Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Sibyl Nelson and Andy McCleary from the City-County Athletic Complex appeared before the Warsaw city council Monday to discuss the organization's finances.
Nelson, president of the CCAC board of directors, and McCleary, CCAC director, were asked to present a budget showing income and expenditures, like other organizations receiving money annually from the council.
Referring to graphics and a written summary, Nelson said the main sources of income for CCAC are player fees, weekend tournaments, concessions and advertising fees.
Warsaw Community High School and Grace College also use the facility's soccer fields.
"We've gone from losing significant amounts of money to breaking even," Nelson said.
In 1993, the city made a 10-year commitment to help pay off a construction loan. That pledge ends next year.
Business contributions are funneled through the city for tax-exempt designations, said Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins.
Councilman Charlie Smith described himself as a proponent of the CAC, deliberately dropping a "C" because the county makes no contributions to the facility. He wasn't satisfied with the financial statement provided, however.
"What you have is very nice," he said, "but it is difficult to make a decision as a councilman with these graphs. I was hoping to see the actual budget, and I can't see it from this summary and forecast. At minimum you have the 2001 year end statement showing revenues and expenses."
McCleary said that could be provided.
Smith also wanted to know why the batting cages were closed all summer.
McCleary said they reopened Labor Day.
"When I started in November, the batting cages were in dismal shape, unworkable mechanically and electrically."
He said a local repairman was found to fix them.
Smith also asked about the debt associated with the batting cages, and Nelson said the CCAC owes $240,000 for them and "we haven't done anything with that."
The loan is held by Key Bank. Nelson said the batting cages' revenue was grossly overestimated.
Councilman Joe Thallemer asked if it was the CCAC board's intention to request continued support, because there wasn't enough information provided to make a decision.
In other business, the board:
• Heard from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management that a permit allowing construction of a new well at 200 Hand Ave. has been issued to Indiana-American Water Co.
The well is to have a 16-inch diameter steel casing, be equipped with a submersible pump rated at 700 gallons per minute at 110 feet and an 8-inch diameter ductile iron transmission line.
Affected citizens may contact Patrick Carroll, at IDEM's office of water quality, at 317-308-3362.
• Heard that the statewide Amber Alert program is about to be activated.
The plan is a voluntary partnership between law enforcement and the Indiana Broadcasters Association to activate an urgent bulletin in most serious child abduction cases.
• Heard from the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance regarding the establishment of a cumulative capital development fund in the amount of 5 cents for each $100 of taxable personal and real property and a cumulative firefighting building and equipment fund in the amount of .0333 cents.
Both taxes have been in effect a long time and were adjusted because of the state's reassessment.
• Approved Ordinance 2002-09-02 establishing no-parking zones on both sides of Ranch Road, from Fisher Avenue south to the city limits and on the west side of Hickory Street from Center Street north to Main Street.
• Approved, after cutting $12,000 from the unsafe building fund and $73 from the redevelopment bond and interest fund, the 2003 budget.
• Transferred $25,000 from utilities at the police department to repairs and maintenance so the storage garage roof at the police campus can be repaired; transferred $800 from the park department's unemployment fund to office supplies.
• Reviewed an ordinance establishing the salaries of elected officials, showing a 3 percent increase. The ordinance has not been advertised. Salary levels for 2003 are proposed to be: $53,508 for the mayor; $45,240 for the clerk-treasurer; and $4,640 for each member of the town council.
• Approved purchase of 3,550 square feet of property near Smith Tire on Detroit Street for installation of a lift station at a cost of $7,100.
• Heard the closing for the Indiana Development Finance Authority Brownfield Remediation Loan would be today. The money will go toward remediation of the Gatke property.
Council members are Jerry Patterson, Bill Rhoades, George Clemens, Jeff Grose, Joe Thallemer and Trish Brown.
