By Rusty Nixon Correspondent
PLYMOUTH — Tom Turner met the Marshall County Commissioners firsthand Monday.
The new director of the Marshall County Economic Development Commission was introduced by board members Randy Danielson and Roger Umbaugh to the commissioners during their regular meeting.
“We are very happy to have Tom here. I feel as if a large weight has been lifted off our shoulders,” said Umbaugh. “We’re off to a reasonably good start.”

Communications issues continue to be addressed at the new jail by County IT Director Mike Marshall. Interference with wireless bandwidth has caused problems, particularly with speed of the connection.
“It does transmit information but not at the speed we would find acceptable,” said Marshall.
He reported the latest attempt of putting up a new antennae would be completed Monday to see if that could resolve the problem. It is felt that other wireless communication within the industrial park between the new and old jails is causing interference with the county’s system.
Several options along with price quotes were given to the commissioners without a recommendation by Marshall who felt that because he was working so closely with all the companies involved he didn’t want to give any impression of impropriety.
He also said that the problems should not affect the move-in date for the facility.
“It shouldn’t impact the moving date,” he said. “The problems are all in the administrative side.”
Water damage has forced the courthouse to replace the building alarm system. Water in the basement during the first week in February caused damage in a wall mandating the replacement of the entire system.
Building and Grounds Superinten-dent Rich Ulrich reported that although the system costs nearly $20,000 to replace he had been successful in getting the cost covered by the county’s insurance provider with the county only responsible for the $2500 deductible payment.
The Commissioners signed a contract with the Indiana Dept. of Trnasportation (INDOT) to move ahead with the museum expansion project. INDOT will provide $680,000 for the project with the Historical Society responsible for around $185,000 to complete the expansion.
Claudia Wayman approached the Commissioners about taking over maintenance of the west end of Happy Acres Trail. The county currently maintains the east end of the road. Action was tabled to gather more information on the subject.
The commissioners also heard second and third reading on an ordinance setting rates for GIS data provided by the county.