Kosciusko County Justice Building, 121 N. Lake St., and the Kosciusko County Courthouse, 100 W. Center St., Warsaw, will be closed during Governor Eric Holcomb’s stay-at-home order.
The order is effective through 11:59 p.m. April 6, unless a change is warrant due to the coronavirus pandemic.
County services will resume at 8 a.m. April 7. The date and time at which the offices will reopen for normal business will be re-evaluated in early April, and updates will be provided, according to a news release from the county.
Scheduled hearings, court dates and scheduled appointments will continue, with limited access to county buildings. Specific instructions for various departments are below.
County Clerk
• Marriage licenses will not be issued until the county offices are reopened to the general public.
• Protective orders – call 574-372-2331, ext. 2450.
• Court fines and judgment payments can be made through www.paygov.us or by using the drop box in the front of the Justice Building. Be sure to include the name and the cause number.
• Ticket payments can be made online at https://public.courts.in.gov/home/portal, or by using the drop box in the front of the Justice Building. Provide a signed copy of the ticket if using the drop box.
• Letters to the court should be mailed in the U.S. mail to 121 N. Lake St., Warsaw, IN 46580; or use the drop box in the front of the Justice Building.
• Child support payments can be made online through www.childsupportbillpay.com/indiana or by phone at 1-866-972-9427.
• Community Corrections: Contact your corrections officer for further instructions.
Kosciusko County Prosecuting Attorneys’ Office (Criminal and Title IV-D Child Support Division)
The Kosciusko County Prosecuting Attorneys will continue providing services to the public via telephone or email. The public can access the contact information through the department website under KCgov.com.
Courts
Circuit and Superior I, Superior II and Superior IV: The Kosciusko Circuit Court and the Kosciusko Superior Courts I, II and IV will proceed with hearings that are on the calendar unless a party or attorney has requested a continuance which has been approved in advance by the judge of the court. In addition, emergency hearings and protective orders will occur as necessary.
Kosciusko County Courts reserve the right to limit the individuals attending hearings, in accordance with the guidelines provided by Holcomb in his stay-at-home order and by order of the Indiana Supreme Court. Contact the court offices at 574-372-2402 for more information.
Superior Court III: The court will be sending continuances out via the efiling system, email or the United States Mail.
Emergency Management
Emergency Management will assist in the collaboration and coordination of emergency responders and support the Kosciusko County Health Department with resource allocation as resources are available.
Probation
Contact your Probation Office for further instructions.
Sheriff’s Office:
The Sheriff’s Office window will be closed to the public. Use the information below to assist you.
• Anyone needing to file a report at the office needs to first call dispatch at 574-267-5667.
• Crash reports are available at www.buycrash.com, and incident report inquiries can be forwarded to kwoodard@kcgov.com.
• Tax warrants can be paid online at www.indianataxwarrants.com.
• Gun permit questions can be conducted via telephone at 574-265-2219.
• Title checks have been suspended until further notice, due to the closing of the Indiana BMV.
• Registrants for Indiana Sex or Violent Offender Registry requirements should contact Deputy Charlene Johnson at 574-264-2209 for an appointment.
Kosciusko County Jail:
The following restrictions have been put in place regarding visitation of inmates within the Kosciusko County Jail.
• No face-to-face contact between inmates and members of the general public.
• On-site visitations is suspended until further notice. Video visitation may be utilized and is encouraged.
• No face-to-face contact between inmates and law enforcement personnel, chaplains, programs or any personnel not assigned to Kosciusko County Jail.
• Until further notice all attorney meetings, police and/or official interviews, or visitation of inmates for other needs by the court(s) at Kosciusko County Jail, will be restricted to no direct contact.
Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division
At this time, patrol operations remain fully functional, with precautionary measures in place. Deputies are still responding to incidents that require physical law enforcement presence. Understand that deputies may be wearing personal protective equipment, maintaining a safe distance and communicating in open air spaces, the release states.
Non-emergency calls for service that do not require the physical presence of a deputy will be handled via telephone and email. In the event that a criminal arrest is necessary, offenders will still be taken into custody and transported to the Kosciusko County Jail.
Veterans Affairs
Office will be closed to the public. Rich Maron, Veterans Affairs, may be available to assist with emergencies if needed. Call him at 574-372-2436.
Kosciusko County Courthouse Offices
Area Plan Office will have staff available daily from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to answer questions by telephone or email at 574-372-2304; drichard@kcgov.com or msandy@kcgov.com.
The April meetings of the Area Plan Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals and Hearing Officer and Syracuse Board of Zoning Appeals will be postponed/continued to the May regular schedule as follows:
• Area Plan Commission at 1 p.m. May 6.
• Board of Zoning Appeals & Hearing Officer at 8:30 a.m. May 11 and 12.
• Syracuse Board of Zoning Appeals at 6 p.m. May 21.
County Assessor: Due to this time of closure, be aware that forms can be obtained from the county website at www.kcgov.com. Hover over Government, and then click on Departments and then Assessor. Any questions can be directed to gchapman@kcgov.com or 574-372-2310. Questions will be answered as quickly as possible.
County Auditor will be open to title searchers Monday through Friday, from 8 to 11 a.m., by appointment only. Contact Michelle Puckett at mpuckett@kcgov.com, or call 574-327-2328 to make an appointment.
Health Department: Health Department Clinic closed except for communicable disease investigation. Health Department services in the courthouse will be closed except for required vital records, such as death certificates. Work related to the current pandemic will continue. For public health emergencies only, call 574-453-8645.
Recorder Office will be closed to the public. Title searches will be conducted by appointment only, from 8 to 11 a.m. Call 574-372-2362 to obtain an appointment.
Surveyor: The county surveyor will be in the office from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Contact Mike Kissinger at 574-372-2365, or via email at mkissinger@kcgov.com.
Treasurer: The county treasurer will be in the office during regular hours (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday). The office will process payments made by mail and placed in the drop box on the west side of the courthouse. Mobile home transfers and alcohol license permits may be processed via email. Contact Rhonda Helser, treasurer, at rhelser@kcgov.com, or call 574-372-2370 to arrange an in-person appointment.
Auxiliary Offices
County Highway Office will be closed, but county highway services will be provided as normal. Call 574-372-2356 for more information.
Soil and Water: No services during the stay-at-home order. Questions may be directed to kosciuskoswcd@gmail.com, or leave a voice mail at 574-267-7445, ext. 5374.
Weights and Measures: Call John Sloan, inspector, at 574-551-0306.
Work Release: Inmate workers will go to work if their employer requires them to do so. All others will stay at Work Release until employers contact them. All visits have been cancelled. Inmates are not attending classes outside the building. For any questions, call 574-372-2490, 24 hours per day, seven days per week.
