Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
An ordinance issuing new revenue bonds in the amount of $5.8 million for construction of sewer "interceptor" lines and refinancing of three outstanding revenue bonds was approved Monday during the Warsaw city council meeting.
Rich Hill, of Baker and Daniels, presented the ordinance, saying the 2001 $10 million bond; the 1993 $4.6 million bond; and the 1995 $1.3 million bond will be charged a lower interest rate.
Repayment will come through sewage works revenues.
Clerk-treasurer Elaine Call said she received a Local Government Finance letter (formerly known as the State Board of Accounts) requesting no consideration of additional appropriation requests be made until all budgets are approved and certified.
Budget approval may not be finalized for months.
The state, per ordinance, has 15 days to approve or disapprove such requests.
"I guess we'll go ahead and spend it and worry about it later," Call said.
The council reviewed a letter from Plymouth lawyer Ralph "Rick" Huff, who locked his keys in his car during during a recent visit to the city. A squad car was dispatched and the police officer unlocked Huff's vehicle.
"I know that many police departments no longer do this for a number of reasons," he wrote. "I greatly appreciate the help and the courtesy with which I was treated."
The council also reviewed a letter from Sheriff Aaron Rovenstine, who attended a DARE graduation in the Burket Elementary School organized by Warsaw's DARE officer, Joe Hawn.
The sheriff's DARE officer left the county's service last year, leaving the department without an instructor.
Rovenstine thanked WPD Chief Foster for the "loan" of Hawn.
Councilman Joe Thallemer reminded the board about the public information meeting at 7:30 p.m. today regarding Warsaw's curbside recycling program.
Thallemer headed a committee comprising citizens from each district last year. The members recommended the city establish curbside recycling.
Examples of recyclable materials and a 42-gallon bin will be available at the meeting.
The containers will be distributed to eligible residents the first week of April, with collection set for the second and fourth weeks of each month.
In other business, the board:
• Reviewed the Kosciusko County Communications Center's February report, showing 1,472 calls received, 371 from Warsaw exchanges and 724 from cellular units.
• Approved two tax abatement compliance forms for real property.
The first form was generated by DePuy, 700 Orthopedic Drive. The company is in its sixth year of a 10-year tax abatement for a 17,600-square-foot addition completed in 1989. The addition was assessed at $86,130. DePuy has added 350 jobs, doubling its payroll.
The second form was submitted by J&D Enterprises, 2780 E. Durbin St. The company added a 20,000-square-foot manufacturing building assessed at $81,730. The company added 18 jobs as a result of the addition, which was completed in 1997.
City council members are Jerry Patterson, George Clemens, Charlie Smith, Jeff Grose, Trish Brown and Joe Thallemer. Bill Rhoades was absent.
