NORTH WEBSTER - Although the group meets on a quarterly basis, last night's Mainstreet committee meeting was more like an annual report.

A division of the Tippecanoe Township Chamber of Commerce, the group formed committees last year to identify four focus areas in North Webster: the parks and development of a bike trail, lakefront enhancement, town beautification and the school/community center project.

Colorful renderings from the Ball State University study two years ago were set around the room as a reminder of what the town could look like.

Helen Hoy reported on the bike trail, displaying "Share the Road" signs to be posted along the trail. Five posts for the signs have been installed and the rest can be installed this spring.

Sponsors donated $726 for installation of the signs, leaving a balance of $577.

Plans are to have a seven-mile trail circle Webster Lake, and a grant application for costs will be submitted to the Dekko and Kosciusko County foundations.

A part of the bike trail is planned to begin at the new elementary school, just outside of town on CR 750E. With Economic Development Income Tax funding, the trail could extend to Hine or Huntington streets, town clerk Peg Lawrance said.

Larry Kinsey and Lawrance gave a report from the parks committee, with Kinsey saying directional signs to North Webster Park have been placed on Ind. 15.

Lawrance said after many considerations a simple fishing pier is planned for installation at the park on the south side of the Lakeview Restaurant. A platform for the Ski Bees Ski Club will be part of the pier.

She said several permits still have to be approved by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources before the pier can be put in.

Paving of the parking lot should be complete at the end of the summer.

Kinsey said fliers have been removed from utility poles in town and the advertisers have been asked not to post any more.

Dennis Wagoner said many businesses purchased and maintained flower boxes and the containers are available for residential use, too.

Each table had a North Webster sign rendering by Roberts Signs, Warsaw. He asked for comments on the designs. The sign would be placed at Clayton's Garden Center and face north.

Several changes were suggested. Linda Kinsey asked why a Warsaw sign company was commissioned for the work when there was a company in North Webster. Wagoner said the local company did not respond to his inquiries.

There was discussion concerning the farmer's market and ways to improve it. It was decided a good location would be at the old elementary school grounds.

Chris Bruno presented designs for decorative street lights from Herman's Christmasland, Pierceton. She suggested snowflakes for winter and sailboats for the other seasons. However, the sailboats also came with a wreath that could be added for the winter holiday season.

The lights would cost more than $7,000.

Jeff Thornburgh, president of Dekko Heating Technologies, said that an earlier report that the Dekko Foundation approved a $300,000 challenge grant for the community center was incorrect. No such grant has been approved.

Kay Andrews talked about the old elementary school and its transformation into a community center.

The town paid $1 to the Wawasee School Corp. for the building on Feb. 19. Ownership has been transferred to North Webster Community Center Inc. Town council members as well as the town clerk serve as its officers.

Application for 501(c)3 status has been filed with the state.

Andrews said the Lakeland Youth Center, the Kosciusko County YMCA, town offices, the North Webster Tippecanoe Township Library, the Latchkey program and a senior citizens center all have requested space in the building.

MSKTD Architects, Fort Wayne, have been retained as designers for the project.

Grant administrator Bob Murphy presented a new rendering of the building's entrance after the south side has been removed. The drawing featured a glass exterior wall.

Murphy said there are a number of things to do regarding the building. An application for a $415,000 Indiana Department of Commerce Community Focus Fund grant is due March 29. This grant requires $42,000 in matching funds. If the grant is not approved this spring, reapplication would occur in the fall.

At the same time, an application to the Indiana Department of Finance for a brownfield loan in the amount of $200,000 is due.

Murphy said a zoned heating system for the building will cost $500,000. Replacement of all the windows, as well as some plumbing work, also is included in the plans .

Currently there is a funding shortage for the project.

Guests Sharon Beckman, executive director of the Dekko Foundation, and Suzie Light, executive director of the Kosciusko County Foundation, spoke to the group about grant applications.

As a private foundation, Dekko can give money only to 501(c)3 organizations, which the chamber is not, according to Light.

She said she could see that the group's projects were charitable in nature; however, and the foundation would be interested in helping.

Beckman said from the foundation's standpoint, evidence of "community ownership" is very important. This indicates the project will be around for the next 10 years.

She said the foundation could provide technical assistance in the form of help from a professional fund-raiser.

Light suggested the prospects for raising money were endless, in the form of grants, pledges, contributions and "friend-raising" events like bake sales and bowl-a-thons.

Mary Gerard, of Dekko, said there are many projects in need of funding and suggested one pledge card be designed indicating all the projects.

Donors could then designate which project they wish to sponsor. [[In-content Ad]]