Discussion of the proposed dissolution of the business personal property tax came up several times at the Kosciusko County Redevelopment Commission meeting Thursday.

George Roberston, president of Kosciusko County Development Commission, mentioned it during his address to KCRC noting, “There’s yet to be an amendment written for revenue replacement.” He also mentioned a proposed legislation that would allow counties to choose whether or not to do away with the business personal property tax. “This would be begging for wars between neighbors.”

But Robertson also brought some good news to the meeting.

“We’ve started off the year well,” he said. He mentioned the recent acquisition of Contech Casting, an aluminum die casting and part machining company, by Ohio company Shiloh Industries.

“Automotive industry moving to aluminum from steel,” said Robertson. “If you have an aluminum caster in town, that’s good news.”

Robertson said there would be an announcement of another expansion later this month. Four more projects are “in the pipeline,” according to Robertson.

Robertson also reported on some TIF legislation reform that’s in the works this year. Among the changes in legislation is allowing TIF funds to be used to update fiber or broadband, one voting of a TIF district must be a school board member and TIF budgets must be approved after a public hearing.

Dan Richard of the Kosciusko County Area Planning Commission offered an update on the Western Corridor Plan, an economical development plan for the northwest part of Warsaw, north and south of U.S. 30.

“The original plan goes back to the 80s,” said Richard. It eventually became the site of the local Ivy Tech campus and a few industrial complexes.

Richard reported that more sewer and water infrastructure needs to be done, and the proposed Conexus Indiana plans for U.S. 30 and CR 17 would help with the addition. “We have done a lot of promotion, but we’ve set the table,” said Richard.

Finally, the commission threw around some ideas of how to use funds collected from the TIF district around Leesburg. The TIF is set to expire and 2016 and is expected to bring in $160,000.

Commissioner Henry DeJulia proposed establishing a loan fund. “One of the things we really don’t have in this county is a very good revolving loan fun,” he said.
Commissioner Larry Teghtmeyer proposed using the money to do road work in the TIF area. Ultimately, the commission decided to table the matter until next month.