Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins is not seeking another term in office.
During an interview Monday, Wiggins said he feels it is time for some new ideas and leadership in the office. He said he has enjoyed serving as mayor.
Wiggins has served as mayor since March 1, 1997, following the resignation of former Mayor Jeff Plank.
Wiggins served 14 years as mayor, serving out Plank's term and three full terms.
Wiggins will continue to serve as mayor until Dec. 31, 2011, when his term expires.
Wiggins said his plans are to continue to serve as a certified public accountant at his accounting practice, Ramsey & Wiggins Inc., and spend time with his new grandson.
"At some point in time you have to know when it is time to step aside, and frankly with one more year I don't think I want to serve four more years beyond that," Wiggins said. "We live in a great community and I couldn't have asked for a better job."
Wiggins said he hopes to serve the city in some capacity in the future even when he is not mayor.
Filing begins Wednesday for the Warsaw mayor, clerk-treasurer and Warsaw City council seats; Winona Lake clerk-treasurer, and town council seats wards 1-5; and Syracuse town clerk and Syracuse Town Council districts 3, 4 and 5.
The primary is May 3, and the general election is Nov. 8.
Wiggins said he has had a good working relationship serving with city council members over the years.
"Not to say we haven't had some differences of opinions on some things, but we have been able to communicate with each other, and I think the council has been very supportive of initiatives that I have tried to initiate," Wiggins said.
As mayor for the past 14 years, he said he is most proud of when the city conducted the Hyett Palma study.
"We were seeing some deterioration in the downtown with boarded-up buildings, but the study brought some community people together to discuss what our vision of the downtown was," Wiggins said.
He said Warsaw was fortunate the city council supported the Hyett Palma study and the city provided financing for streetscape improvements.
"The study has paid really good dividends for our community," Wiggins said.
He said the construction of the Zimmer Hotel has been another accomplishment.
He said the relocation of the Warsaw Police Department and renovation of the former NIPSCO building was another accomplishment.
As far as economic development, Wiggins said, an accomplishment has been the city working with Medtronic to establish the western 30 industrial corridor.
He said he will miss serving on Indiana Association of Cities and Towns.
"I will miss the camaraderie with the other mayors and, politics aside, we all have the same issues and problems, and I will miss being able to have those conversations," Wiggins said.
Wiggins said whoever is elected mayor will be faced with decisions on the city's approval of acquiring the former National City Bank property.
In 2010, Warsaw City Council approved the city acquiring the former National City Bank property for a new city hall.
Wiggins said even after he is no longer mayor, he will assist the new mayor with plans on the renovation process of the building.
Wiggins said the new mayor will be faced with continued close monitoring of spending.
"All cities and towns will be faced with reduced funding with property tax caps, and hopefully the economy will pick up in the near future," Wiggins said.
He said option income taxes are down so there will be some budget constraints.
"We have weathered taxes probably better than some of the other communities, but obviously there will need to be a tight control on finances and the stewardship of our citizen's tax dollars," Wiggins said.
