Tracy Furnivall, director of Baker Youth Clubs, appeared before the Warsaw City Council Monday requesting the city apply for a state Community Development Block Grant. If the $500,000 Indiana Department of Commerce grant is approved, BYC plans to nearly match those funds with $400,000.

This is the second request for the funding. In June, Bob Murphy of R.P. Murphy and Associates, Larwill, talked to the Warsaw council during a public hearing regarding the grant. Monday, Murphy's grant writer Phyllis Greene attended the public hearing.

Furnivall said plans are to build in Boggs Industrial Park on the current Mantis Skate Park site, owned by the city and operated by the parks department. BYC would help provide funding for the skate park's move across the street, which is in a flood plain. The skate park may relocate there, but the state wouldn't fund any project located in such a district.

The city will act as applicant for the all-or-nothing grant, which the council approved.

BYC is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization, serving area youth since 1926. Furnivall said building a new facility is important to the future of the club's programs. Currently they are housed in the multipurpose building in Lucerne Park on North Park Avenue. BYC shares space with the Kosciusko County Boys and Girls Club and Senior Services. The building is leased from from the Warsaw Parks Department.

In June, Furnivall said the building will have three full-size basketball courts along with a section where other games can be played. There also will be a game room for pool and pingpong, a lounge area with television and a study room for homework.

All the BYC programs are free. The United Way provides 55 percent of the organization's funding with other monies coming through fund-raising and donations.

Furnivall said the move to the west side would help them reach more children, although the east side youth would be provided transportation to the new facility.

The council also:

• Reviewed a letter from Phil Harris to Comcast Cable communications regarding proposed changes of services to subscribers in Warsaw. Harris is objecting to the company's plans to remove channels 6, 7 and 9 transmitted from Fort Wayne.

Gwendolyn Snyder also attended the meeting to complain about the company's charges and fees.

• Re-elected five-term councilman Jerry Patterson to his sixth year as council president. Patterson represents District 4.

• Approved the mayor's appointments to various boards and commissions: Jerry Patterson and Charlie Smith to the Board of Public Works and Safety; Tammy Dalton and Jim Gast to the Plan Commission; Tom Heuer to the Board of Zoning Appeals; Kent Adams, Savina Kralis and Tammy Rockey to the Redevelopment Commission; Jay Rigdon to the Aviation Board; Bill Baldwin and Steve Haines to the Parks Board; Bob Sandy to the Cemetery Board of Regents; Dan Robinson, Greg Schroeder, Kip Shuter, Jeremy Skinner and Ann Sweet to the Traffic Commission; and Joel Curry and S. Hood to the Warsaw Housing Authority Board.

• Approved council appointments to the Redevelopment Commission, Neal Carlson and Charlie Smith; and to the Traffic Commission, George Clemens and Bill Rhoades.

• Approved, after suspending the rules for a second reading, Ordinance 2005-01-01 regarding the illicit discharge into and connection to the city's stormwater system. Wastewater treatment utility superintendent Dave Henderson said the ordinance gives the city the ability to trace illegal dumping and fine offenders for any cleanup. The ordinance also gives the city the legal authority to carry out inspection, surveillance and monitoring procedures to ensure compliance with this law.

Property owners violating the ordinance will be notified of the cost of abatement, including administrative costs. The law also allows for injunctions against the activities that would create further violations.

City council members are Joe Thallemer, Bob Morrison, Jeff Grose, Charlie Smith, George Clemens, Jerry Patterson and Bill Rhoades. [[In-content Ad]]