Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Kosciusko County Redevelopment Commission discussed the first meeting of their Redevelopment Task Force Tuesday.
The Redevelopment Task Force began the process of looking into the 26 tax increment finance (TIF) areas to start reevaluating how they are currently structured.
Doug Hanes, Kosciusko Redevelopment Commission president, reminded the task force as they reevaluate TIF areas that there are additional funds available for areas bordering U.S. 30.
The task force met with Dawn Wilkinson, Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation director of projects and operations, who will be assisting with the task force to share her knowledge and ensure KEDCO’s goals and initiatives match the county’s.
It was also decided during the meeting Wilkinson will reach out to Louis Dreyfus to discuss their role in upcoming initiatives in Claypool.
In other business:
• The VanBuren-Maple Leaf TIF fund is sunsetting and will expire at the end of 2026. County Auditor Alyssa Schmucker assured the board they do not need to have sunsetting details figured out until the end of the year.
• The Etna Green Residential Economic Development project versus Syracuse’s South Shore Residences project were compared.
Both currently have $0 allocated. However, Etna Green had a project fall through and has not looked for another project to take its place, and Syracuse is actively seeking out a corporate partner for their project and taking steps in the right direction.
• Brad Johnson, Warsaw School Board representative and non-voting member, recently went through a change to his position at work and will be out of state for extended periods of time.
He will attempt to come in-person when he is in town and connect virtually when able. If he is unable to make at least half of regularly scheduled meetings, the board will discuss replacing him with another school board member.
However, Johnson has been an active member, and they would like to avoid his removal if possible.
