Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Aerial photographs taken in the spring were shot with the latest in technology. Images are so sharp, the label on the insulation is almost legible on a building pictured under construction.
Warsaw city planner Jeff Noffsinger presented examples of the clearer images at the Warsaw city council meeting Monday. The global information system is part of the countywide GIS program. The county is paying $575,000 to have Kosciusko County mapped in the same manner. The city paid $12,500 for a part-time GIS coordinator salary to be part of the program.
Later in the evening the council approved a $30,000 salary ordinance to pay the coordinator full-time and to purchase GIS software licensing.
Noffsinger also presented the grass and weed enforcement schedule listing 27 cases of violations.
The report shows nine property owners complied with the code by mowing the grass and eight were mowed by a contractor. There are 10 open cases. Mayor Ernie Wiggins said weed/grass violations have moved from the police department to the building department.
Noffsinger said the majority of the cases come in through complaints from neighbors, and violators are notified with both a green tag placed at the property and a certified letter. Property owners have 10 days to comply and 30 days to pay the hired contractor, if necessary. Various owners have been invoiced a total of $1,000.
In other business, the board:
• Reviewed a "final" 2002 Census count issued by state auditor Connie Nass, showing a population of 12,415 in the city, an increase of 13.19 percent in 10 years.
The total for the county was given as 74,057 an increase of 13.4 percent.
• Approved continued tax abatements for Little Crow Milling Co. Inc., Warsaw Engineering and Fabricating - J & D Enterprises, Instrumed Technologies Inc. and Buhrt Engineering.
• The council signed several ordinances, suspending all rules and passing them on first reading.
The ordinances were:
¥ In the cumulative capital development fund, $5,000 from professional services to repair maintenance to begin a new city grid map of the storm, sewer and combination drains. The map is necessary to be in compliance with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System and the Storm Water Phase II Program.
¥ From the street department's salaries and wages account to the unemployment account, $4,600 to pay for a former employee's unemployment benefits. Unlike businesses that contribute to unemployment benefits regularly, city governments pays the lump sum on unemployment orders.
¥ From the building and planning department salaries account to the machinery and equipment account in the amount of $7,100 to purchase ArcInfo, a global information system computer application.
¥ A salary ordinance for a full-time GIS coordinator with two-thirds paid by the building and planning department and one-third paid from the sewage department.
¥ Establishment of a petty cash fund and cash change fund.
City council members are Trish Brown, Jeff Grose, George Clemens, Charlie Smith and Bill Rhoades. Joe Thallemer and Jerry Patterson were absent.
