Warsaw City Planner Jeremy Skinner, left, and Debra Hughes, senior professional engineer of Marbach Brady and Weaver Inc., review a visual of the annexation.

WARSAW — Tru Hotel by Hilton may be the next hotel in Warsaw. Petitioners of the property started a voluntary annexation process during the Warsaw Common Council meeting last night, June 4.

The property sits south of Center Crest Subdivision on Prosperity Drive. The owners Sam Patel and Anup Jairam also bought an adjacent small lot of land that is not within city limits. In order to replat and develop all of the land for the future hotel, the smaller portion must be annexed into the city.

Debra Hughes, senior professional engineer of Marbach Brady and Weaver Inc., Elkhart, represented the petitioners at last night’s meeting. She presented a visual to council members so they could get an idea of the annexation. According to Hughes, city utilities, sewer and water already exist on the site.

While no action needed to be taken on the annexation at this point, the board welcomed the owners of the new hotel to Warsaw.

“Welcome to Warsaw,” said Council Member Diane Quance. “We are happy to see you.”

According to Hilton’s website, Tru Hotels offer an experience that is “vibrant, affordable and young-at-heart. It’s energetic, yet relaxing and comfortable. It’s familiar, and it’s also unexpected. It’s completely unprecedented, it’s uniquely Tru.” The hotels include a 2,880 square-foot lobby. smaller efficiently designed rooms, a fitness center and more.

The property will go before the Warsaw Plan Commission on June 11, to vacate an easement. The public hearing, fiscal plan and annexation will take place moving forward.

In other news:

• A public hearing was held on the additional appropriations for the Certified Technology Park. No comments were presented. The council approved the $200,000 additional appropriation.
• The council approved the now yearly resolution for the investment of public funds.
• Warsaw Mayor Joseph Thallemer informed the council that Norfolk Southern is running around two weeks ahead of schedule for the railroad project. This means that the second phase of railroad replacement could take place as soon as June 18, in Warsaw. The city plans to keep the public updated as they learn more.
• David Taylor of Lakeland Art Association addressed the council. He stated that while the organization did not have the proper funds to purchase the old city hall building, they would continue to pursue opening a museum in the city.
• The next meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 14.