WARSAW — Bids were opened for two road projects as part of the Community Crossings Grant that is being sought by the county during the Kosciusko County Commissioner’s meeting held Tuesday, Sept. 5. While the grant has not yet been awarded, County Highway Superintendent Scott Tilden wanted to have the bids ready.

The two projects are CR 900N between SR 15 and SR 19, and CR 1000W from CR 700S to CR 1000S in the far southwest portion of the county.

Tilden is hopeful the smaller of the two projects, CR 1000W, will be awarded funding as of Oct. 1 and the project can get underway. As for CR 900N, the project won’t take place until May of 2018.

Both projects received bids from Rieth-Riley Construction,Goshen; Phend & Brown Inc., Milford; and Niblock Excavating Inc., Bristol. All bids are to be taken under review for consideration pending the award.

The lowest bids for each project came from Phend & Brown, with the CR 900N project bid being $1,163,809.36 and $380,007.76 for CR 1000W.

County GIS Coordinator Bill Holder was present at the meeting to ask the board for an additional GIS license. The license will have an upfront fee of $6,300 and an additional $1,200 a year to keep the license active.

“Obviously you feel this is a $6,300 problem?” asked Commissioner Ron Truex. Holder stated that the department has been juggling the problem for around one year.

County Administrator Marsha McSherry informed the board that Holder had expressed concern and issue involving the license in the past.

The board approved the additional license.

In other business:

• Amanda Landis with KABS was present to have the commissioners approve a contract invoice voucher for KABS’s new bus. Approval was granted.
• Scott Tilden presented a letter of understanding for an unofficial detour around work that will be done next summer on SR 15 between CR 900N and 1100N. The letter stated the detour will be, from SR 15, east on CR 900N to Old SR 15, then north to Waubee Road and west back to SR 15.