Warsaw Mayor Thallemer Explains Repairs On His Street
Warsaw Mayor Thallemer Explains Repairs On His Street
Posted
Mark Howe-mhowe@timesuniononline.com
Warsaw Mayor Thallemer Explains Repairs On His StreetMayor Joe Thallemer spent some time during Tuesday’s Warsaw City Council meeting explaining that recent repairs to the street he resides on were necessary and fairly urgent.
Thallemer, who lives on Bay Drive, said, “It always raises questions when work is done on the mayor’s street.” He said he asks Street Superintendent Jeff Beeler to prioritize other areas of the city, but the pavement on his street had deteriorated beyond the point where repair work wouldn’t be effective, so replacement work was performed.
The mayor asked Beeler to speak on the subject, and he said Thallemer had pretty well covered the subject. He said water, especially in winter, is hard on pavement and that the Bay Drive surface was headed toward “a complete failure. We just couldn’t wait any longer on it.”
In other action, the council approved an adjustment to the 2019 budget regarding funding for not-for-profit organizations. Collectively, the groups had asked for a 22 percent increase over the 2018 budget, an increase council members were uncomfortable with.
A committee chaired by Councilwoman Diane Quance looked at historical percentage of both the council budget and the overall budget. Quance said the committee recommended capping all increases at 15 percent, and the council voted 6-0 to approve.
City Planner Jeremy Skinner told the council a meeting would be at 5:30 p.m. Monday in the council chambers at city hall for residents affected by construction along East Market Street. The second phase of the project, between Bronson and Hickory streets, is beginning this week, but road closures won’t take place until next spring. Residents and business owners will meet with city and project officials to learn more about the project plans and timelines as well as be able to ask questions.
The council moved forward with plans to annex 42 acres near the airport on the city’s north side. The land is owned by Chandler and Erin Williams, who are the publishers of the Times-Union. The land is currently being farmed, but upon annexation would be rezoned residential.
Thallemer said the annexation is part of an effort to have more housing in the price range of first-time buyers. The mayor said several business leaders have told him of the need for housing for employees, and the town is working with developers to ease the situation.
The next Warsaw City Council meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Sept. 18 at city hall, 102 S. Buffalo St.
