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Area inside of an industrial subdivision on the southeast corner of Deelyn and Executive Drives now will be zoned an economic revitalization area after a Warsaw City Council ruling Tuesday.
Councilmen voted unanimously to approve the zoning resolution and anticipate an ordinance during next month's meeting to decide whether to grant Danco Anodizing a 10-year tax abatement on real and personal property.
Member Joe Thallemer expressed concerns regarding the tax abatement process, and said companies should remain regulated during the tax-reduction process.
"I'm not trying to squelch any application," Thallemer said. "I just want these abatements to be followed through.
"I'm hoping we can close an open end on the tax abatement process," he added. "(Though) I don't have any reason to believe it's being abused."
Thallemer said he did not object to the Danco tax abatement, but wanted to discuss the matter with the council.
Mayor Ernie Wiggins suggested implementing a way for businesses, upon receiving abatements, to make a monetary donation to local public art efforts.
In other matters, Pam Kennedy of Housing Opportunities of Warsaw told the council the organization had partnered with Great Lakes Capitol to construct 26 new units of senior housing in Warsaw.
The council approved a request from HOW to forgive fees for the year to allow the organization to begin construction.
Eighteen units will be located at 200 Gilliam Drive and eight units at the corner of Chinworth Court and Oak Glen Drive.
Kennedy said the area is zoned properly and City Planner Jeremy Skinner had reviewed the construction plans.
The board also approved a finalized Warsaw budget for 2006. A new tax rate of 0.9687 will be implemented, a 3.27 percent increase from last year's rate of .9380.
Wiggins said he was comfortable with the final budget, stating that Warsaw's general fund ($5,265,179) was in "excellent shape compared to other towns."
The budget was first reviewed and approved by the council in July. The finalized budget is now to be turned in to the Department of Local Government Finance by Feb. 27.
"It's a strange way to run a business," Wiggins said.
Present councilmen were Thallemer, Charlie Smith, Jerry Patterson, Bob Morrison, George Clemens and Jeff Grose.
