Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Kosciusko County leaders turned their attention to international affairs earlier this week.
Commissioner Eddie Creighton often gets phone calls requesting this or that, but he's gotten several from a Georgian seeking local support of Poland's inclusion in NATO, an alliance closely associated with the United States.
The unique request comes on the heels of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics when Avondale Estates, a burg near Atlanta, hosted Poland's athletes.
As a result, relations between the community and Poland grew and delegates of the Eastern European country are seeking all the support they can for Poland to become part of NATO.
On behalf of Poland, Avondale Estates is contacting all communities in the United States with any apparent link to Poland and asking for their support.
Of the 34 entities being sought in the United States, interest in this community is obvious since Warsaw takes the same name as the Polish capital and Kosciusko County was named after a Polish general who fought in the American Revolutionary War.
Poland's inclusion into NATO later this year is already expected, and Avondale Estate's efforts are symbolic at best.
"It's purely symbolic, but you know ... the breaking down of the Berlin Wall was purely symbolic, too," said Avondale Estates Mayor Pro-Tem Allan Kirwan.
Regardless, the U.S. ambassador to Poland, Jerzy Kozminski, is expected to receive all of the resolutions when he visits Georgia May 17, Kirwan said.
The request caught local officials off guard.
"It's kind of above our level," Creighton admitted Tuesday during the commissioners meeting.
Kosciusko County and Warsaw might have been christened with Polish titles, but they're not exactly an enclave of Polish residency.
The commissioners on Tuesday appeared to be ready to support the resolution, but were shy about voicing immediate support before learning more about the worldwide impact.
"Politically, I think we're on the right side," Creighton said.
Personnel director Ron Robinson, tongue-in-cheek, suggested a fact-finding mission to Atlanta might be appropriate. A trip to Poland, though, appears out of the question.
But Brad Jackson, the first-year commissioner who's still learning the ropes of county government, said he needed more time to study the international implications.
Warsaw City Council is expected to address the issue Monday during its council meeting.
Representatives of the various communities have been invited to Georgia for the May 17 presentation.
Kirwan said he's gained the support from eight states, 12 cities and about three counties.
Pulaski County has already approved a resolution and expressed an interest in attending the event, Kirwan said.
