Warsaw Redevelopment Commission Hears Of Potential Gatke Property Project
November 2, 2021 at 2:14 a.m.
Warsaw Redevelopment Commission Hears Of Potential Gatke Property Project
By David [email protected]
The Warsaw Redevelopment Commission unanimously approved the easement, however, on the condition that a paragraph be added that with a 30-day notice the Commission could request NIPSCO vacate the property.
The Gatke property is at 2321 E. Winona Ave.
Warsaw Community Economic and Development Director Jeremy Skinner told the Redevelopment Commission Monday that NIPSCO sent him a temporary easement contract to use the Gatke property for a staging area through June 30 when the roundabout is done. Winona Lake and the Indiana Department of Transportation will begin a roundabout project at the intersection of Argonne Road, Winona Avenue, Kings Highway and Park Avenue in early 2022.
“So I put this on the agenda, but I received an email today that may complicate that,” Skinner said, asking the Commission if they saw any issue with the temporary easement request.
Commission member George Clemens asked if city attorney Scott Reust looked at the agreement, and Skinner said no but he could have him review it.
Clemens asked if NIPSCO wanted to use most of the Gatke property. Skinner said they just used the address for the agreement, but probably would just use the grassy area out front to put poles and equipment.
City Councilman and Commission member Mike Klondaris asked for more information about the email Skinner said he received that may complicate the situation.
“Well, as you know, we’ve been working on a potential development on Gatke. And I do have a rudimentary proposal on Gatke and that proposal’s timeframe could potentially conflict with what (NIPSCO) is proposing,” Skinner said.
He said that with proposal that was given to him, “There’s a lot that happens in a three-month period that I’m not entirely sure is possible. But it’s certainly something that is going to come before you and we’re going to discuss.”
Skinner said the proposal could conflict with NIPSCO’s request to use the property through June 2022.
“Assuming that we did successfully meet the timeline that was in this proposal, it would conflict,” he said.
Commission Vice President Rick Snodgrass asked if NIPSCO paid to use the easement, and Skinner said no. It’s similar to the temporary easement at the former gas station on Detroit Street next to Central Park provided to NIPSCO.
Commission President Tim Meyer said NIPSCO was “very cooperative with us on that issue. We never had any problems with poles being out too far or blocked view of traffic or any equipment parked too close to the road ... or anything like that.”
Snodgrass said they didn’t have a possible project on that property though, and Meyer agreed. Snodgrass said he didn’t want to do anything that would jeopardize a project at the Gatke site.
“I don’t want to jeopardize that project either, so I guess what I’m requesting is, if you don’t see any issues, if it doesn’t have a conflict, you can say, ‘Yes, go explore this and the project at the same time and see if it’s compatible or not.’ If it’s not, then I’m not going to approve it,” Skinner suggested.
He said he thought NIPSCO could use the property for a staging area because he didn’t think the proposed project would be under construction in three months. “That’s probably a little unrealistic,” Skinner said.
Klondaris asked if there was a timeline for the proposed Gatke property project. Skinner said in the proposal, they said they could start construction in the spring. Klondaris said there’s a lot of land there and asked if both things could happen. Skinner said they could.
Skinner also said the proposal requires the Commission and other parties to come up with “millions of dollars.” “I’ve been around long enough to know that doesn’t happen like that,” he said, snapping his fingers.
Councilman and Commission member Jeff Grose made a motion to approve the temporary easement agreement with the addition of a paragraph stating the Commission has the option to end the agreement with a 30-day notice. Klondaris provided the second and it was approved 5-0.
Meyer said the city attorney also should look at that.
The Commission also approved claims, including: $250 from Huntington National Bank for an annual administration fee for bonds; $229.50 from Plews Shadley Racher & Braun LLP, attorneys at law, for services rendered regarding Warsaw Chemical Company; $114.23 from the city of Warsaw Wastewater for the bill for the Indiana American Water Co. property; $67.50 from Barnes & Thornburg LLC for legal services rendered; $130,310.10 from Robinson Construction for the Commission’s share of the Zimmer Biomet hangar door replacement at the Warsaw Municipal Airport; $15,300 from Selge Construction Co. Inc. for the Buffalo Street Plaza.
Skinner clarified for the Commission that the hangar is owned by the city but leased to Zimmer Biomet. He said he believed the hangar door replacement was completed, but the Commission may still see another pay application for around $17,000. Total cost of the hangar door replacement is over $600,000, but the Commission only agreed to pay a portion of that cost, about $150,000.
The Warsaw Redevelopment Commission unanimously approved the easement, however, on the condition that a paragraph be added that with a 30-day notice the Commission could request NIPSCO vacate the property.
The Gatke property is at 2321 E. Winona Ave.
Warsaw Community Economic and Development Director Jeremy Skinner told the Redevelopment Commission Monday that NIPSCO sent him a temporary easement contract to use the Gatke property for a staging area through June 30 when the roundabout is done. Winona Lake and the Indiana Department of Transportation will begin a roundabout project at the intersection of Argonne Road, Winona Avenue, Kings Highway and Park Avenue in early 2022.
“So I put this on the agenda, but I received an email today that may complicate that,” Skinner said, asking the Commission if they saw any issue with the temporary easement request.
Commission member George Clemens asked if city attorney Scott Reust looked at the agreement, and Skinner said no but he could have him review it.
Clemens asked if NIPSCO wanted to use most of the Gatke property. Skinner said they just used the address for the agreement, but probably would just use the grassy area out front to put poles and equipment.
City Councilman and Commission member Mike Klondaris asked for more information about the email Skinner said he received that may complicate the situation.
“Well, as you know, we’ve been working on a potential development on Gatke. And I do have a rudimentary proposal on Gatke and that proposal’s timeframe could potentially conflict with what (NIPSCO) is proposing,” Skinner said.
He said that with proposal that was given to him, “There’s a lot that happens in a three-month period that I’m not entirely sure is possible. But it’s certainly something that is going to come before you and we’re going to discuss.”
Skinner said the proposal could conflict with NIPSCO’s request to use the property through June 2022.
“Assuming that we did successfully meet the timeline that was in this proposal, it would conflict,” he said.
Commission Vice President Rick Snodgrass asked if NIPSCO paid to use the easement, and Skinner said no. It’s similar to the temporary easement at the former gas station on Detroit Street next to Central Park provided to NIPSCO.
Commission President Tim Meyer said NIPSCO was “very cooperative with us on that issue. We never had any problems with poles being out too far or blocked view of traffic or any equipment parked too close to the road ... or anything like that.”
Snodgrass said they didn’t have a possible project on that property though, and Meyer agreed. Snodgrass said he didn’t want to do anything that would jeopardize a project at the Gatke site.
“I don’t want to jeopardize that project either, so I guess what I’m requesting is, if you don’t see any issues, if it doesn’t have a conflict, you can say, ‘Yes, go explore this and the project at the same time and see if it’s compatible or not.’ If it’s not, then I’m not going to approve it,” Skinner suggested.
He said he thought NIPSCO could use the property for a staging area because he didn’t think the proposed project would be under construction in three months. “That’s probably a little unrealistic,” Skinner said.
Klondaris asked if there was a timeline for the proposed Gatke property project. Skinner said in the proposal, they said they could start construction in the spring. Klondaris said there’s a lot of land there and asked if both things could happen. Skinner said they could.
Skinner also said the proposal requires the Commission and other parties to come up with “millions of dollars.” “I’ve been around long enough to know that doesn’t happen like that,” he said, snapping his fingers.
Councilman and Commission member Jeff Grose made a motion to approve the temporary easement agreement with the addition of a paragraph stating the Commission has the option to end the agreement with a 30-day notice. Klondaris provided the second and it was approved 5-0.
Meyer said the city attorney also should look at that.
The Commission also approved claims, including: $250 from Huntington National Bank for an annual administration fee for bonds; $229.50 from Plews Shadley Racher & Braun LLP, attorneys at law, for services rendered regarding Warsaw Chemical Company; $114.23 from the city of Warsaw Wastewater for the bill for the Indiana American Water Co. property; $67.50 from Barnes & Thornburg LLC for legal services rendered; $130,310.10 from Robinson Construction for the Commission’s share of the Zimmer Biomet hangar door replacement at the Warsaw Municipal Airport; $15,300 from Selge Construction Co. Inc. for the Buffalo Street Plaza.
Skinner clarified for the Commission that the hangar is owned by the city but leased to Zimmer Biomet. He said he believed the hangar door replacement was completed, but the Commission may still see another pay application for around $17,000. Total cost of the hangar door replacement is over $600,000, but the Commission only agreed to pay a portion of that cost, about $150,000.
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092