Warsaw Possible Stop On Passenger Rail Line

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

By TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer-

Warsaw has been identified as a possible stop on a proposed high-speed passenger rail centered in Chicago.

Assistant city planner Kristy Mehlberg presented an outline of the proposal during Tuesday's city council meeting.

The Indiana Department of Transportation is studying a rail network that would significantly reduce travel time to the Windy City.

Many companies headquartered in Chicago have divisions in Warsaw, Fort Wayne, Cleveland and Toledo.

A public hearing is set for Aug. 2 in the Allen County Public Library from 5 to 7 p.m.

The Indiana network is proposed to run from Chicago and connect through Indianapolis to Cincinnati and Louisville using former Amtrak rails.

It also would run along northern Indiana to Toledo and Cleveland.

Travel time from Fort Wayne to Chicago would take about two hours.

In other business the board:

• Heard Umbaugh and Associates would make a financial presentation at the August meeting regarding funding a new wastewater treatment plant.

Preliminary engineering plans have been forwarded by Jones and Henry to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management for review.

IDEM's study of the plans is not expected to be complete until December or January. Bids for the project will be let then.

• Received a letter from Warsaw's building commissioner, Todd Slabaugh, regarding a change in the family dwelling code. Adopted by the state as "2001 Indiana Residential Code," it is based on the 2000 International Residential Code. Copies are available at the planning and building facility.

• Received a letter from Mary Ann Steininger regarding the help she and her husband received from emergency personnel during a June 15 accident.

• Received a conflict of interest disclosure statement from Joe Thallemer. Two of his children are employed as lifeguards by the parks department. Thallemer, as a council member, decides budget allotments and salary increases for that department.

Charlie Smith said he should file a conflict of interest statement too, because his son is employed at the Warsaw Municipal Airport.

• Heard from police chief Steve Foster regarding receipt of an insurance reimbursement check of $222.60. The funds will be used for repairs and maintenance to a 1996 Ford involved in a May 5 accident.

• Approved an ordinance for additional appropriations from the general fund to the fire budget - equipment - in the amount of $5,625.

City council members are Joe Thallemer, Trish Brown, Jeff Grose, George Clemens, Charlie Smith, Jerry Patterson and Bill Baldwin.

The council meets the third Monday of each month at 7 p.m. in council chambers at city hall. [[In-content Ad]]

Warsaw has been identified as a possible stop on a proposed high-speed passenger rail centered in Chicago.

Assistant city planner Kristy Mehlberg presented an outline of the proposal during Tuesday's city council meeting.

The Indiana Department of Transportation is studying a rail network that would significantly reduce travel time to the Windy City.

Many companies headquartered in Chicago have divisions in Warsaw, Fort Wayne, Cleveland and Toledo.

A public hearing is set for Aug. 2 in the Allen County Public Library from 5 to 7 p.m.

The Indiana network is proposed to run from Chicago and connect through Indianapolis to Cincinnati and Louisville using former Amtrak rails.

It also would run along northern Indiana to Toledo and Cleveland.

Travel time from Fort Wayne to Chicago would take about two hours.

In other business the board:

• Heard Umbaugh and Associates would make a financial presentation at the August meeting regarding funding a new wastewater treatment plant.

Preliminary engineering plans have been forwarded by Jones and Henry to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management for review.

IDEM's study of the plans is not expected to be complete until December or January. Bids for the project will be let then.

• Received a letter from Warsaw's building commissioner, Todd Slabaugh, regarding a change in the family dwelling code. Adopted by the state as "2001 Indiana Residential Code," it is based on the 2000 International Residential Code. Copies are available at the planning and building facility.

• Received a letter from Mary Ann Steininger regarding the help she and her husband received from emergency personnel during a June 15 accident.

• Received a conflict of interest disclosure statement from Joe Thallemer. Two of his children are employed as lifeguards by the parks department. Thallemer, as a council member, decides budget allotments and salary increases for that department.

Charlie Smith said he should file a conflict of interest statement too, because his son is employed at the Warsaw Municipal Airport.

• Heard from police chief Steve Foster regarding receipt of an insurance reimbursement check of $222.60. The funds will be used for repairs and maintenance to a 1996 Ford involved in a May 5 accident.

• Approved an ordinance for additional appropriations from the general fund to the fire budget - equipment - in the amount of $5,625.

City council members are Joe Thallemer, Trish Brown, Jeff Grose, George Clemens, Charlie Smith, Jerry Patterson and Bill Baldwin.

The council meets the third Monday of each month at 7 p.m. in council chambers at city hall. [[In-content Ad]]

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