Phyllis Emmons was introduced as the city's human resources director during the city council meeting Monday.

Emmons, of South Bend, has been at work for a week with an office in the police station on Fort Wayne Street.

She has worked in the human resources field for 20 years and has a bachelor's degree from Cornell University and a master's degree from Notre Dame.

A native of Walkerton, she said she was somewhat familiar with Warsaw, through consulting work with Zimmer Corp. and as a member of the Workforce Investment board in the 1990s.

Mayor Ernie Wiggins said the police station office is a temporary stop for Emmons. "Depending on where we end up, she'll end up," he said alluding to the possibility of relocating city hall.

The council voted to keep requests by the Animal Welfare League, Kosciusko Area Bus Service and Kosciusko Development Inc. at 2002 levels. City officials have not received any levy information from the state tax board. Wiggins said he didn't expect the May disbursement until June or July due to delays caused by reassessment.

AWL will receive $13,200; KABS, $18,500; and KDI, $2,500. No decisions have been made regarding the City-County Athletic Complex, although the council's budget shows a set-aside amount of $34,000. This year is the last year of a 10-year commitment to the athletic field. Sibyl Nelson and Andy McCleary, who appeared before the board in September, were asked to return at a later date with a financial statement showing revenues and expenses.

Representatives have not scheduled a reappearance.

The council has $301,468 for contracts in its budget.

The council did agree to spread costs of the city's three tax increment financing districts to all taxpayers - not just those in the district. The alternative is to default on the bonds.

"This is the state's gift to us," Wiggins said of the Statehouse tax restructuring plan.

"Will that figure into our rate, then?" asked clerk-treasurer Elaine Call.

"It certainly will figure into our rate," the mayor said.

Wiggins said all departments have been advised to watch costs, although the police department will receive the squad cars it requested.

In other business, the council:

• Set the next meeting for Jan. 20 at 7 p.m., canceling the Jan. 6 meeting.

• Approved a fiscal plan for the annexation of a .12-acre tract of land south of Lake Street on the west side of Warren Street. An additional $946.56 in annual tax revenue can be assumed. Charlie Smith abstained from the vote.

• Approved a transfer from several police, fire, street and building and planning funds to payroll insurance in the amount of $105,600 to cover increases in employee health insurance.

• Approved two amendments to the Warsaw employee personnel policy handbook establishing vacation benefits and four personal duty days in lieu of scheduled holidays for the fire department.

• Heard from Jeff Noffsinger that boardwalk construction has begun on the Beyer Farm arm of the Lake City Greenway.

The city planner also said most of the buildings around the old interurban railway building, the former Gatke building, have been demolished.

• Heard from councilman Joe Thallemer that bid specifications for a curbside recycling program are being established.

Town council members are Jerry Patterson, Bill Rhoades, Charlie Smith, George Clemens, Trish Brown and Joe Thallemer. Jeff Grose was absent. [[In-content Ad]]