The Mail-Journal, Volume 27, Number 51, Milford, Kosciusko County, 1 February 1989 — Page 5

"CRUZIN aroundCUSE"

(Continued from page 4) A week later, Keene caught an eight pound walleye in the same location. (Last year, during the Winter Carnival fishing tournament, he caught two 6-pound walleyes there). Needless to say, Zebco wants to have a chat with Keene' — as do fishermen looking for a “hot” spot! A WATER-RELATED item from Bill Spurgeon who kindly attempted to increase our knowledge of what's what with regard to the town dam. First of all, he wanted to express that the Wawasee Property Owners are “delighted” with the local control, but never with the water level. Mother Nature controls the level. The town must go with a pattern that has been established. The Town of Syracuse owns the water rights to Wawasee and Syracuse Lakes, and owns the dam. The top of the water belongs to everyone in Indiana. According to Bill, the town requested a Purdue study in the 1960 s when the new dam was built. The official water level is based on an historical pattern. A recommendation from the study was that no matter how high or low the water is, the town should start dumping water in the fall, watch the level, and shut the dam in the spring. Reaffirming appreciation of local control (“It’s the cat’s meow”), Bill went on to say that all of Indiana’s natural lakes have levels set by court order. The law states that they must be kept as close to that level as possible and that judgement calls can be made by local representatives, who are on-site, rather than by someone downstate or in Washington. IT’S OFFICIAL. Two local insurance agencies have merged as of January 1. Pickwick Insurance and Cotton and Cotton “will continue to operate out of the same locations as before, at least for the time being,” according to Bob Troutman. The agencies cite increasing insurance costs and “various company demands for more business” as reasons for this “positive move for the future.” CONGRATULATIONS TO Mary Hippe of Century 21-Beaty Realtors, who in her first year as a sales associate was selected as top sales associate, top listing associate, and has ended her year as a million dollar sales person! SOME PEOPLE are nuts over the proposed "Kosciusko Squirrel” as spokescritter for our county — and others think that those folks are nuts. There appears to be no middle ground on this one. You either love it or hate it. But. those involved with creating an awareness of Kosciusko County on a statewide and national basis believe that this little critter will catch people's fancy and cause the county to be remembered. You’ll have to admit that the idea is working — there have been no ads using the

Meeks votes against bill

State Senator Robert Meeks (R-LaGrange) recently voted against a bill that would allow the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to regulate certain wetlands across the state. Although Senate Bill 16 did receive a do-pass recommendation by the Senate Natural Resources Committee with an 8-1 vote, Meeks declared that the bill would not be beneficial to his constituents. “I strongly oppose Senate Bill 16,” Meeks said. “In its present form, the DNR will be allowed complete control of areas designated as wetlands.” According to Meeks, it is not fair for an agency to control land that doesn’t belong to it. “If it wants to buy the land that’s a different story, but as the bill stands, the DNR would be Area persons booked at county jail The following persons were booked in the Kosciusko County Jail on various charges. Elmer Wayne Steele, 20, 225 North Lake Street, Syracuse, was booked on a charge of probation violation and held on $2,000 bond. Rachelle Linn Chalk, 35, r 5 box 307A, Syracuse, was charged with driving under the influence and released on $350 bond. Charles Edward Brown, 19, r 5 box 273, Syracuse, was arrested on a conversion charge and held on $250 bond. James Franklin Osborne, 36, r 1 box 44, Milford, was charged with public intoxication and released on $175 cash bond. John Phillip Connelly, 53, 500 South Lake Street, Syracuse, was released on $250 cash bond after being charged with assault and battery/simple assault. Lawrence Brown Burdick, 50, PO Box 743, Syracuse, was charged with failure to appear in court Bond will be set by the court Mary Lou Barley, 27, r 3 box 22, Leesburg, was charged with conversion and released on $250 cash bond. Pamela Kay Myers, 40, r 4 box 284, Syracuse, was released on $250 cash bond after being booked on a charge of assault and bat tery/simple assault.

squirrel even created yet, and “everyone’s talking about it!” SATURDAY’S RECORD-breaking temperatures (54°) brought a traffic-stopping sjght on Lake Wawasee —a windsurfer with colorful sail unfurled was spotted heading towards the shoreline of the Eli Lilly estate. Dick Meyer absorbed the lovely scene as he headed back to his store, The Anchor Man, late in the afternoon. If our winters continue m this vein, we may have to consider adding windsurfing to the Winter Carnival activities! WORK IS in progress at the former Village Green in preparation for the new Subway and Yogurt Shop, scheduled to open in the spring. TOUGHING IT out in preparation for spring, 20 employees of ‘the PAPER’ have signed up for programs at The Fitness Firm in Syracuse. CHECK ON your spring bulbs. Barb Meyer reports that her tulips are up ■/« inch and she plans to follow information learned from a recent USA Today article which states the importance of keeping sunlight off of these tender sprouts by covering them with evergreen boughs or mulch. ED AND Sharon Batesla are the new owners of Tom’s Donuts in Wawasee Village. They recently purchased the business from Jake and Pat Bitner. Ed is a former South Bend teacher and is active locally as a volunteer fireman and EMS person. Sharon is employed by Premier Plastics of Syracuse and is an EMS volunteer. Her plans are to remain with Premier. Ed will be thoroughly trained by Jake and will run the new business. -JOG LAST WEEK’S school board article, discussing options on financing alternatives for the middle school project, listed several incorrect dates. The article stated that with the use of a hypothetical budget and a May construction start date, the school would be ready to use by the fall of 1991. This should have read by the fall of 1990, based on the 18-month construction time. Also if the construction is started by May 1, this would guarantee construction to be under roof by the winter of 1989-1990. Not 1990-1991 as reported. WE NEED youc help. A phonograph record was loaned to “The Mail-Journal,” some time back, but cannot be returned because we only have the first name of the owner. If you loaned us this record, please contact the Syracuse office. The record will be released to the person who can give us the correct title.

granted control of privately owned wetland areas,” Meeks said. Under the bill, those opposing the designations would have to file written objections to the DNR. “It is doubly unfair that the DNR be in charge of any hearing opposing the designations," said Meeks. Meeks said that many others in his district also oppose the bill. “Both the Kosciusko County engineering superintendent and the Noble County Plan Commission expressed their opposition to Senate Bill 16,” Meeks said.

* j JOr P wsy w - - * ■ * - u * FAIR-WEATHER FI N — The “winter” weather was warm though for 9-year-old Casey Rinker (kneeling' and her 5-year-old Zister, Carrie, to plax hy (he lakeside during the weekend’s Winter /Carnival activities.

“They support my concern for local farmers and other landowners who do not want to give control of their property to a governmental agency.” Should the bill be approved by the full Senate, those owning property with wetlands will be required to obtain permits from the DNR before doing any kind of development or other alteration of the wetland area. Failure to obtain permits could result in a Class A infraction. The bill now goes to the Senate Finance Committee for further consideration.

Widespread discontent with excise tax

Discontent with Indiana’s auto excise tax is widespread, according to Senator Robert L. Meeks, judging from the letters and phone calls he has received from people throughout his Senate district and from discussions with fellow legislators. To address this issue, Republicans in the Senate last week unveiled a tax relief plan for Hoosier motorists who have become exasperated with the amount of the auto excise tax and also with the number of persons evading the tax by registering their vehicles out-of-state. The Republican proposal would cut in half all excise tax rates except the sl2 and $lB rates, which

Court revenues total *509,578 in 1988

(By KATE WOLFORD Staff Writer The Kosciusko County Court is a profitable county operation. During the calendar year of 1988, the court’s revenues totaled $509,578.99. A total of $328,041.14 of that revenue was given to the state of Indiana, while $171,945.51 was paid to Kosciusko County. Towns and cities within the county received $9,592.34. The projected court operating budget for 1989 is $134,502. “We’re making money for the county,” says Judge James Jarrette. In fact, revenues were up over last year by $43,583.28, with Kosciusko County receiving a total of $39,516.40 over the year before. Jarrette is scheduled to go before the county council in

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■"J i o /c 0 0* SLGIQCvCIJIU- cXOvtnC) v>Gl/l€ vyCHtC/l, c/nc. "A Unique Inter-Generational Facility" "Health Care Services" Laura Disher, Administrator iransporrarion Provided Safe • Re-Decorated Lounges — Dining Activity Programs Generational Programming

would be reduced to $lO, and would result in four of five Hoosier motorists paying less than SIOO to register their cars each year. Auto excise taxes are too high and, with a state budget surplus of SSOO million, the time has come to lower them. Over the past five years, the tax has increased by an average of 13 percent annually, nearly three times the rate of inflation. The vehicle excise tax “sticker shock” experienced each year when auto owners buy license plates can be traced to three sac; tors: • the cost of vehicles has risen faster than the overall inflation rate;

February to ask for an increase in 1989 salaries for court employees. He hopes that the lucrative revenues of the court will bolster his argument. “1 think it’s a good argument in support of our proposal,” says Jarrette. He adds that there are few county agencies that can do their job and generate income as well. The big money the court brings in comes from the collection of delinquent fees and costs from people who have been found guilty of committing offenses such as drunk driving, shoplifting, trespass and others of those kind. Those who are delinquent are brought to court and ordered to pay the costs or spend time in jail and lay out fees at a rate of S2O per day. Those too poor to pay are not forced to do so.

• new vehicle purchasers, who postponed buying during the economic recession of the early 1980 s, were jolted by the amount of the excise tax when they replaced older vehicles, and, • US automakers have moved toward a pricing structure which includes more optional equipment in a vehicle’s base price, and Indiana’s excise tax is calculated on the base price. However, because auto drivers write their checks to the “Bureau of Motor Vehicles,” many people have the mistaken belief that the money goes to the state. In fact, only the $12.75 registration fee is for the state. The remainder is

The threat of incarceration is potent. Jarrette says, “98 percent of the people come up with the money that day. It’s amazing.” The vigorous collection of delinquent fees by the county court also serves to short-circuit many potential delinquent flees because, Jarrette says, “word gets out on the street,” that the court means business. The problem with the collection process is that it takes a great deal of paperwork and time on the part of court employees. That factor, coupled with the fact that the jail is already overcrowded could mean that the court personnel might have to discontinue the collection process. Were that to happen, the collection of the fees would revert to the county attorney, who would file civil action against the offenders found to be delinquent.

Wed., February 1,1989 —THE MAIL-JOURNAL

the excise tax which goes directly to the auto owner’s county to pay for schools, roads and the cost of operating local government. In other words, the auto excise tax is a property tax. The GOP tax relief proposal will not result in revenue loss for local governments, which already are strapped financially. The plan calls for the state to make up 20 percent of the revenue decrease which would result from cutting the excise tax rates through the existing Property Tax Replacement Fund The balance would be shifted to property owners, adding an average of $6 to $7 per year to homeowners’ property tax bills. It is believed that Hoosiers will find this alternative attractive not only because it will result in significantly lower auto excise taxes, but also because the slight increase in property taxes will be divided into at least two annual installments. And for many who pay their property taxes as part of a mortgage payment, the extra amount will be split into 12 installments averaging about 50 cents each.

• t 1 cd ‘ Wk mH ■ i'Sa ■. I FOLLOW THROUGH — Goshen Jaycees member Ben Williams follows through after his serve, as the shadow of the ball crosses his body during a volleyball match at last weekend's Winter Carnival.

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The GOP proposal would allow 80 percent of Hoosiers to purchase license plates for less than SIOO, and would reduce by 50 percent the number of people who now have to pay more than SIOO for license plates. Cutting the excise tax rates in half also should encourage those who dodge the excise tax by registering cars out-of-state to comply with the law, which would increase revenue for local government and decrease the burden on law-abiding motorists. Although this proposal would provide an incentive for persons td follow the law voluntarily, Republicans also are working on means to augment the enforcement of vehicle registration laws. So that Senator Meeks can represent the taxpayers’ views, they should let him know how they feel about the auto excise tax, and the other important issues under consideration by the legislature. Write to Senator Meeks c/o Indiana Senate, Statehouse, Indianapolis, Ind. 46204 or phone toll-free, 1-800-382-9467 or (317) 232-9400.

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