Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
The Warsaw Traffic Commission forwarded several changes to the street ordinance during Monday's Warsaw City Council meeting.
Changes include a yield sign placed on the southeast corner of Brubaker and Webber streets, with a stop sign installed on the southwest corner of Brubaker and Simmons streets and a stop sign installed at the southwest corner of Brubaker and Alward streets. The speed limit is to be set at 15 miles per hour on Brubaker.
Also, the traffic commission recommends a stop sign be installed on East Fort Wayne Street at North Park Avenue.
The third request is that Harrison Street have no parking on both sides between Center Street and Dubois Drive. Harrison Street is a snow emergency route and is the main route of travel for emergency vehicles to and from the hospital.
The council approved the changes on first reading. A second reading is set for the June meeting to allow citizens to respond to the recommendations.
A matching grant program for downtown business owners to "spruce up" their buildings was tabled after much discussion. The Facade Improvement Matching Grant Program would offer up to a $5,000 maximum per applicant. Participants would be selected through a review process. For the fiscal year 2003 there is $25,000 available. The incentive was recommended in the HyettPalma Downtown Action Study.
Community Development Coordinator Teresa Ho said several parties were interested in the program, which would require a partnership with the Warsaw Community Development Corp.
Councilman Charlie Smith, who also serves on the WCDC board of directors, reminded everyone the WCDC has a revolving loan program. Funded by local banks and corporations, the loans are for building rehabilitation in the downtown area and are offered at 75 percent of the prime interest rate.
Smith didn't want the revolving loan program not utilized in favor of the grants. The fund has $480,000 available with about $200,000 out in loans now, he said.
He recommended the WCDC's director of the revolving loan fund be included on a grant committee, also consisting of the community development coordinator, a councilman, the WCDC director and an architect or a representative of the design review committee.
Smith also stipulated the business be a member of the WCDC.
Councilman Jeff Grose asked that the paragraph reserving the right to grant additional money to targeted projects be struck. Funds may be awarded as follows: up to $5,000 for facades, storefronts; up to $3,000 for awnings.
Councilman Joe Thallemer recommended the grant money be given when the project is completed and approved. The program indicated 25 percent would be given at the start, 50 percent during and 25 percent at the end of the job. He said if the grant is for matching funds, the business owner should have the ability to pay for half the work at the beginning.
The changes were approved by consensus with the item tabled for changes to be presented at the June 2 meeting.
The council approved annexation of property on the east side of town, about 15 acres, belonging to Richard and Sharon Jaynes, Gary and Marthene Burnau and Jason and Tara Strickler, following presentation of a fiscal plan for the area. The annexation shall take effect July 1 in the absence of remonstrance and appeal.
The area is bounded by Old Road 30 to the south, Pontiac Drive to the north, CR 225E to the west and Cheyenne Drive and Indian Village to the east.
Costs to the city are expected to be $240 annually for trash pickup and a one-time cost of $40,000 for eventual street resurfacing. The city should receive an additional $1,458 in annual tax revenue and an additional $3,086 in motor vehicle highway and local roads and streets funds.
In other business, the council:
• Approved an additional appropriation of $30,000 from the aviation depreciation account to improvements other than building. The money will be used as a local match for construction of an additional hangar taxiway. The Federal Aviation Administration's Airport Improvement Program is expected to provide at least $300,000 for the project.
• Adopted a new set of codes for commercial building and fire codes in accordance with state regulations.
• Heard Insight Communications will increase the cost of basic service to $11.38 with the June 1 billing cycle.
• Heard from fire chief Matt Warren that the water pressure to serve Pike Lake Pointe Apartments, North Park Avenue, is unsatisfactory. Apartment developer Gary Probst also attended the meeting.
Warren said Indiana-American Water Co. representatives were telling the same stories, but the apartments would not be occupied until the water pressure is satisfactory.
Mayor Ernie Wiggins said a water company superintendent is expected to attend the next meeting to discuss several service concerns in the city.
"Until we make a stand, this water company is going to continue to do what they're doing to us," Warren said of the situation.
• Agreed to write the judiciary about raising the fines for running red traffic lights on U.S. 30. Fines may be as high as $500.
Councilman Bill Rhoades noted that Columbia City recently raised its fees to $300 per violation.
"We have to lobby the judges and the prosecutor," Wiggins said. "I encourage you to contact the prosecutor and I will do the same."
The council agreed to write a formal letter to the judges about increasing fees, too.
City council members are Jerry Patterson, Jeff Grose, Charlie Smith, Bill Rhoades, Trish Brown and Joe Thallemer. George Clemens was absent.
