City Saves Through Retirements
Four city employees, taking advantage of a state pension funding program, are taking early retirement, saving the city nearly $100,000. Mayor Ernie Wiggins said the early retirements of police officers Lt.Lance Grubbs and Detective Sgt.Jerry Laurien; firefighter Daniel Rife, and fire inspector Peter Gatke were made possible by a state program enacted to aid local governments address unfunded retirement obligations.The program was a one-time offer by the state and had to be accepted by June 30. "I'm convinced what we're paying out is significantly less than it would have been if the city would have had to fund these pensions," Wiggins said."The savings to the city will be approximately $90,000." With insurance included, the savings could be as much as $100,000 in the current fiscal year, he said.
Kintzel 50th
William LeRoy and Margaret Ann Kintzel celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary Nov. 28, 2007.
Patty Louise Jones Deaton
Patty Deaton, 83, died suddenly and peacefully in her sleep early Nov. 2, 2012.
Manwring 50th
Frank N. and Mary H. Manwaring, 921 Chapman Lake Drive, Warsaw, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary Aug. 14, 2010.
Waste District Board Hears Update From State Rep. Wolkins
State Rep.Dave Wolkins spoke briefly about upcoming legislative topics at the Kosciusko County Solid Waste District joint city advisory committee and board meeting Wednesday. In the last year, the Indiana Legislature passed a bill that basically let a mobile home owner not pay property taxes on the mobile home up to $12,500.It cost the state $200 million, Wolkins said. Wolkins said property reassessment will have to be addressed because a tax court judge said it is time for the Legislature "to do something about it."He said he expects changes in the reassessment to cause taxes on private property to go up but taxes for businesses to go down. "We will be spending a lot of time on that issue," Wolkins said. All-day kindergarten will be back before the Legislature, he said.He said they are thinking of making educational money available, probably in the form of a grant, for those communities who want all-day kindergarten.
Forest Park Residents Express Annexation Concerns
SYRACUSE - The June meeting of the Syracuse Town Council began with residents of the Forest Park subdivision coming before council to discuss the question of annexation.
Warsaw Finalizes Financing Of City's New Fire Truck
Bids to finance the Pierce aerial fire truck for the Warsaw Fire Department and three dump trucks for the street department were opened Friday by the Warsaw Board of Works. Purchase of the $756,832 vehicle from Midwest Fire and Safety Equipment Co.was approved in August. Public Finance was awarded the fire truck financing with five-year interest rates of 3.14 percent, seven-year interest rates at 3.99 percent and 10-year rates at 4.14 percent to finance $283,000.Other companies submitting rate fees were Mutual Federal Savings Bank, Cal First, Republic First National and Lake City Bank. The bid award to finance the dump trucks was tabled. Human resources manager Jennifer Whitaker presented a schedule to hire a new police officer to replace police officers Larry Engle, who has indicated he will retire from the department this month or in May, and Doug Brumfield, who plans to retire in November.
Wawasee Boys Surprise Columbia City
SYRACUSE - Pop quiz time. Judging by the effort and the outcome of a 48-45 game between Columbia City and Wawasee Tuesday night, which team entered as a 15-4 team and which team was at 4-14? Okay, so it may be a trick question. It was the now 5-14 Wawasee team that outworked and ultimately outscored the 15-5 Eagles' team en route to the biggest win of the season for the Warriors and maybe the biggest win in two seasons under coach Jerry Davis. "Wawasee's kids played hungry," Columbia City coach Chris Benedict said."Wawasee wanted the game.They were more determined through the course of it." Entering this game, it was Columbia City that has been enjoying a rejuvenation this season, and Wawasee that has continued to struggle after a 7-14 campaign last year. But you couldn't tell on this night.This one game, the Warriors put everything together, while the Eagles played basically one quarter.
Airport Signs VOIP Plan
The municipal airport is the first City of Warsaw department to sign a contract with Broadvoice for a Voice Over Internet Protocol phone plan, with other departments expected to make the switch as their contracts with current providers expire and they are connected to the Warsaw Fiber network.
Warsaw Sewer Rates May Be On The Rise
Warsaw is about to increase sewer rates by 14 percent, from $24.50 to $28 per month, for residential customers.If approved, the hike would be effective Jan.1. City councilmen reviewed the proposed flat rate increases for single family homes, duplexes, apartments, condominiums and mobile homes Monday.Todd Samuelson of Umbaugh and Associates, Plymouth, said the monies coming to the municipality now are in "a lower than desirable position." Although the rates were increased by 69 percent Jan.1, 2002, from $14.50 to $24.50, there has been a shortfall, Samuelson said Monday. In those two years, operating costs have been $3.4 million per year for two plants; the debt service (payments on bonds) is $1.9 million; and monies have been set aside for capital improvements.
EDIT Explained
The latest proposal for an Economic Development Income Tax comes to a head this Saturday. To make sure its members understand how the tax works, the Builders Association of Kosciusko and Fulton County gathered Monday to hear the specifics of how EDIT is collected, distributed and spent.Providing those specifics were attorneys Richard Hill and Randolph Rompola of the Baker & Daniels law firm in South Bend, both of whom specialize in tax and municipal financing law. "The legislative theory behind EDIT is that governmental units can fund infrastructure improvement projects with a source of revenue other than a reliance on property taxes," Hill said. The tax was devised in the early 1980s to give county and municipal governments greater flexibility to address infrastructure needs that foster economic development, Rompola said.
Charles E. Stephenson
Charles E. Stephenson, 90, formerly of Lagro, died July 8, 2007, at Grace Village Retirement Community, Winona Lake.
