Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Twelve Republican precinct committeemen will choose between three candidates Thursday when they name a new mayor of Warsaw.
City councilmen James "Mac" Silveus and Ernie Wiggins filed applications for the office shortly after Mayor Jeff Plank announced his intentions on Jan. 17 to leave office. The third candidate, Carl David Saint, filed his application Monday.
The three applicants will meet with the committeemen at 7 p.m. Thursday in the city council chambers. The candidates will speak to the committeemen, then the caucus will vote by secret ballot to choose a new mayor. Kosciusko County Republican chairman Mike Miner may vote in case of a tie.
Wiggins, who has served on the city council since 1984, said Tuesday he thinks the most pressing issue facing Warsaw is maintaining a stable tax base.
"When the city is growing, the cost of running the city increases," he said. "We have to position ourselves to maintain industry and to attract new industry to maintain the tax base."
The tax rate for the city has remained the same for two years because the total assessed valuation for the city has grown.
Wiggins and Silveus agree that a second sewage treatment plant is necessary if Warsaw's growth is to continue.
"We need utilities to attract new business," Silveus said. "Until (the second sewage plant) is in place we're just kind of stalemated as far as growth."
"We've got to have it - we're outgrowing the one we have," Wiggins said. "There will come a time when we'll have to have it, and not too far down the road."
He cautioned that the city administration should be sensitive to sewer users on fixed incomes when deciding how to finance the project.
Silveus, who has been a councilman for 10 years, said he also is interested in the rehabilitation project for downtown Warsaw and for the county courthouse square.
"It's going to continue and I think that's great," he said. "I fully support the entire downtown rehab."
Wiggins said he also thinks the rehab project, especially work on the sewer and utility lines, will benefit the city.
"Its time has come," he said. "What's done underground only benefits the downtown."
Saint could not be reached this week for comment.
Silveus and Wiggins, who have worked together for years on the city council and the city's Board of Public Works, said their immediate priority is a smooth transition between mayors. Both men also said they will have no problems working together after competing for the mayor's office.
"There won't be problems," Silveus said. "We work very well together."
"I can unequivocally say whoever gets in, there will be no problems," Wiggins said.
The position of mayor is considered full-time and, for 1997, will pay $43,300.
