By Sarah Middaugh, Pilot News Staff Writer
PLYMOUTH -- The Marshall County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution, Monday, to adopt a time zone consistent with St. Joseph County, Elkhart County and Kosciusko County with a preference for Central time.
The commissioners conducted a hearing on July 7 to gather input from residents about which time zone the county should request to be placed in. About two-thirds of the people preferred Central time.
Although Marshall County prefers Central time, the commissioners want the county to have the same time zone as St. Joseph, Elkhart and Kosciusko counties whether it is Eastern or Central.
In passing the time zone resolution, the commissioners must provide supporting data.
"I know Doug Anspach at the Plymouth Chamber has a lot of demographic information of what percentage travels to Marshall County, works and where they come from," Commissioner Kevin Overmyer said Monday.
"I think a lot of this we can substantiate. It's just a matter of getting that information together. I think we need to put as much information in there as we can."
Starke County Commissioner Kevin Kroft noted that they held their public hearing on Aug. 2.
"It was virtually unanimous in our county to go with Central time," Kroft said.
Plymouth Mayor Gary Cook presented the commissioners with a copy of the resolution passed by the Plymouth Common Council that declares support for adopting Central Daylight-Saving Time.
"It's just asking, based upon constituent input on the citizens of Plymouth, that the commissioners take a position of Central Daylight-Saving Time," Cook said.
The commissioners passed the resolution with the supporting documentation to be supplied.
County Council President Fred Lintner asked about what would happen if Kosciusko and Elkhart counties select Eastern time. "That is a distinct possibility," Lintner noted.
"In conversation and meetings I had, Kosciusko was interested in Central. Whether that holds true, I think they're going to address it again at one of their meetings this month," Board of Commissioners President John Zentz said.
"We've got a lot of commerce and employment moving back and forth between Elkhart and Kosciusko counties, as well as St. Joseph County.
"If we have a split and there is that possibility, I guess we'll still stay with Central as our request. We do know that there is that possibility."