A timeline for the wastewater utility plant expansion financing was laid out by Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer at Monday night’s city council meeting.

He said it was drafted Monday afternoon.

“I think the thing to remember is we’ve got two deadlines. We’ve got a phosphorus control deadline imposed by IDEM that has to be in place by the latest 2020. We’ve got, as far as construction of the new, expanded wastewater treatment plant, we’re definitely on that timeline. The second issue is that we did apply for a State Revolving Fund Loan, which is a huge advantage in regards to saving (money),” Thallemer said.

The deadline to apply for the SRF Loan was July 1, and “this has to be done by the end of the year.”

He told council members that on Sept. 15 they would have a copy of the preliminary bond reimbursement resolution and a rate ordinance for review. Those will be considered at the Sept. 18 council meeting, when council will be asked to pass the resolution and introduce the rate ordinance.

No vote on the rate ordinance will be taken that night.

On Oct. 2, the council will introduce the bond ordinance. On Oct. 16, the council will conduct a rate hearing, and adopt the rate and bond ordinances.

“Those are preliminary meeting agenda items that I want you to be aware of. We are also, in concurrence, going to have four public meetings in the four districts,” he said.

Thallemer announced tentative neighborhood meetings, but this morning his office said those would be changing.  

At the neighborhood meetings, Thallemer said, “We’re basically going to look at the presentation that we did at the last meeting, and then we’re going to talk about rate impact and how we’re going to charge this year, the changes that we’re going to make for billing, and how they will impact our residences and large users.”

Construction bids are to be received by Nov. 3.

In other business:

• The council approved an annual resolution establishing eight deer nuisance areas in the city.

Councilman Jeff Grose said there are no changes to the areas’ boundary lines from last year. The nuisance areas will allow the management team to establish reduction zones where archers who qualify can go in and reduce the deer population, Grose said.

Hunting season is Sept. 15 to Jan. 31 because “the state of Indiana has declared Urban Zone Status (for Warsaw),”?he said.

“Urban Zone was given to the city of Warsaw and the surrounding area, some of our county, for the first time in several years. That will have an impact on our overall efforts. I would say hopefully positive,” Grose said.

Urban Zone Status provides an incentive for archery hunters to remove additional deer by increasing the bag limit in certain areas.

Grose said the Deer Task Force was considering asking new archers to its program to take three doe before taking a buck, but that has not formally “been put into play.”

Last year, 27 deer were taken, with over 90 percent of those doe. In the 12 years of the program, about 500 deer have been taken.

The program has been opened up to new archers this year, the first time in several years. Training dates are 6 to 7:30 Sept. 13 and 16 at the Warsaw Police Department. Grose said he wasn’t sure how many people would show up or be selected.

• The council discussed some of the not-for-profit budget requests for 2018.

Councilwoman Diane Quance asked if the Beaman Home could come back before them for more information on its $15,000 request. This was the first year Beaman Home has made a monetary request from the city. Thallemer said he’d put it on the Oct. 2 agenda.

Councilman Jerry Frush asked if a maximum cap could be put on any not-for-profit budget requests. Discussion on that also will be put on the Oct. 2 agenda.

• Thallemer said the city got its certified assessed valuation from the county and it’s up about $11 million. The Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory also is up, but he didn’t indicate by how much.

He also reported that the city’s renewal rate for its employee health coverage will be “3.1 percent this year, much lower than we anticipated.” The city had budgeted for a 15 percent.

“That has to do with the claims experience, positive claims experience, with the trust as well as local,” he said.

• Thallemer recognized Madison Elementary School Principal Ben Barkey as the 2017 Air Force Association (AFA) Teacher of the Year.

After Thallemer read the news release about Barkey’s national honor (published Aug. 24 in the Times-Union), AFA local chapter vice president of education John Peyton explained how the organization supported the Air Force and anyone could be a member of AFA. Barkey spoke about how he was honored and humbled to receive the award.

• Thallemer proclaimed Sept. 17 to 23 as Constitution Week. The U.S. Constitution was drafted 230 years ago on Sept. 17, according to the proclamation he gave to local Daughters of the American Revolution chapter treasurer Janice Cox.

• Mike Loher informed the council that country music artist Jason Michael Carroll is returning to Warsaw for a concert Sept. 14 at 8 p.m. at the Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts. Tickets are general admission and $10, but veterans get in free.

Carroll, who is a Marine veteran, also may appear at the Project Finally Home big reveal for Sgt. Justin Raymer at Shadow Lakes at 6 p.m. Sept. 14, Loher said. Operation Finally Home provides houses to veterans.