Warsaw Gets Two New School Board Members
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Two new Warsaw school board members will take office in January, while two others will continue on the board.
Ron Yeiter, District 1, and Gene England, District 7, are the new members of the board. Cathy Folk, District 2, and Larry Chamberlain, District 5, are incumbents who were re-elected.
Yeiter, who became a familiar face at board meetings over the past year, said he campaigned by meeting with PTOs and Lions Clubs and by going door-to-door in his district.
He defeated George Klinger and Candace Townsend for the school board seat currently held by Brad Brail, who did not run for re-election.
He said his priority is Warsaw Community Schools' financial status.
"I'd like to see where we're heading financially. That's my first concern," he said. "I'd like to see where cuts have been made and exactly where we're heading."
Gene England, of Silver Lake, retired several years ago as principal of Silver Lake Elementary School and is a member of Save Our School in Silver Lake.
He attributed his victory over incumbent Roy Szymanski to name recognition and the fact that he has lived and worked in and around the Claypool-Silver Lake area.
England said the proposed school additions and renovations are his main concern.
"My first priority is to the building program," he said. "I'd like to take it one step at a time."
Larry Chamberlain, of Winona Lake, is returning to the school board. He said he's looking forward to meeting and getting to know the new board members.
Chamberlain wants to prioritize the agenda for the next year and establish timing, priority and costs of the projects the board has been discussing over the past year.
"We need to build a consensus among the board members to move forward," he said, "and building that consensus is something I look forward to. ... When you have people of very strong passion on the board, it can be a very constructive thing."
Cathy Folk, who is serving her second term, said she wants to get the bond issue hearing done "so we can get some of the repairs done to those buildings that desperately need repairs."
Folk said she will respect the opinions of the new board members, keeping in mind that "it is a board. It's not one person here and one person there - we are a team."
Another of Folk's concerns is public attendance at board meetings.
"I would like to see more people come to meetings," she said. "You really need to come find out what's going on and get involved. If people really want to have an effect, they need to pay attention."
Other school board members are Craig Allebach, Jim Folk and Mark Minatel.
Planners Deny Request For Development On Packerton Road
BY DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer
Of the seven petitions before the Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission Wednesday, only one was denied.
The denial was issued because the preliminary plat lacked interior roads for the subdivision.
1st Source Bank petitioned for the preliminary plat approval for a residential development on 20.176 acres. The property is on the east side of Packerton Road in Wayne Township.
Steve Snyder, attorney on behalf of the bank, said the subdivision would be six lots and each lot would be approximately two to five acres each. Most of the lots would have 200 to 250 feet of road frontage. Snyder said the development does lack interior roads but the developer is proposing combined curb cuts so there are only four access points. There are already three cuts on the property. The developer could put in as many as 50 lots on the approximate 20 acres but that's not what the developer wants, Snyder said. If the developer has to put in interior roads, he would have to put in a higher density of housing to recoup the costs.
County surveyor Dick Kemper had to leave early from the meeting, but before he left said he agreed with County Highway Engineer and Superintendent Rob Ladson's letter that stated interior roads are needed for the development.
Several remonstrators spoke up against the development because of the increased traffic it would create.
Kent Myers said he's not opposed to new homes or the size of the homes or lots being proposed by the bank. His main concern, he said, is the traffic flow.
"This road is traveled nonstop," he said. Had he known about the traffic in the area, he said, he never would have moved to the area. At times, it's extremely dangerous because people drive too fast on the road, he said. "It's just not safe."
The area, said Ann Myers, went from farm country to "a metropolis all of a sudden."
Warsaw Police Department Traffic Commissioner Kip Shuter, who lives in the area, said, speaking as a traffic officer, four cuts from the development onto Packerton Road would cause a more dangerous situation.
Ladson told the plan commission that, based on his professional experience and what is best for the county, it should deny the petition. Putting multiple cuts on a major artery is a poor idea, he said. The Packerton Road area is a prime area for residential development and he said he still recommends the county "should have a higher density subdivision here," which would allow for interior roads.
Unfortunately, said plan commission member Kevin McSherry, the area should be prepared for higher traffic because it is an area that will be developed. He said he feels for the people who thought they lived out in the country, but that's about to change.
Plan commission member Hal Strong made a motion to deny the petition, Charlie Haffner seconded the motion and the full nine-member board denied it.
The petitions before the plan commission that were approved, included:
• Robert Smits' petition for a preliminary plat approval for an agricultural II development on almost five acres. The property is on the west side of Epworth Forest Road in Tippecanoe Township. The approval was granted on the condition that Smits put on the face of the plat that the property will not be further subdivided.
• Bill Batalis' petition to rezone 4.14 acres from an industrial II district to a commercial district. The property is on the south side of CR 100S in Wayne Township. The petition will go before the county commissioners for final approval Nov. 19 at 10 a.m. in the county courthouse, Warsaw. The plan commission is only a recommending board to the commissioners on rezonings in the county.
• N. Trzcinski's petition to rezone ground from residential to a commercial district. The property is on the northeast side of Main Street in Tippecanoe Township. The petition will go before the North Webster town council for final approval Nov. 13 at 6 p.m. in the town hall.
• Marsha Engle's petition for a preliminary plat approval for a residential development on 0.78 acres. The property is on the east side of CR 700E and 1,354 feet north of CR 400N in Tippecanoe Township.
• Jerry Ferguson's petition to rezone ground from an industrial II district to a commercial district. The property is on the south side of Bell Drive and zero feet east of Biomet Drive in Plain Township.
Steve Snyder, representing Ferguson, said the site will be used for retail sales and/or offices. Nothing specifically is planned for the site currently, however.
The petition will go before the county commissioners for final approval Nov. 19 at 10 a.m. in the county courthouse, Warsaw.
• Dean Greene's petition to rezone ground from an agricultural district to a residential district. The property is on the east side of EMS T26B Lane in Plain Township.
The petition will go before the county commissioners for final approval Nov. 19 at 10 a.m. in the county courthouse, Warsaw.
Members of the plan commission are: Vic Virgil, Charlie Haffner, Kevin McSherry, Hal Strong, Dick Kemper, Kelly Easterday, Barb Carwile, Norm Lovell and Don Arms. They meet at 1 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month. [[In-content Ad]]
Two new Warsaw school board members will take office in January, while two others will continue on the board.
Ron Yeiter, District 1, and Gene England, District 7, are the new members of the board. Cathy Folk, District 2, and Larry Chamberlain, District 5, are incumbents who were re-elected.
Yeiter, who became a familiar face at board meetings over the past year, said he campaigned by meeting with PTOs and Lions Clubs and by going door-to-door in his district.
He defeated George Klinger and Candace Townsend for the school board seat currently held by Brad Brail, who did not run for re-election.
He said his priority is Warsaw Community Schools' financial status.
"I'd like to see where we're heading financially. That's my first concern," he said. "I'd like to see where cuts have been made and exactly where we're heading."
Gene England, of Silver Lake, retired several years ago as principal of Silver Lake Elementary School and is a member of Save Our School in Silver Lake.
He attributed his victory over incumbent Roy Szymanski to name recognition and the fact that he has lived and worked in and around the Claypool-Silver Lake area.
England said the proposed school additions and renovations are his main concern.
"My first priority is to the building program," he said. "I'd like to take it one step at a time."
Larry Chamberlain, of Winona Lake, is returning to the school board. He said he's looking forward to meeting and getting to know the new board members.
Chamberlain wants to prioritize the agenda for the next year and establish timing, priority and costs of the projects the board has been discussing over the past year.
"We need to build a consensus among the board members to move forward," he said, "and building that consensus is something I look forward to. ... When you have people of very strong passion on the board, it can be a very constructive thing."
Cathy Folk, who is serving her second term, said she wants to get the bond issue hearing done "so we can get some of the repairs done to those buildings that desperately need repairs."
Folk said she will respect the opinions of the new board members, keeping in mind that "it is a board. It's not one person here and one person there - we are a team."
Another of Folk's concerns is public attendance at board meetings.
"I would like to see more people come to meetings," she said. "You really need to come find out what's going on and get involved. If people really want to have an effect, they need to pay attention."
Other school board members are Craig Allebach, Jim Folk and Mark Minatel.
Planners Deny Request For Development On Packerton Road
BY DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer
Of the seven petitions before the Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission Wednesday, only one was denied.
The denial was issued because the preliminary plat lacked interior roads for the subdivision.
1st Source Bank petitioned for the preliminary plat approval for a residential development on 20.176 acres. The property is on the east side of Packerton Road in Wayne Township.
Steve Snyder, attorney on behalf of the bank, said the subdivision would be six lots and each lot would be approximately two to five acres each. Most of the lots would have 200 to 250 feet of road frontage. Snyder said the development does lack interior roads but the developer is proposing combined curb cuts so there are only four access points. There are already three cuts on the property. The developer could put in as many as 50 lots on the approximate 20 acres but that's not what the developer wants, Snyder said. If the developer has to put in interior roads, he would have to put in a higher density of housing to recoup the costs.
County surveyor Dick Kemper had to leave early from the meeting, but before he left said he agreed with County Highway Engineer and Superintendent Rob Ladson's letter that stated interior roads are needed for the development.
Several remonstrators spoke up against the development because of the increased traffic it would create.
Kent Myers said he's not opposed to new homes or the size of the homes or lots being proposed by the bank. His main concern, he said, is the traffic flow.
"This road is traveled nonstop," he said. Had he known about the traffic in the area, he said, he never would have moved to the area. At times, it's extremely dangerous because people drive too fast on the road, he said. "It's just not safe."
The area, said Ann Myers, went from farm country to "a metropolis all of a sudden."
Warsaw Police Department Traffic Commissioner Kip Shuter, who lives in the area, said, speaking as a traffic officer, four cuts from the development onto Packerton Road would cause a more dangerous situation.
Ladson told the plan commission that, based on his professional experience and what is best for the county, it should deny the petition. Putting multiple cuts on a major artery is a poor idea, he said. The Packerton Road area is a prime area for residential development and he said he still recommends the county "should have a higher density subdivision here," which would allow for interior roads.
Unfortunately, said plan commission member Kevin McSherry, the area should be prepared for higher traffic because it is an area that will be developed. He said he feels for the people who thought they lived out in the country, but that's about to change.
Plan commission member Hal Strong made a motion to deny the petition, Charlie Haffner seconded the motion and the full nine-member board denied it.
The petitions before the plan commission that were approved, included:
• Robert Smits' petition for a preliminary plat approval for an agricultural II development on almost five acres. The property is on the west side of Epworth Forest Road in Tippecanoe Township. The approval was granted on the condition that Smits put on the face of the plat that the property will not be further subdivided.
• Bill Batalis' petition to rezone 4.14 acres from an industrial II district to a commercial district. The property is on the south side of CR 100S in Wayne Township. The petition will go before the county commissioners for final approval Nov. 19 at 10 a.m. in the county courthouse, Warsaw. The plan commission is only a recommending board to the commissioners on rezonings in the county.
• N. Trzcinski's petition to rezone ground from residential to a commercial district. The property is on the northeast side of Main Street in Tippecanoe Township. The petition will go before the North Webster town council for final approval Nov. 13 at 6 p.m. in the town hall.
• Marsha Engle's petition for a preliminary plat approval for a residential development on 0.78 acres. The property is on the east side of CR 700E and 1,354 feet north of CR 400N in Tippecanoe Township.
• Jerry Ferguson's petition to rezone ground from an industrial II district to a commercial district. The property is on the south side of Bell Drive and zero feet east of Biomet Drive in Plain Township.
Steve Snyder, representing Ferguson, said the site will be used for retail sales and/or offices. Nothing specifically is planned for the site currently, however.
The petition will go before the county commissioners for final approval Nov. 19 at 10 a.m. in the county courthouse, Warsaw.
• Dean Greene's petition to rezone ground from an agricultural district to a residential district. The property is on the east side of EMS T26B Lane in Plain Township.
The petition will go before the county commissioners for final approval Nov. 19 at 10 a.m. in the county courthouse, Warsaw.
Members of the plan commission are: Vic Virgil, Charlie Haffner, Kevin McSherry, Hal Strong, Dick Kemper, Kelly Easterday, Barb Carwile, Norm Lovell and Don Arms. They meet at 1 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month. [[In-content Ad]]