WARSAW — It was after 9:30 p.m. Monday evening, Nov. 21, before Warsaw Common Council members reached the third and fourth items on its agenda. The final two agenda items finalized the funding for not-for-profit organizations and transferred funds. A 2 1/2 hour discussion had been held on the issuance of bonds for a third fire station.

See related: Fire Station Bond Issuance On Hold Until Dec. 5.

But even the final portion of the meeting was halted, for approximately five minutes, due to the noise level caused by those who left the meeting following the bond issuance discussion. Many of those individuals spoke among themselves as they left the common council meeting room and in the hallway while the council attempted to continue its meeting.

The result was the majority of not-for-profit organizations funding, despite requested increases, remaining the same as approved in 2016. Several organizations did receive requested increases with one receiving removal of grant funding.

Those receiving the requested increases were Housing Opportunities of Warsaw and Center for Lakes and Streams. The request for $10,000 by the Warsaw Community Development Corp., for alleyway improvement grants was removed. Council members Jerry Frush and Ron Shoemaker noted that money had never been used and there was no need to keep it in the budget. Jeff Grose and Diane Quance were against that move.

Following the final vote amounts approved for not-for-profit organizations were: Animal Welfare League, $19,000 (requested $19,500); Center For Lakes and Streams, $15,000 (up $500); City-County athletic Complex, $31,000 (same as 2016); Housing Opportunities of Warsaw Inc., $25,000 (no funds were used in 2016); city of Warsaw Housing Authority, $30,000 (same as 2016); Kosciusko Area Bus Service, $28,500 (requested $29.055); Kosciusko Community Senior Services, $15,000 (requested $20,000); Kosciusko County Historical Society, $1,000 (made no request in 2016); Kosciusko Economic Development Corp $60,000 (requested $61,000); and Warsaw Community Development Corp., $17,500 (same as 2016) plus $25,000 for facade grants (same as 2016).

Council members also approved contracts with property owners on three parking lots. It was noted the city breaks even on the rental of those lots.

The final order of business for the evening was the approval of transferring a total of $1,400 from the building and planning department’s other services funds to operating and office supplies. Jeremy Skinner, city planner, noted the transfers were to cover shortfalls in those two funds. “We were shorter than expected,” he said.