The Kosciusko County Parks and Recreation Board approved payment of $203,007.33 to contractor Niblock for underground storm sewer work, structures and road gravel on the county trail project and received a construction update that crews expect to finish major work in August, with a ribbon cutting likely after Labor Day.

Board members approved the second pay application during the July meeting after John Nelson, BS engineering, told the board the submission covered storm sewer, structures and some road gravel and that his firm recommended payment. "So you have in front of you the second pay app for Niblock, and that covers the underground work that was done, the storm sewer, the structures, and some road gravel in the amount of $203,007.33. We find this to be acceptable from our perspective and recommend payment," Nelson said.

Nelson told the board the pay application represents roughly one‑third of the contract value and said work to date may be closer to half finished. He outlined a near‑term schedule: crews were working on ditches and driveway prep, concrete ramps would be completed next week at three‑fifty locations, solar‑powered crosswalk signals would be installed shortly after ramps, the base coat of asphalt was planned for mid‑August, landscapers would follow, and Niblock would finish with the surface course, striping and signage. "They're...working on the ditches from end to end, and they're also working on driveways, prepping them for paving," Nelson said.

Neighbors raised access concerns about driveway tie‑ins and potential drop‑offs where the trail ties into private property. One resident asked whether contractors would tie the path in only to the public right of way and whether any resulting drop into private yards would be filled. Nelson and board members said contractors would feather disturbed areas and restore smooth access. "They're gonna tie in from edge of trail to right of way. They're not gonna go beyond the right of way," Nelson said. Board members added that if construction left a drop, crews would blend or fill it so access would be smooth.

The motion to pay the Niblock invoice was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote; minutes show the board used an "ayes/nays" voice vote and recorded the motion as approved. During discussion, a board member asked whether John Nelson needed to attend the county commissioners meeting; Nelson was invited to the Kosciusko County commissioners meeting on the 29th in case commissioners had detailed questions about the submission.

The board also discussed setting a date for a ribbon cutting. Members agreed to wait until construction progress was clearer to avoid rescheduling; Nelson said he currently expected a ribbon‑cutting event sometime in mid‑September.

The board did not set a formal date at the meeting and will revisit scheduling and any outstanding neighbor tie‑in issues as work continues.