By DEB PATTERSON
Editor-In-Chief

Kosciusko County Commissioners approved the appointment of five people to the newly formed Turkey Creek Dam and Dike Conservancy Board at its Tuesday, Dec. 22, meeting. Named to the board are John Earnest, Jim Silcox, Bill Pipp, David Johnston and Caroline Anderson.

Earnest will serve District 1, which covers Syracuse Lake and the Main Channel area of Lake Wawasee. Silcox will represent District 2 that encompasses the west and south sides of Conklin Bay to the area around the 8830 block of East Hatchery Road.

District 3 will be represented by Bill Pipp. This area goes from approximately the 8830 block of East Hatchery Road to approximately Crow Road and includes East Wawasee Drive and Biscayne Lane areas. David Johnston will represent District 4, which is the Enchanted Hills area and Caroline Anderson will represent District 5 that includes the remainder of the areas of Lake Wawasee north and west of Crow Road, including Eli Lilly Road to the area of Wawasee Boat Company.

The oath of office was administered to the five board members — three of whom were present in person and two via Facetime.

Principles of the conservancy were commended by the commissioners on how the process was handled and voiced positivity for the establishment of the conservancy. Commissioners additionally noted the good the conservancy will do for the lakes, watershed and community.

A meeting with county auditor, Michele Puckett, will be held in early January to work on details in preparation for taxing of those shareholders in the conservancy districts.

Additionally, Pipp stated the board will be holding its first meeting at 9 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 28, at the WACF Educational Center, SR 13, Syracuse, with plans to meet the fourth week of the first month of each quarter. Details are being worked out to have the conservancy’s office at the WACF Educational Center.

He noted this will keep costs low so all the money received from taxes will go toward both the actual maintenance of the water control structure and dike and to the cumulative fund for future structure replacements.In other business at the commissioners meeting:

Commissioners approved more bids for the county’s broadband and public safety communication towers project. Quotes were approved for electrical, console furniture, excavation and concrete for the project.

Bids approved were: Ransbottom Excavating at a base bid of $56,954, an allowance of $15,000 and an alternate of $24,456; D&D Electric for electrical with a base bid of $255,429, an allowance of $15,000 and an alternate of $30,932; Cobalt Civil for concrete with a base bid of $155,035, an allowance of $15,000 and an alternate of $44,456; and Watson Consoles for console furniture with a base bid of $82,760 and an allowance of $2,000.

Two 300-foot towers and one 400-foot tower will be erected to expand broadband and public safety communications. There will also be two 180-foot supplementary towers installed.

The commissioners also approved a memorandum of understanding with Mikel Farms to install one of the towers on their property at 7610 W. 850N, Etna Green.