frederick Hershberger, who is purchasing the property, to rezone an Industrial-2 district to an Agricultural-2 district. The property is on the east side of Hoss Hill Road and zero feet north of Epworth Forest Road in Tippecanoe Township, according to Shepherd. The Area Plan Commission recommended the rezoning be approved and there were no remonstrators.
The next commissioners meeting is at 9 a.m. Monday, Nov. 2 due to Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 3.
