City Council Approves Alley Vacations For Residential Development
January 5, 2021 at 1:42 a.m.
By David [email protected]
The parcels to be vacated are part of the planned residential development by the Groninger Group to be on property formerly known as Gateway Education Center and Madison Elementary School. Demolition of the former school began Monday.
The council on Dec. 21 approved the vacation ordinance – sought by Groninger Group – on first reading by a vote of 6-0.
Attorney Steve Snyder, representing Groninger Group, reminded the council the first reading of the ordinance was two weeks ago.
“Based on the plans we submitted, what we’re doing is eliminating two unopened alleys that now stub and go nowhere, plus a small sliver of Miami Street to make it a 40-foot right of way for its entire length,” Snyder said.
He said the properties adjacent to the areas to be vacated are all owned by the Groninger Group and are part of the development to be known as Gateway Grove. Snyder said the two alleyway stubs serve no purpose.
“This is part of the development. An outstanding development in my opinion, and what we’re looking for tonight is to conduct the public hearing required by state statute,” Snyder said.
Mayor Joe Thallemer asked that anyone who had a public comment to text in their comment as the meeting was being held virtually. The council on Monday had no questions regarding the vacation petition.
No comments were called or texted in from the public on the petition to vacate.
Councilwoman Diane Quance made the motion to approve the vacation ordinance on second and final reading, with Councilman Michael Klondaris providing the second. The motion was approved 7-0.
Klondaris thanked County Commissioner Cary Groninger, one of the developers, and said it was “going to be a great project. ... You’re going to be adding some much needed housing to Warsaw. Thank you for doing that.”
Thallemer said it will be nice to see more housing develop on the west side. “We’re excited to see some more housing develop on the west side. It’ll be a nice addition. We’ve got some exciting things happening on the west side,” he said.
Groninger thanked the council for their vote.
“We’re super excited about this project that we’re putting together here,” he said, noting he’s hoping to be before the council Feb. 2 with more complete plans. “It’s coming along nicely and we’re making some great progress.”
He said they’ll be adding over 60 living units that will be close to downtown Warsaw.
“We’re happy we could be part of this and we’re looking forward to this, it’s going to be a great thing,” Groninger said.
Earlier in the meeting, Thallemer updated the council on the city’s COVID-19 pandemic policies. He said he signed another executive order on Monday extending the telework policy for the city.
The city is under a public health emergency as long as the state of Indiana is, he said, and he reviewed all the city’s policies regarding the pandemic that the Council approved in 2020.
Executive Order 2020-06 is the pandemic telework policy, which expired Thursday until Thallemer renewed it Monday. It allows for city employees who could work from home to keep their hours, but it had to be approved from their department head, human resources and Thallemer. The employee has to be able to work from home and have health concerns during the pandemic.
“We had a few folks take advantage of that,” Thallemer said, noting he extended the telework policy for the city as long as the state is under a public health emergency.
He said Human Resources Director Jennifer Whitaker has helped him with all the policies and “she’s done a great job.”
He said the federal benefits for the pandemic expired at the end of last year.
The council also had to pick its president for 2021. Councilman Michael Klondaris nominated Jack Wilhite as president for another year. Wilhite served as the 2020 council president. No other nominations were made and Wilhite was unanimously approved.
“I appreciate the council’s support, and last year was quite the year. Hopefully, this year, 2021, will be a little better and back to normal. Thank you very much,” Wilhite said.
Thallemer reminded the council that their next meeting will be Tuesday, Jan. 19 instead of Monday, Jan. 18 because of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. The meeting starts at 7 p.m.
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The parcels to be vacated are part of the planned residential development by the Groninger Group to be on property formerly known as Gateway Education Center and Madison Elementary School. Demolition of the former school began Monday.
The council on Dec. 21 approved the vacation ordinance – sought by Groninger Group – on first reading by a vote of 6-0.
Attorney Steve Snyder, representing Groninger Group, reminded the council the first reading of the ordinance was two weeks ago.
“Based on the plans we submitted, what we’re doing is eliminating two unopened alleys that now stub and go nowhere, plus a small sliver of Miami Street to make it a 40-foot right of way for its entire length,” Snyder said.
He said the properties adjacent to the areas to be vacated are all owned by the Groninger Group and are part of the development to be known as Gateway Grove. Snyder said the two alleyway stubs serve no purpose.
“This is part of the development. An outstanding development in my opinion, and what we’re looking for tonight is to conduct the public hearing required by state statute,” Snyder said.
Mayor Joe Thallemer asked that anyone who had a public comment to text in their comment as the meeting was being held virtually. The council on Monday had no questions regarding the vacation petition.
No comments were called or texted in from the public on the petition to vacate.
Councilwoman Diane Quance made the motion to approve the vacation ordinance on second and final reading, with Councilman Michael Klondaris providing the second. The motion was approved 7-0.
Klondaris thanked County Commissioner Cary Groninger, one of the developers, and said it was “going to be a great project. ... You’re going to be adding some much needed housing to Warsaw. Thank you for doing that.”
Thallemer said it will be nice to see more housing develop on the west side. “We’re excited to see some more housing develop on the west side. It’ll be a nice addition. We’ve got some exciting things happening on the west side,” he said.
Groninger thanked the council for their vote.
“We’re super excited about this project that we’re putting together here,” he said, noting he’s hoping to be before the council Feb. 2 with more complete plans. “It’s coming along nicely and we’re making some great progress.”
He said they’ll be adding over 60 living units that will be close to downtown Warsaw.
“We’re happy we could be part of this and we’re looking forward to this, it’s going to be a great thing,” Groninger said.
Earlier in the meeting, Thallemer updated the council on the city’s COVID-19 pandemic policies. He said he signed another executive order on Monday extending the telework policy for the city.
The city is under a public health emergency as long as the state of Indiana is, he said, and he reviewed all the city’s policies regarding the pandemic that the Council approved in 2020.
Executive Order 2020-06 is the pandemic telework policy, which expired Thursday until Thallemer renewed it Monday. It allows for city employees who could work from home to keep their hours, but it had to be approved from their department head, human resources and Thallemer. The employee has to be able to work from home and have health concerns during the pandemic.
“We had a few folks take advantage of that,” Thallemer said, noting he extended the telework policy for the city as long as the state is under a public health emergency.
He said Human Resources Director Jennifer Whitaker has helped him with all the policies and “she’s done a great job.”
He said the federal benefits for the pandemic expired at the end of last year.
The council also had to pick its president for 2021. Councilman Michael Klondaris nominated Jack Wilhite as president for another year. Wilhite served as the 2020 council president. No other nominations were made and Wilhite was unanimously approved.
“I appreciate the council’s support, and last year was quite the year. Hopefully, this year, 2021, will be a little better and back to normal. Thank you very much,” Wilhite said.
Thallemer reminded the council that their next meeting will be Tuesday, Jan. 19 instead of Monday, Jan. 18 because of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. The meeting starts at 7 p.m.
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