Warsaw Planners Re-Elect President, Vice President

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.

By Jennifer [email protected]

Tom Allen was re-elected president and Rick Keeven was re-elected vice president of the Warsaw Plan Commission Monday.
Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer swore in Dave Baumgartner and Allen. They will serve four-year terms. They join Jeff Grose, Jim Gast, Rick Keeven, Mike Klondaris and Jeff Beeler on the commission.
Jeremy Skinner, city planner, provided an update for this year and said the commission will make sure the city’s ordinance for sexually oriented businesses supports state requirements and laws.
Jim Gast, commission member, said residents have told him one of the weak points of the city is the enforcement of its existing ordinances such as making sure weeds are trimmed, buildings are kept up and wondered if the enforcement process could go quicker.
Skinner said the city will work with its hearing officer to get compliance more quickly, more hearings will be held this year and the hearing officer will meet monthly.
Thallemer said the hearing officer is fair and generous for those who have compliance issues and has given residents 30, 60 or 90 days to clean up properties.
“We don’t want to send an issue to the hearing officer and order demolition immediately. We want what is good for the community, not a wrecking ball,” Skinner said.
Skinner said the city sent 360 property violation letters in 2014.
Skinner said in 2014 there was $42 million in construction in Warsaw, $200,000 less in 2014 than 2013; $17 million in new residential construction and $25 million in commercial construction.
“From a growth standpoint it’s been very aggressive the last couple of years,” Skinner said.[[In-content Ad]]

Tom Allen was re-elected president and Rick Keeven was re-elected vice president of the Warsaw Plan Commission Monday.
Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer swore in Dave Baumgartner and Allen. They will serve four-year terms. They join Jeff Grose, Jim Gast, Rick Keeven, Mike Klondaris and Jeff Beeler on the commission.
Jeremy Skinner, city planner, provided an update for this year and said the commission will make sure the city’s ordinance for sexually oriented businesses supports state requirements and laws.
Jim Gast, commission member, said residents have told him one of the weak points of the city is the enforcement of its existing ordinances such as making sure weeds are trimmed, buildings are kept up and wondered if the enforcement process could go quicker.
Skinner said the city will work with its hearing officer to get compliance more quickly, more hearings will be held this year and the hearing officer will meet monthly.
Thallemer said the hearing officer is fair and generous for those who have compliance issues and has given residents 30, 60 or 90 days to clean up properties.
“We don’t want to send an issue to the hearing officer and order demolition immediately. We want what is good for the community, not a wrecking ball,” Skinner said.
Skinner said the city sent 360 property violation letters in 2014.
Skinner said in 2014 there was $42 million in construction in Warsaw, $200,000 less in 2014 than 2013; $17 million in new residential construction and $25 million in commercial construction.
“From a growth standpoint it’s been very aggressive the last couple of years,” Skinner said.[[In-content Ad]]
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