Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer reads a proclamation declaring May 4-8 as Chamber of Commerce Week. Shown on the right are Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce staff members. From left, are Mark Dobson. executive director; Alyssa Lowe; Andrea Reed; Jennifer Pyle; Renea Salyer; and Michael Goebel.

A proclamation by Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer declaring the week of May 4-8 as Chamber of Commerce Week opened the Warsaw Common Council meeting Monday evening.

The week draws awareness to the significant efforts the chamber brings to businesses and citizens in providing economic growth to the community. Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce staff members were present to be recognized and accept the proclamation.

On the evening’s agenda were vacating an alley, second reading updating the city code for stop signs and no parking zones, adopting a resolution for Kosciusko County’s Regional Cities Initiative Partner Engagement, reviewing compliance forms and an application for tax abatements.

While action is still needed by the Kosciusko County Council, the city approved aligning with the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership, which is the Fort Wayne area. This partnership is for the Regional Cities Initiative program only. The county commissioners have already approved the partnership.

Thallemer stated the county is between two large cities South Bend and Fort Wayne with residents and businesses attracted to both areas. The county also utilizes assets in both regions and will continue to do so, however the state and the Regional Cities Initiative allows counties to only engage in one Regional Development Authority. These RDA’s are eligible to submit an application for a Regional Cities Initiative grant application. The state has budgeted $84 million to be given to two RDA’s for projects.

Mark Dobson, chamber executive director, noted a lot of factors were considered in the decision and because of the US 30 upgrade and potential high speed rail, the Northeast region was a better fit. It was stated that this agreement is only for the RCI and the county will continue to work with Elkhart County on SR 15 and CR 17 project, as well as MACOG. Dobson noted there will be an insistence to have a representative on the steering committee and have the same amount of influence as Fort Wayne, because of being a resource generating county instead of a county relying on others. He noted should there be an issue he will return to the boards for direction.

Dobson additionally noted that the decision was made by a task force of elected officials, Kosciusko Community Foundation, OrthoWorks, Lake City Bank and others. Data used in the decision: regional engagement surveys, media market information and other information, was included in the resolution.

Approval was given for a tax abatement application for Symmetry Medical/Tecomet for new possible expansion. The proposed expansion is in the hope Tecomet will look to move operations from the two plants its closing to Warsaw. The company is proposing a $1,275,000 real property expansion along with real property improvements adding $8,560,000 in manufacturing equipment and IT equipment. An increase of 107 employees would be seen, along with the retention of 411 employees.

During other business the council:

• Approved annual tax abatement compliance review forms for Flexaust Company Inc., Dalton Foundry, Martin’s Super Markets, Whimet Inc. and Iconacy Orthopedic Implants LLC.
• Conducted a public hearing, with no remonstrance, for the vacation of an alley between two lots recently purchased by 1st Source Bank. The bank has purchased five lots on Lake Street, south of the railroad tracks and Winona Avenue. A new branch is expected to be built at that location.
• Adopted a new ordinance amending and adding to the city code regarding location of stop signs and no parking zones. The ordinance amends or adds locations of stop signs in or near Helser subdivision, adds a no parking zone on the east side of Colfax Street, north of Center Street at Ace Hardware.
• Acknowledged a conflict of interest disclosure filed by Karen Smith, human resources administrative assistant, for instructing yoga classes with the park department.