911 Communications

The Kosciusko Communications Center handles all radio communications for Police, Fire and Emergency Medical Services in Kosciusko County. It was remodeled in 1999 and in August 2000 it combined with Warsaw Police Department to become Kosciusko Central Dispatch.

The communications center is located in a secure room within the Kosciusko County Justice Building. All 911 emergency telephone calls are answered at the communication center. Six radio consoles have the ability for communications with all police, fire and EMS agencies. Besides answering the 911 emergency calls the dispatchers also answer the police administrative lines for all police agencies.

All radio traffic, 911 calls and non-emergency calls are recorded on a DVD. Each dispatch position has message replay for immediate playback, while each DVD disc stores 60,000 to 63,000 calls on it, to include radio and telephone calls, the DVD's are filled and changed every 15 to 16 days. The DVD's are kept for a period of one year before being erased and then reused.

All calls are entered into a Computer Aided Dispatch System, (CADS), which immediately displays the residence on a mapping system. The mapping system will then display information that tells the communication officer which police, fire or EMS agency should respond to their address.

Each dispatch station has a Storm Sentry weather alert system, which pops up when severe weather is approaching the area. The dispatcher then sets off a radio tone that opens a monitor in schools and businesses in the county and the dispatcher puts out the warning over the radio so the schools and businesses can take appropriate action.

County Homepage

Welcome to Kosciusko County, Indiana's website - the official home page of Kosciusko County Government.
The site provides information about county departments and offices, and more!  The County Courthouse is located at 100 W Center Street, Warsaw, IN 46580.  The County Justice Building, across the street from the Courthouse, is located at 121 N Lake Street, Warsaw, IN 46580.  Hours of operation are 8:00 am to 4:30 pm (M-F).  Directory | Map

County Commissioners

Sue Ann Mitchell

Cary Groniger

Bob Conley

Sue Ann Mitchell

574-265-1788

[email protected]

Term ends 12-31-2028

Northern District-Member

Cary P. Groninger

574-527-6665

[email protected]

Term ends 12-31-2028

Middle District-  President

Robert Conley

574-269-3871

[email protected]

Term ends 12-31-2026

    Southern District-Vice President



BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS LEGISLATIVE BODY
 
The three commissioners are the custodians of the home rule powers of the county.  Counties have 3 commissioners, one from each district in the county.  Within the scope of home rule, commissioners may adopt and vest themselves with additional regulatory powers.  Specifically, all commissioners have authority to pass ordinances in the following broad areas:
  • Controlling, maintaining, and supervising county property including courthouses, jails, and public offices.
  • Supervising construction and maintenance of roads, bridges and to provide for traffic control.
  • Developing economic development programs to attracts and retain jobs in the county.
  • To grant vacation pay, sick leave, paid holidays and other similar benefits to county employees.
  • To administer elections in conjunction with the county election board.
  • To establish minimum housing standards.
  • Auditing and authorizing payments on behalf of the county.
  • To incorporate new towns and alter township boundary lines, on petition.
  • Receiving bids and authorizing contracts.
  • Exercising appointive powers including both the selection of members to fill positions on boards, commissions, and committees, and appointments of certain department heads.
  • Planning and implementing strategies for solid waste handling as members of solid waste district boards.
  • To create local emergency management department and to authorize and direct disaster and emergency management functions in the county.
 
DISTRICTS
 
A prospective Commissioner must reside in a certain district but be elected by a majority vote of the county. Each of the three Commissioners is elected by the voters in his own district. Commissioner districts must be redrawn at least once every 10 years, and may be redrawn in any odd-numbered year.

TERMS

The terms of office of County Commissioners are four years on a staggered basis.

County Council

Kosciusko County Council is made up of:

Kim Cates

Joe Irwin

Tony Ciriello

Kim Cates

574-529-0228

[email protected]

District 1

Term 2022-2026

Joe Irwin

574-527-6637

[email protected]

District 2

Term 2025-2026

Tony Ciriello

574-529-3080

[email protected]

District 3 & President

Term 2022-2026

Dave Wolkins

Racheal Rhoades

DeLynn Geiger

 Kathy Groninger

Dave Wolkins

574-551-9574

[email protected]

District 4

Term 2022-2026

 

Rachael Rhoades

574-551-0815

[email protected]

At Large

Term 2025-2029

 

DeLynn Geiger

574-527-2000

[email protected]

At Large

Term 2025-2029

 

Kathy Groninger

574-376-6869

[email protected]

 At Large & Vice President

Term 2025-2029

 

   

Click here for YouTube channel

Click here for Resolution for Decorum in Public Meetings Policies and Procedures

Click here for Resolution of Electronic Meeting Policy


Terms are four years with the ability to serve an unlimited number of terms. The County Council has the ultimate decision-making power regarding fiscal affairs.  The council has authority to view or review fiscal matters, determine proper policy, and set priorities for the allocation and expenditure of county funds.  The General Assembly determines the powers of the county council in this area. Typically these powers include.

  • Approving and fixing annual operating budgets of all county government offices and agencies.
  • Establishing salaries, wages, per diems, and other compensation for all county officials and employees.
  • Fixing tax rates and establishing levies on all county property for the purpose of raising funds to meet budget requirements in conducting county business as well as authorizing the borrowing of money in the form of bonds and notes.
  • Appropriating public funds, i.e., authorizing the expenditure of county money by particular officials or departments for specific purposes.
  • Authorizing certain purchases or sales of county owned land.
  • Non-binding review of budgets for certain non-elected boards in the county and other civil units.
  • Makes various appointments to boards including but not limited to the following:
    • Kosciusko County Convention and Visitors Commission
    • Various Library Boards

Area Planning

Kosciusko County is a constantly growing community. The county is growing economically which in turn creates a growth in population. This increase in population results in a demand for new homes and new developments. Through out all of the development and growth many local government offices of the county get involved. 

One of the first offices involved is the Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission Office. Our office is in charge of land use and land development issues for the unincorporated areas of the county as well as for towns of Syracuse, Milford, North Webster, Pierceton, Claypool, Silver Lake, Burket, and Etna Green. There are many duties that our office undertake. Some of which include; addressing land use questions, reviewing all proposed subdivision plats, present all Rezoning recommendations to the County Commissioners and town boards, issue all improvement location permits for properties located within our jurisdiction, issue permits for all on-premise and off-premise signs, enforce Kosciusko County Zoning, Subdivision Control, Mobile Home Park Control, Stormwater and Erosion Control, and Flood Control Ordinance, facilitating the Board of Zoning Appeals and Area Plan Commission meetings, issue addresses for properties located in the unincorporated areas of the county, as well as many other day to day activities. 
Click the below for floodplain information,
NOAA river elevation data, and links to other floodplain resources 

flood

Apply for a Permit

permit

Watch Public Meetings

https://www.youtube.com/@kosciuskocountygovernment4816

View upcoming events

Up Coming Events                                           

                                                 

Assessor

The County Assessor's Office is responsible for assessing all real and personal property within Kosciusko County. The County Assessor shall keep the assessment data and records current by securing the necessary field data and making changes in the assessed value of real property as changes occur in its use. The assessment of property is in accordance with the rules of the State Board of Tax Commissioners. Assessing officials must follow the rules of the State Board of Tax Commissioners in making any assessment or reassessment of real property.
 

The County Assessor's duties include: identifying, listing and calculating the assessed value of all Real and Personal property. Other duties include:
  1. Oversees the General Reassessment process.
  2. Serves as Secretary of the County Property Tax Assessment Board of Appeals.
  3. Ensures countywide uniform Property Assessment Equalization.
  4. Calculates the assessed value of all real property in each taxing district.
  5. Verifies and reviews the self reported values of all personal property in each taxing district.
  6. Calculates the total assessed value of each taxing district.
  7. Certifies current Assessments to the County Auditor's Office.
State Links
State Forms
Property Record Cards
Online Tool
This link will allow you to search not only Kosciusko County but other Counties in Indiana that participate. The Pictometry Viewer has been added to the Kosciusko County Beacon site. Click on the "tool" to the left of measure icon then click on the screen to view Pictometry images. 

Auditor

The Kosciusko County Auditor is responsible for various areas within the County. The following attempts to categorize the most important duties of the office.  

The auditor serves as a secretary to the board of county commissioners and the county council.  

The auditor has responsibility for keeping accounts and issuing checks for the county.  As a result, the board of commissioners, the council and other officials often look to the auditor for day-to-day operational assistance, information and advice.

In keeping accounts and issuing warrants, the auditor must develop financial analysis and cash flow projections and assist with budget preparations.  The auditor is the principal financial officer in county government and is defined under IC 36-2-9-2 as the fiscal officer of the county.

The county auditor must also prepare and file an annual financial report with the State Board of Accounts.

The auditor is directly responsible for preparing tax duplicates that show the value of property and taxes assessed against each taxpayer.

As a part of the tax function, the auditor must also prepare plats that show the ownership and assessed valuation of each parcel in each township in the county.  The plats must contain information prescribed by the Department of Local Government Finance and must be kept current.

Child Support

J. Brad Voelz, Prosecuting Attorney

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The Kosciusko Child Support Enforcement Office is a division of the Kosciusko County Prosecutor's Office.
Introduction
In 1975, Congress enacted legislation under the Social Security Act (Title IV-D) to require the states to establish programs to establish paternity and establish and collect child support orders for both AFDC (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) and non-AFDC cases. The State of Indiana contracts with local county prosecutor's offices to provide these services. In addition to paternity duties and establishing and enforcing child support, this office also establishes orders for health insurance where appropriate and regularly deals with other issues related to child support such as modification of support, emancipation questions, locating absent parents, review and adjustment of support orders, support in foster care cases, collection of medical reimbursement for parents and criminal felony nonsupport cases.
Establishment and Enforcement Tools
Delinquent child support may be enforced either through civil administrative remedies, civil judicial remedies or, last but not least, criminal charges for Nonsupport of a Dependent Child.
Civil Administrative Actions
Paternity can be established through a Paternity Affidavit. Once certain time periods have passed, the affidavit has the same effect as a judicial finding of paternity and can be enforced as such. In a child support action, pursuant to Indiana law, the Court is required to issue an immediate Income Withholding Order to collect child support. Therefore, every case must have an Income Withholding Order to take the support out of the person's pay, unless the Court makes certain findings of fact, including a finding that it is in the best interest of the child for income withholding not to occur. Almost all cases have income withholding and once child support has been established, child support caseworkers directly issue Income Withholding Orders to the employer of a payor, without going through the Court System. Through the Indiana State Child Support Computer Network, the child support caseworkers automatically implement various enforcement tools such as interception of tax refunds, interception of lottery winnings, unemployment withholding, and denial of passport applications, implementation of automobile liens and reporting of delinquencies to the credit bureau.
Judicial Remedies

Paternity can also be established by the filing of a paternity action in Court. If paternity is established, the Court may order the payment of reimbursement for Past Public Assistance to the State of Indiana, establish a current child support order that is made retroactive to the date of the filing of the Petition for Paternity, establish a health insurance order and deal with such issues as custody, visitation, name change, etc. The State of Indiana is, of course, only involved in those issues related to child support.
In situations where paternity is not an issue, then child support may be established through the filing of a Petition for Support. If a child support order has already been issued, a Petition to Modify Support may be filed in order to change said support. In Indiana, support continues until the child reaches the age of 21 years. Prior to that time, the support can only be changed by court order upon application of either party.

Child Support may be enforced through the judicial remedy of Contempt of Court. If a delinquent payor is found to be in contempt for failure to pay support, the Court may order the person to serve time in the Kosciusko County Jail, or use any other sanctions within the Court's powers. In addition, if the delinquency meets certain criteria, the Court must suspend the driver's license of the person. However, the license suspension may be placed on hold on condition that the person complies with the child support order in the future.
Criminal Nonsupport of a Dependent Child
According to Indiana Code 35-46-1-5, it is a Class D Felony if a person fails to support a dependent child. The crime is elevated to a Class C felony if the support delinquency is over $15,000. The child support division files and prosecutes cases of Nonsupport of a Dependent Child on a regular basis. The sentence in such cases depends on the facts of that particular case; however, defendants are normally placed on probation under detailed terms, including, of course, the requirement that they pay current support as well as an amount toward the support arrearage. If a Defendant fails to abide by the terms of probation, that defendant may serve time in the Kosciusko County Jail or the Indiana Department of Corrections.
Application for Services
TANF (Temporary Aid to Needy Families) recipients do not need to file an application since part of the TANF procedure is an assignment of support rights to the State of Indiana. TANF cases are opened automatically through an interface with the Office of Family and Children and persons involved will be contacted. Recipients of Child Medicaid or Hoosier Healthwise may be referred if they so desire at the time of application for those benefits. Other persons wishing to use the child support services must fill out an application.

Community Corrections

KCCC Logo

Mission Statement:

Kosciusko County Community Corrections promotes public safety by providing preventative and rehabilitative evidenced-based services and supervision to offenders, holding offenders accountable to their victims and community as well as improving the offender’s ability to live productively and lawfully.

Vision Statement:

We will be a recognized and respected leader in our community by continuing to make positive impacts on those we serve.  We will also be known as an evidence-based proactive agency continually seeking to reduce recidivism.  

In case of emergency, contact (574) 265-2484

CONTACT US!

County Administration

The County Administrator deals with all County-owned buildings and maintenance.

County Clerk

Clerk of the Circuit & Superior Courts

The Clerk of the Circuit and Superior Courts is a county elected official who serves as an officer of the court and the manager of court information. The Clerk administers the official court records for all trial court cases with jurisdiction in Kosciusko County, prepares the permanent historical records for the courts and processes and issues various documents for those court cases. As a member of the County Election Board, the Clerk overseas, conducts and certifies election results for all Federal, State, County, Township, Municipal, Special and School Board Elections.

What We Do:

  • Receipt court costs, fines and fees for all court cases
  • Collect and distributes child support payments
  • Collect and distributes judgment monies
  • Traffic violation processing
  • Issue and process marriage license
  • File and process all new cases filed with in our Courts
  • Issue various documents associated with those court cases
  • Maintain record of judgment and judgment docket
  • Prepares certified copies of court documents
  • Voter Registration
  • Absentee Voting
  • Election Management


Read about the other duties the County Clerk performs

Complete this form to Request Public Record Documents

The Clerk's office is now accepting on line payments for court fines and judgments.  Please follow this link to make your payment: Pay Here

You will need to provide your full name and case number.  You may contact the Clerk's office to verify receipt of payment, obtain your case number or visit mycase.IN.gov to receive the same information. 

 **Kosciusko County Courts will begin voluntary E-Filing on May 5, 2017.  In the months leading up to this transition, attorneys and litigants should prepare by reviewing the information the the State's E-filing website, www.courts.in.gov/efile***

Courts

The Courts are made up of Circuit, Superior #1, #2 #3 and #4. 

Also see Indiana Judicial System


To Contact the Courts:

Traffic Court Clerk 574-372-2451

Circuit and Superior Court #1  574-372-2402 (Main Line)

Superior Court #2  574-372-2376 (Court Secretary)

Superior Court #3   574-372-2394

Superior Court #4 574-265-2910

2024 Local Rules of the Kosciusko Courts (effective April 1, 2024)

2024 Order Approving Amended Local Rules

Local Rule Amendment Effective 11/8/2023

2023 Kosciusko County Courts Local Rules

Kosciusko County Proposed Local Rule Amendment 2022

General Order of the Courts Relating to Case Allocation for Kosciusko Superior Court 4 

Notice of Local Rule Amendment April 5, 2019

Proposed Case Assignment April 5, 2019

Kosciusko County Local Rule Amendment 2021

Kosciusko County Proposed Local Rule Amendment 2023

Drug Court

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Kosciusko County Drug Court Program is to offer a sentencing alternative for offenders addicted to or abusing illicit drugs through a multi-disciplinary and collaborative intensive rehabilitative services approach. Drug Court works through service providers to reduce use of and demand for illicit drugs.

Emergency Management

EMA logo

WHAT IS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

Emergency management is the managerial function charged with creating the framework within which communities reduce vulnerability to hazards and cope with disasters. Emergency management seeks to create a secure and resilient nation. It requires that we work together to build and sustain capabilities across the whole community to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from the threats and hazards that pose the greatest risk.

VISION

The Office of Emergency Management seeks to promote safer, less vulnerable communities with the capacity to cope with hazards and disasters.

MISSION STATEMENT

The Office of Emergency Management commits to the protection of the residents and visitors of Kosciusko County. To lend support and aid to the emergency responders of the county and those adjoining counties which request aid. Our responsibilities encompass a wide range from public education, to responder enhancement, to resource allocation. We endeavor to be prepared regardless of whether the response is natural or man-made. We will provide all of this while treating everyone with a mutual respect not only for his or her person but for their property as well.

GOALS

The overall goals of emergency management at all levels are:

  1. To reduce the loss of life;
  2. To minimize property loss and damage to the environment;
  3. To protect the jurisdiction from all threats and hazards.

PRINCIPLES

Emergency Management  must be:

  1. Comprehensive — emergency managers consider and take into account all hazards, all phases, all stakeholders and all impacts relevant to disasters.
  2. Progressive — emergency managers anticipate future disasters and take preventive and preparatory measures to build disaster-resistant and disaster-resilient communities.
  3. Risk-Driven — emergency managers use sound risk management principles (hazard identification, risk analysis, and impact analysis) in assigning priorities and resources.
  4. Integrated — emergency managers ensure unity of effort among all levels of government and all elements of a community.
  5. Collaborative — emergency managers create and sustain broad and sincere relationships among individuals and organizations to encourage trust, advocate a team atmosphere, build consensus, and facilitate communication.
  6. Coordinated — emergency managers synchronize the activities of all relevant stakeholders to achieve a common purpose.
  7. Flexible — emergency managers use creative and innovative approaches in solving disaster challenges.
  8. Professional — emergency managers value a science and knowledge-based approach based on education, training, experience, ethical practice, public stewardship and continuous improvement.

Geographic Information Systems

What is GIS?

GIS is short for Geographic Information System. The Kosciusko County GIS Department manages the County's Geographic Information System.
 
A geographic information system (GIS) is a computer-based tool for mapping and analyzing things that exist and events that happen on earth. GIS technology integrates common database operations such as query and statistical analysis with the unique visualization and geographic analysis benefits offered by maps." ESRI

The Kosciusko County GIS Department responsibilities are:

  • To support all Kosciusko County Departments with their mapping and geographic data needs.
  • To support the public with mapping and geographic data services, and to provide applications that allow the public to view the data that has been created and maintained by Kosciusko County Government.
Kosciusko County's GIS is made up of many GIS data layers. These layers include property lines, roads, addresses, creeks and ditches, zoning, and 2 foot contours. Many of these layers have been developed utilizing high-resolution aerial photos (6" pixel) as a base. Kosciusko County has high resolution aerial photos captured every 2 to 3 years. Kosciusko County has high resolution aerial photos for the following years 1996, 2002, 2005, 2008, 2011, 2013/2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2021. These GIS data layers are developed and maintained by the GIS Department and other County Departments utilizing ESRI's ArcGIS software.

Indiana Statewide GIS Collaboration

Kosciusko County is a member of the Indiana Geographic Information Council (IGIC), and the Northeast Indiana Geospatial Information Community (NIGIC).
 
 
IGIC                IGIC
 
 
Kosciusko County is a GIS data contributor to the IndianaMap.
  
 
 

Health Department

The Mission of the Kosciusko County Health Department is to promote, protect, and improve the public health of all Kosciusko County citizens and visitors in a cost-effective and servant-like manner.

 
 
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Highway

The Kosciusko County Highway Department is responsible for the maintenance of all roads that the Kosciusko County Board of Commissioners has accepted into the County Highway Maintenance System.

Currently, there are approximately 1200 miles of roads in the County Highway Maintenance System

Maintenance includes the following:

  1. Snow removal
  2. Bridge and culvert repair
  3. Roads maintenance

LEPC

lepc

LEPC stands for Local Emergency Planning Committee.

The Kosciusko County LEPC was formed as a result of the Federal Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act of 1986. Its purpose is to provide citizens and emergency responders with information about chemicals in Kosciusko County. The law requires that communities plan for chemical emergencies and establish a chain of command using the National Incident Management System (NIMS) to make sure that requirements are met. The LEPC is part of the chain of command.

The LEPC doesn't plan emergencies, it plans for them. Worst-case scenarios become the focus of intensive exercises that test communications, command and control, field operations, equipment, and other aspects of an emergency response plan. Emergency responders from industries, community organizations and government agencies work hand-in-hand to share information and training opportunities. Drills are held in different areas of the county to test and enhance our skills. Tabletop exercises are sometimes used in place of full scale drills for planning emergency response.

Human Resources

The Human Resources Department for Kosciusko County Government is located on the first floor of the County Courthouse at 100 W Center Street in downtown Warsaw.
 
The Human Resources Department is responsible for posting all county government job openings, processing all county government employment applications and maintaining all county employee personnel records.
Applications are always accepted and are kept on file and active for one year from date received.  Applications are available on this website and in the HR office.
 

Probation

The Kosciusko County Probation Department serves the Kosciusko Circuit, Superior 1, Superior 2, and Superior 3 Courts.

MISSION STATEMENT

The Mission of Probation is to provide necessary services to the offender toward reducing criminal/delinquent behavior, while balancing the needs and insuring the safety of the community. Probation is a profession that requires fundamental knowledge of the law, sentencing alternatives, human services, and community protection.