Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
What is the most pressing need of the residents of Kosciusko County that can serve as a lightning rod for sparking the enthusiasm for the next millennium?
That's the question the Hoosier Millennium Planning Meeting, a group of 30 community leaders, began to answer Wednesday in trying to determine what one project the county can come together on to simultaneously better the community and celebrate our shared Hoosier heritage.
According to Trish Brown, executive director of the Warsaw Community Development Corp. and director of the county millennium project, the plan should be used to mark the new century and culminate in 2016, Indiana's bicentennial.
"We're using the year 2000 as a beginning, a beginning leading up to Indiana's bicentennial celebration in 2016," she said.
The group considered the county's assets - the abundance of lakes, its leadership in the biotechnology and agricultural industries, its central location and easy access to major transportation lines - in determining the nature and scope of its millennium project.
"In considering what the millennium project should be, you'll need to take into account our ethnic heritage and mix, and the religious influence we have in this county," said Allyn Decker, of Lake City Bank, who moderated the meeting.
Those ethnic and religious influences include the strong German culture influence and the impact of a growing Hispanic population. The religious influences are strongly impacted by a conservative Protestant approach and the Evangelical movement as embodied at Grace College.
The possible millennium projects considered include: a plan to provide more affordable housing; a countywide trail system for biking and hiking to link the various communities and lakes; a countywide solid waste program; a county parks system; planning a county sewer system; or a cultural meeting center complex.
The meeting participants will consider the proposed projects over the next week and will meet again on April 13 to select committees to continue the project selection process.
