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Although Warsaw doesn't own the property yet, $500,000 is being gathered to clean up the Gatke property north of Winona Avenue.
Warsaw city planner Jeff Noffsinger updated redevelopment commission members Jerry Kralis, Charlie Smith and Bob Steele Monday regarding grant approval and loan applications to clean up the site.
An Indiana Department of Commerce Community Development Block Grant of $300,000 for brownfield remediation was awarded earlier this month.
Warsaw is applying for a 2-1/2 percent Indiana Development Finance Authority Brownfield Remediation Loan of $175,000 and the city has pledged $25,000 if the loan is approved.
The city has conducted preliminary environmental studies.
In September, Kosciusko County Administrator Ron Robinson was instructed to contact the city about the county's intention to relinquish the property. More than $300,000 in delinquent taxes is due.
Noffsinger said the loan can be repaid by establishing the site as a tax increment financing district, which could be done at the April meeting. Demolition of several buildings could begin as early as this fall with infrastructure improvements completed in spring 2003.
Although there is some asbestos in the form of pipe insulation and floor tile to be removed, the major cleanup task will be the removal of a tank containing phenolic resin and another holding heating fuel. Tests show neither of these containers have leaked.
The commissioners added another 83.55 acres to the northern economic development area in January. The third addition is south of CR 300N, north of U.S. 30W and the Sofamor Danek facility, with Silveus Crossing running through the middle.
The amended areas involve two tracts. The first is a 81,413-acre parcel owned by Polk & Sons Inc. The second tract is a 2.14-acre area owned by Petro Family LLC.
The Polk tract is agricultural and the area is zoned I-2/light industrial.
Infrastructure costs are given as $100,000 for a water line extension, $175,000 for a sanitary sewer extension and $325,000 for improvements to CR 300N.
This tract joins one of 96.31 acres added in February 2001 north and south of U.S. 30W; one of 85.5 acres added in January 2000, also north and south of U.S. 30W; and the original area of 438 acres created in February 1999, which encompasses land north and south of U.S. 30, from CR 200N to CR 350N and east and west of Ind. 15.
In other business the board set the next meeting at noon March 4 in city hall's council chambers.
Commission members are Jerome Kralis, president; Charlie Smith, vice president; Robert Steele, secretary; and Neal Carlson and Tammy Rockey, who were absent.
