NORTH WEBSTER -- The International Palace of Sports pledged $750,000 toward renovation and operation of the elementary school as a community center. The donation was announced during the town council meeting Wednesday.

To begin, a lump sum of $250,000 will be given for use in renovation projects; an additional $50,000 per year for 10 years is to be used for operating costs.

"It was Homer Shoop's mission in life to help the youth of the community and this center would certainly fulfill that mission," wrote Jon Sroufe, president of the IPS Foundation. "We would be pleased if the community and recreation center would be named in his memory."

The offer is contingent upon the town securing the property for development.

Town council president Kay Andrews said a meeting is scheduled for Oct. 29 at 4 p.m. in the school. The meeting will include a tour of the facilities for all interested organizations and individuals.

Jay Clutter asked if the Wawasee School Corp. expected the town to pay for the building.

"It seems that we've paid for it once," he said, noting the district had $250,000 to demolish the facility and wasn't hurting for money.

Town attorney Mike Armey said one option for the corporation is to donate the building to the town. Annexation of the new elementary, about 5.214 acres, proceeded with a first reading of Ordinance 2001-05.

School attorney John Cates attended last month's meeting with the voluntary annexation request.

No fiscal plan is required because no town tax dollars will be affected by the acquisition.

A letter from North Webster Day Care was read inquiring about the town's plans to install sidewalks to the new school. The child care providers walk half-day kindergartners to and from the school now. The new route is not paved with sidewalks.

Public works superintendent Marshall Minnick said there are no plans to build sidewalks this winter because of the cold weather; however, there are sidewalk installation plans.

Kenny Gunkel, assistant North Webster fire chief, advised the board that the county firefighters' association plans to provide an operable smoke detector in every home. Homeowners may pick up the detectors two or three days per week at the fire station. Gunkel advised citizens to watch the sign outside the station for pick-up days. He said eventually the firemen will go door-to-door.

The firemen will install the detectors if people wish and the program will be followed up with a battery replacement program later.

In other business, the board:

• Approved an encroachment agreement with Alice Rinker regarding the Rinker Building on Washington Street.

The building extends about a foot on the east into the alley, a situation that has been allowed for years.

Karen and William Kann have purchased the property, currently occupied by Steffan Enterprises, and a more formal agreement is necessary. An antique mini-mall is planned.

• Approved Mary Jo Lundy's employment as town hall secretary.

• Viewed Jim McCleary's plans for the town park's fishing pier and paved parking lot. McCleary also brought applications for state approval with the Department of Natural Resources Division of Water.

McCleary's drawings call for an 8-foot-wide pier with a railing that opens intermittently for fishermen to land their catches. An end section of the rail is also designed to be removed so the Ski Bees can use it as a starting platform.

A grant of $18,415 has already been secured for pier construction and the parking lot.

• Approved the street department purchase of a F550 Ford truck with dump body and snow plow for $40,995 from Rice Ford in Warsaw. Other bidders were Nappanee Ford, with a quote of $42,204, and McCormick Ford, also in Nappanee, for $47,491.

• Set Halloween hours from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31.

Town council members are Kay Andrews and Jeff Morgan. Ken Wagoner was absent. The next town council meeting is Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. [[In-content Ad]]