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An agreement approved by the Warsaw Redevelopment Commission on Monday will allow GAI Consultants to do a preliminary engineering study for a County Farm Road sidewalk extension/trail.
The cost of the contract is $68,500.
In presenting the agreement to the commission, Warsaw Community and Economic Development Director Jeremy Skinner said, “The intent of the contract is to do preliminary engineering and review of County Farm Road, it connects in to Eisenhower (Elementary School) and entries to Park Ridge, Tigers Retreat and then south to along (CR) 200 South.”
The contract’s cost includes GAI looking at the cost, design, red flags, utilities and working with Warsaw Community Schools to include them into the design process.
“The intent would be to create walkability so the kids can walk to the school safely, so they’ll be a part of the process and what that design looks like,” Skinner said.
By the time it’s completed, he said he wants the children to use what they’re building and be safe.
“So this is just kind of a kickoff to the start of that process,” Skinner said.
Funds will come out of the Southern Residential Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District.
Common Councilman Mike Klondaris said it’s in the city’s third district, which is his district. He said it’s a welcome project.
“I do see people walking, even now, without this. I think it’s going to be really nice, not only for the kids but for adults, too, because there’s a lot of homes down there,” Klondaris said.
Skinner said while all people will be able to use, but “I think for the bang for our buck, I want kids to be able to use it as much as possible. So that safety aspect has to be taken into consideration.”
He said he met with Warsaw Community Schools Superintendent Dr. David Hoffert and his colleagues two or three weeks ago to go over the study perimeters.
Klondaris asked if the sidewalk extension/trail would be on the west side of the road. Skinner said yes, but that might be changed.
“Part of the problem is, the west side is somewhat fully developed so whatever we do over there isn’t necessarily going to be torn out. Some of the east side is not developed, so if we were to do something over there, it’s likely to be torn out,” Skinner said.
Ideally, a sidewalk/trail would be developed on both sides of County Farm Road, he said.
There will be a crosswalk to cross the road, but Skinner said it’s location is to be determined.
“Not something that’s going to happen tomorrow, but something that is much needed,” Skinner said of the project, and Klondaris agreed.
Also during the meeting, the Redevelopment Commission approved a resolution regarding the disposition of the Marsh property at 500 S. Buffalo St. The total purchase price is $1,523,500. Warsaw Antique Mall is looking to purchase the building and the bulk of the property for an antique mall, while Ewert Development is looking to purchase an outlot of the property for Scooter’s Coffee, a drive-through coffee chain.
Skinner said the resolution is “setting the stage, creating the offer sheet to create the advertisement or the right to advertise. You still as a board control the disposition of the property, so this doesn’t just dispose to whoever. It’s just the process of the advertisement, the bid offer sheet, it sets the form of the bid offer sheet, it sets the advertisement. Everything still has to come back to you.”
August claims approved by the commission include $234.78 and $164.95 for Indiana American Water; $300 to Kosciusko Development Inc.; $73.79 to the Times-Union; $4,970 to Barnes & Thornburg LLC; $2,829 to Baker Tilly; and $2,490 to DLZ Engineering.
The next meeting for the Redevelopment Commission is 4 p.m. Aug. 18 in the city council chambers at City Hall.
