The Mail-Journal, Volume 27, Number 9, Milford, Kosciusko County, 13 April 1988 — Page 2

2

THE MAIL-JOURNAL—Wed., April 13,1988

APC denies commercial zoning for Jot-Em-Down owners

i By GLEN LONG Staff Writer The Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission (APC) at its April 6 meeting denied the petition of John and Melba Kussmaul to rezone their Jot-Em-Down grocery store location from residential to commercial. Kussmaul said the store has been at that location since the late 19205. It has been grandfathered as a zoning exception since county zoning went into effect in 1975. Kussmaul said they may want to sell the property in the next few years ancfcfeel it will sell better if it is zoned commercial. The board voted 5-2 to deny the request after Hal Strong stated he prefers to keep it residential so that APC can retain some control on other uses a future owner may want to have for the store building. Chuck Brower took the opposing view and said, “We’re infringing on John’s rights by not granting the change.” The preliminary plat petition of James E. Hershberger for a residential subdivision on a 1.07 acre tract of ground was approved unanimously after Larry Long, engineer, presented the petitioner’s case for the three lot subdivision. The property is located on the north side of Dewart Lake, on the south side of CR 1000 N and 600 feet west of CR 400E in Van Buren Township. Several concerned neighbors were present to express their remonstrance to the petition of Max Cumberland to rezone 3.15 acres at the west edge of the Beaver Dam settlement northwest of Silver Lake. The board

Enjoy Independent Retirement Living At The Country Manor... Country •MANORI • No General Maintenance Or Utility Bills To Worry About, And No Entrance Fees. • Continue To Be Active With A Feeling Os Security • Quiet Country Living Close To Town, Beautiful Comfortable Apartments Call 267-5292 To Find Out More About This Ideal Lifestyle Counlrv •MANORS RR 2, COUNTY FARM RD., WARSAW

lb JH b“l" NOMINATE E Id ■Mp P W KH II ★ Local Business Owner ★ Scottish Rite II D ★ Board Os Directors ★ Mizpah Shrine p I ® Chamber Os Commerce ■EBHf ★ Kos. Co. Shrine ■* I * Masonic ' ★ Board Os Directors I wwH | HHL Rozel la Ford vw ■ EihS H i DARWIN CALL «H b-iN STATE REPRESENTATIVE M ■bl 1«* BISTMCT " I Paid Pol. Adv. By Committ.. For Call For Stat. «.pr.s.ntativ. Dr. David Hain... Chairman. 2324 Sally Dr., Wariow, Dan Wldaman, Trw.ur.r ■ R| t ‘ CAll I CAI* ~

denied the petition based on the fact that a confined livestock feeder operation is located about 750 feet west. The county zoning ordinance contains the stipulation that a residential subdivision cannot be built within one quarter mile of such a feeder operation. Clarence Basanda, who lives just north of the tract, said he wants to see the area remain as in the past and referred to it as a nice, quiet pastoral area. The board unanimously approved the petition of Martin Miller for a residential subdivision on a .67 acre tract of ground. The property is located on the north side of Rattlesnake Drive and just west of Rattlesnake Court in Tippecanoe Township. This is on the east side of Kuhn Lake and is the Seventh Addition to Rolling Ridge Subdivision. Larry Long said his client has sold the ground and the preliminary plat was needed so a building permit could be obtained. Dick Green, Syracuse attorney, represented George Hickman as his petition to rezone .09 acre of land from a light industrial district to a commercial district. The request was termed a “housekeeping change” by a board member as it was to coordinate the zoning on two pieces of a 50x200-foot parcel of land where a warehouse Hickman wants to sell to J.C. Industries, his neighbor to the north in the industrial park on the east side of SR 13 north of North Webster. Howard Woodward, realtor, was assisted by Larry Long in the presentation of his petition for a residential subdivision on a'25.9 acre tract of ground. The land is located on the west side of CR 350E and 1,200 feet south of Wilcox Road in Wayne Township.

Larry Long told the board the area drains into the open Wyland Ditch, which runs into Winona Lake. Attorney Mike Miner represented neighbdhng property owners and stated their concerns about increased traffic in the area. He pointed out that the access roads are not yet up to county specifications. Neighbor Cliff Palmer stated his concern that there had been three serious accidents in that area recently and spoke of 60mph traffic on the county road. The board approved the preliminary plat with the stipulation that the two access roads will be brought up to county standards. With neighbor Bambi Maze commenting that most of her neighbors are in favor of the petition, Larry Long had an easy task as he represented George Fracker for approval for a residential subdivision on a 6.46 acre tract of ground. The board approved the plat for the property which is located on the west side of Goose Lake in Wayne Township.

Retail Merchants to hold sidewalk sale in August

j By DEB PATTERSON Staff Writer Sidewalk sales in Syracuse will be August 17-20 allowing clothing merchants to have their merchandise on sale. The dates for the annual event was decided at the April 4 meeting of the Retail Merchants Division of the Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce. The sales will again be coordinated with North Webster Merchants. Donna Conder, president, stated it was important to set the date for the sidewalk sales ahead of time and suggested the third week. Jeanne Gardinei;, treasurer, commented past sidewalk sales, held a week earlier, were to early for merchants to have clothing items on sale. Conder noted she would be contacting Nadine Gooding, North Webster-Tippecanoe Township Chamber of Commerce President, with the dates. During new business the group discussed participation in the local Hoosier Celebration ’BB, in conjunction with the annual July 4th celebration and flotilla, as a fund-raiser opportunity. “Something that is simple and an easy thing is a bake sale,” said Mrs. Conder. Ideas such as acting as a coordinator for vendors, sponsoring an ice cream social and a chicken barbecue were made. Mrs. Gardiner cautioned the group that Bill Beemer, local celebration chairman, is trying to get local churches and organizations involved and local participation which outside vendors may hinder. It was also noted that an ice cream social may be in the works by a local church or other group.

► ► ► | Buhrt Builders inc. ► Syracuse, IN (219) 457-3431 ► J Quality Construction For 40 Years

The board voted to recommend rezoning ground from an agricultural district to a residential district as petitioned by Garold Horrick, Joan Reich and Bonnie Stevens. Michael Miner and Bonnie Stevens presented the case and heard Grundy Akers, a neighbor, point out that a junk area on the property, located on the south side of Wooster Road, 677 feet east of CR 500E in Washington Township, needs to be cleaned up. The board approved the petition and stated aerial maps will be checked to see if junk cars were there prior to the 1975 zoning ordinance and thus allowed to remain due to the grandfather clause. The APC also voted to approve four final plats. These included one for Stonehenge Golf Course east of Winona Lake; Larry Weaver’s residential subdivision in Turkey Creek Township; Shull’s Third Addition in Wayne Township and Runyan Addition to Dewart Lake Other Business Steve Maenhout, APC staff

Deciding upon a chicken barbecue and bake sale, the group felt a final decision was needed and arrangements made. The actual date of the event will be based upon the availability of Port-A-Pit, Wakarusa, with Saturday, July 2, being the first option. The group did decide 500 halves would be ordered and sold at $3 per half. The chicken will be available at Lakeside Park and possibly at a location in Wawasee Village. Mrs. Conder, Mrs. Gardiner and Judy Moser will be contacting retail merchants to line up bake sale items. The posters will be made by Carol Wallace. Other Business Tim Kroh noted the chamber of commerce maps will be reprinted this year with a new map being designed for 1989. He indicated the new map will have an update on the history of the area, historical landmarks, dep - ths of the lake, a town map, and distances from Syracuse to larger cities. No definite deciC of C to hear fire chief The quarterly SyracuseWawasee Chamber of Commerce Luncheon will be next Wednesday, April 20, at 12 noon, in Maxie’s Restaurant at Maxwelton Golf Club. Jerry Byrd, Chief of the Syracuse Fire Department, and Howard Birkel, fireman, will be the guest speaker. The menu will consist of a salad bar featuring Hawaiian Turkey Salad, deserts, ice tea or coffee. Reservations must be made by Monday, April 18, by calling the chamber office. The luncheons are open to anyone.

member, gave each board member a document containing case studies made by using the study tool, “Land Evaluation and Site Assessment, (LESA),” which was evaluated over a year ago by the APC. Members were asked to study the cases and the LESA documentation so they may be discussed at the May 4 meeting. Land evaluation, one of the two analytical components of LESA, is used to analyze an agricultural to residential rezoning proposal in terms of the soil crop productivity to be lost by development. It provides a productivity score for each soil type within the proposed rezoning. Site assessment analyzes land use impact factors such as nearby agricultural land, nearby zoning, proximity to urban areas, accessibility to utilities , transportation and essential services, environmental impacts and land use compatibility. LESA assigns a score to each site assessment factor.

sions on the contents and makeup have been made. Several ideas were shared on what the group could put on the page available in the Syracuse Jaycees Coupon Book. The Jaycees have given the retail merchants division one page, free of charge, to be used as the members see fit. Mrs. Conder stated there was.a need to get more retail merchants involved tn the monthly meetings. The matter was discussed briefly and tabled until the next meeting on May 6, at 8 a.m., in the State Bank of Syracuse. No serious injuries as cars collide The Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department investigated the following traffic accidents this Jerry Whetten, 48, 71141 CR 29, Syracuse, was charged with driving under the influence when his 1978 Chevrolet Van struck a pole barn at the Carl Stookey residence, r 2 box 83, Leesburg, on Tuesday, April 5. The accident was reported at 11:15 a.m. County police indicate Whetten was north bound on CR 150 W and turned into the Stookey driveway believing it was a road. Whetten continued turning right and ran into the side of a pole barn. He was taken to Kosciusko Community Hospital. Damage to Whetten’s van was estimated up to SI,OOO and up to $5,000 to the pole barn. Police investigated an accident at 2:31 p.m. Tuesday at Wesley Drive east of Sixth Street in North Webster. Howard E. McCain, 79, r 1 box 137, North Webster, was driving east when his 1979 Chevrolet Impala struck a parked vehicle registered to Randell L. or Jay B. Riley, P.O. Box 167, North Webster. Damage to both vehicles was estimated at under S2OO.

Damage has been estimated at up to SI,OOO to each vehicle in a two-vehicle accident Friday, April 8, at 11:45 a.m. at US 30 and SR 15. Rosco Howard, 55, r 2, Pierceton, had stopped for traffic after exiting US 30 at the SR 15 interchange when his vehicle struck the rear bumper of a Kosciusko County Farm Bureau Co-Op truck when he pulled out. Terry L. Hoover, 29, r 2 Rowland Ave., Leesburg, was driver of the 1986 GMC truck owned by Kosciusko County Farm Bureau.

Taxpayers are still confused about the sweeping changes in the tax laws. Our experienced preparers are working extra hours through April 15. It’s not too late for us to get you the biggest refund you have coming. If there’s ever a time for H&R Block, it’s now. 7&57 DON’T FACE THE H*H BLOCK new TAX LAWS ALONE St. Rd. 13 SyrawM £2O|3 457-2635 £ Open 9To 6 Mon.-Fri., 9To 3 Sat. Smß

I•' - W i i !/ ■-.- S ANNOUNCING GRAND OPENING — Ron Herr, sales representative, announces the grand opening of Eby Subaru, located at Eby Ford Lincoln Mercury, US 33W, between Goshen and Elkhart. Herr invites everyone to stop in to see the complete line of 1988 Subarus during this grand opening which will be taking place Thursday, Friday and Saturday, April 14, 15 and 16. (Photo by Steve Eryman)

MAD votes to back fund drive for new Christmas decorations

j By DEB PATTERSON Staff Writer Milford will have new Christmas decorations this year. The Milford Area Development Council, Inc., voted unanimously Saturday to back and coordinate a fund drive towards the purchase of the new decorations for the town. The council donated the $276.50 remaining from the Milford Sesquicentennial Street Fund to help get started. A total of $1,119.38 is still needed. Betty Hall, MAD secretary, reported the decorations committee met with Dallas Winchester, Milford Street Superintendent, and recommended six different pole decorations and three different banners. Mrs. Hall noted if the decorations are ordered within several weeks an eight percent price increase will be avoided. There is a 35 percent discount if ordered before July 1. Without the discount the purchase price would be over $2,000. Ideas to raise the funds were offered, such as letters to mer-

SR 15 by-pass questioned — Milford officials concerned by APC's comprehensive plan

By MARK HUFFMAN

Staff Writer

The preliminary draft of a Kosciusko County Comprehensive Plan, devised by the Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission two months ago, had some Milford officials wondering whether small towns within the northern county had been given the shaft.

Addressing the board at its monthly meeting Monday night, April 11, Steve Manhout, APC planner, noted that the county could not adopt a comprehensive plan until it gained the approval of participating communities. While the projected plan calls for improvements to be made in 20 years, Manhout stated, “I don’t see any of this happening in the immediate future — this is a document for generating ideas.” One of the ideas generated within the study caused some ire among those present, as they contested the idea of constructing a four-lane bypass on the west side of Milford. “I’d rather see traffic going through Milford,” said Utility Superintendent Dallas Winchester 11, who was echoed by board member John Lehman. While the basic premise of the plan gained approval, the idea of a bypass that would require the town to annex property further west caused dissension. “We

chants asking to make a contributions with copies of what will be purchased. Organizations will also be asked to make a contribution. It was suggested the funds be handled through MAD. Following some discussion, a vote was taken in which those present unanimously felt it was a worthy project to support. “It is a. community project, everyone' will benefit from,” noted Don Arnold, MAD treasurer. In other business Arnold reported an insurance adjustor looked at the north wall of the building and determined it was not damaged from the fire at the Evans Family Store, but due to wear and tear. It was voted that the maintenance committee, Elmer Sorensen, Bob Hall and Dick Smith, decide what needs to be done and materials needed by the May 14 meeting. A work day will be set. Arnold reported a second mailing to obtain donations for maintenance and upkeep of the community building had been done with some response received. He noted MAD’s membership in 1987 showed 112 individuals and 30 businesses. This year there are 118 individual and 35

can’t provide sewage and water to a lot of our own residents right now, I don’t know how we will if this plan is adopted,” Lehman said. Winchester also noted that the soft land in that area wouldn’t benefit the town, although Manhout dissented. “This would create opportunities for commercial development to the east of the bypass and industrial development to the west. It’s also opening up possibilities for the north side,” he claimed. While the state’s future plans call for the expansion of SR 15 into a four-lane highway between Goshen and Warsaw, Manhout noted that a west bypass of Milford would best benefit the county. “I have to look at the benefits for the region and county and balance the costs of those benefits,” he said, noting that a bypass would increase property tax base rates in the area. Manhout noted that Bremen had recently become part of a bypass project, with no noticeable declines in business being experienced. “I think if you drive through their community you’ll see that they haven’t experienced any decline,” he stated. While the county seems intent on keeping the premise of its current plan, Manhout noted that changes could be made, while further studies and investigation would be forthcoming from the state before such a project would be started. The county planner called for a policy statement from the board, while Lehman stated, “I don’t think we should endorse the idea (of a bypass) and let the state

Unsafe housing, junk cars indicative of spring meeting

(Continued from page 1) State Clerk-Treasurers’ Association Seminar in Fort Wayne next Tuesday, April 19, through Friday, April 22. — The basement of the Milford City Hall will be renovated at a cost of $350 for utility department records space. — The police department fielded 177 complaints from March 14 to April 8, with 1,920 miles logged at a cost of $149.80. Fourteen misdemeanor and 11 traffic ar-

business memberships. Replogle and Arnold both noted the dues paid through the membership drive is strictly used for maintenance and upkeep of the building, never for projects. Arnold commented funds for projects are taken from a special project fund. Preliminary committees were set up for the annual May 30 chicken barbecue. The Memorial Day fund-raiser will begin at 11 a.m. and end when sold out. As in years past there will be a meal served or carry-outs available. The committee will be finalized at the next meeting. Dennis Replogle, Emergency Medical Service representative, updated the group on events planned by the EMS in efforts to raise funds for the new ambulance. He noted events on May 7 as being a pancake breakfast, EMS open house, blood pressure day and auction. Events on July 10, which will be one of the biggest days for the EMS fund-drive, will include a youth league eight-team tourney finals. Additional events may be added. The next meeting of MAD will be Saturday, May 14, at 9 a.m., in the Milford Community Building.

have its hands on this — I don’t have much faith in them.” Board president Dennis Wuthrich agreed that other alternatives would have to be discussed before a policy statement was drafted, although he added, “The basic plan sounds good.” Before leaving the meeting, Manhout also noted problems with solid waste that will become present in the future, with landfills being filled to capacity. He also notified the board of a rural numbering system the county will be establishing outside incorporated areas within the county. “There is a possibility that numbers will not coincide with the way houses in town are numbered so you may want to consider establishing a buffer zone, where numbers would become more consistent,” he stated. The base line numbering system was adopted by the county to benefit its enhanced 911 emergency system, among other things. “We hope to have a comprehensive list of properties to be numbered by the end of the year. We’re not looking to implement the system until mid-1989,” Manhout concluded, noting that the county will start with the most populated townships. Deadly fever returns NEW ORLEANS — Rheumatic fever appears to be making a comeback among children in several cities. Dr. Alan L. Bisno of the University of Miami School of Medicine said there is evidence that the outbreaks may be caused by tough strains of bacteria.

rests were also made. — Phillip Treesh, Republican candidate for District 13 State Senator, introduced himself to the board. Treesh, who has been a resident of Noble County since he was three-years-old, noted, “The only promise I have is to listen and do the best I can.” After signing the registrar of claims the board noted that the next regularly scheduled meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. Monday, May 9.