Nathaniel Fisher's oval-shaped logo has been selected to represent the city of Warsaw.

Fisher's design - marking the city's 150th year - was selected over many others submitted to the community-wide contest. Entrants were allowed up to five designs. Twelve individuals, all residents of Kosciusko County, submitted a total of 41 entries by the Dec. 5 deadline.

Fisher, 24, 5155 N. Bobwhite Drive, Warsaw, recently received a bachelor's degree from the Illinois Institute of Art in Chicago.

"I love Warsaw," Fisher said of the city where he was raised at the council meeting Tuesday.

The word "Warsaw" is in the center of the design and Fisher chose an oval shape "because organic shapes derive from nature and have the ability to grow and expand."

The landscape silhouette represents homes, government, church and industry. A lake with a sailboat and ducks is depicted on the lower half. The top banner incorporates the city's nickname, "City of Lakes," with its founding date of 1854.

The former city seal read "Live, Work, Play." Fisher kept that idea but changed the tense to "Living, Working, Playing" to reflect "action and activity."

Fisher will receive $500 for his design.

He said he plans to find a position in his field here.

The logo will be used on letterheads, uniforms and other official city materials.

The board approved a resolution transferring cumulative capital improvement funds to the general fund. CCI monies come from the state from cigarette taxes. Warsaw's share is $156,000. The city's payment of $34,000 to the City-County Athletic Complex comes from this money.

A transfer from the general fund to the general bond fund in the amount of $5,416 also was approved. The money will pay General Bond 2002, for Logan Street improvements, and the amount due is $110,595. The account had $105,117. The $5,416 transfer is being borrowed until the June tax distribution.

In other business the board:

• Heard a special EDIT distribution of $79,765.54 was received. Economic development income tax monies are dedicated to the wastewater treatment bond account.

• Reviewed year end reports from Oakwood Cemetery and the parks department and a December report prepared by the fire department.

• Heard from Warsaw fire department chief Matt Warren that he attended the Indiana-American Water Co. rate hike hearing in Indianapolis. Warren said he plans to attend the Gary field hearing in February, which is open to public comments.

Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins said he's heard from water company operations superintendent Hal Gurkin, that Warsaw's capital improvement budget has been approved. Projects to improve the East Main Street system and low water pressure to fire hydrants will begin this spring.

• Heard the mayor's appointments to various boards: Excepting councilman Bob Morrison's appointment to the Aviation and Cemetery boards, the positions are reappointments. Neal Carlson, John Elliott, Jerry Kralis, Tammy Rockey and Charlie Smith will comprise the Redevelopment Commission; councilmen Jerry Patterson and Charlie Smith will serve the board of works; councilmen Joe Thallemer and Jeff Grose will be on the Plan Commission along with Rick Keeven who will also serve as the plan commission representative on the board of zoning appeals; Toby Sumpter will serve on the parks board and Grose will again be the council representative; and Lewis Dobbins will serve on the cemetery board of regents.

• Approved Wymet Properties tax abatement request, which was submitted past the deadline. Wiggins said the officials did not realize the statement of benefits had to be renewed each year.

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