Plank Presented Plaque

Warsaw Mayor Jeff Plank was low-key and in a good mood Monday as he conducted his last city council meeting.

The highlight of the evening immediately followed the meeting, when mayor-elect Ernie Wiggins presented Plank with a plaque commemorating his years of service to Warsaw, both as mayor and as a city council member before becoming mayor.

The plaque was presented "on behalf of the council and the citizens of Warsaw," Wiggins said, "in recognition and appreciation of 17 years of commitment and outstanding service to his city."

The meeting was attended by former council members Bob Richmond, Bob Gast, Rex Wildman and Jim Osborne, and by Plank's wife, Jo. The public gave Plank a standing ovation when he received the plaque.

Plank attributed his successes as mayor to the city's employees: "When people are willing to work as hard as you have worked and as loyally as you have worked, that is honor enough."

In other business, the council:

• Elected Mac Silveus as council president;

• Tabled discussion of an agreement for treating Winona Lake's sewage;

• Approved a request by Warsaw Animal Control for a replacement vehicle - a used 1996 extended cab pickup. The approval is contingent on the city's being able to lease the truck.

• Approved the city's annexation of Carrington Pointe Mobile Home Park, south of Kmart; and 2.58 acres north of Othy Inc.

• Approved additional appropriations of $75,000 each to the street department's motor vehicle highway fund and local road and street fund. The appropriated monies are paid from the city's share of state road use taxes and not from property taxes.

• Approved additional appropriations for the Warsaw Airport of $200,000. The funds will be appropriated from the state reimbursement for the airport's instrument landing system.

• Approved installation of an additional street light at the entrance of North Pointe Cinemas.