Commissioners Throw Support Behind Syracuse TIF Plan
By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews
WARSAW — Kosciusko County Commissioners have thrown their support behind the creation of a new tax increment financing district near Syracuse.
At their meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 16, the commissioners approved a request brought by Kosciusko Economic Development Corp. CEO Alan Tio.
He asked for $25,000 on behalf of the Kosciusko County Redevelopment Commission “to put toward our efforts to investigate the South Shore Village area … about two miles outside Syracuse for development,” and potentially create a TIF district.
Redevelopment Commission President and County Council Vice President Joni Truex, Redevelopment Commission Vice President Jan Orban and Redevelopment Commission Member Dan Thystrup attended the meeting.
The redevelopment commission heard at its last meeting in July from Jeff Dyson. He and his business partner Nathan Scherer are working through their company South Shore Ventures LLC to develop the former South Shore golf course.
That development could include residential and commercial. The commission supported starting to research creating a TIF district, with the purpose of such a district being to capture new property taxes within the district and use that money to assist with the development.
At its last meeting on Aug. 12, the Kosciusko County Council gave its approval to use the funds for planning for the TIF district pending commissioners’ approval.
Kosciusko County Commissioners’ Vice President Brad Jackson noted that the funds to be used were already “earmarked,” as they would come out of the county’s County Economic Development Income Tax or CEDIT funds.
Jackson did note that the $25,000 seemed somewhat high.
“We don’t actually think that we will need the entire sum,” said Truex. She added that the request was higher than what was anticipated, which is $15,000, just in case expenses come in over that. That would save the commission from having to come before leaders again to ask for more money.
“We won’t use anymore than we have to,” she said.
Commissioners approved the request.
In other business, commissioners:
- Approved three rezoning requests that were previously approved by the Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission at its meeting on Aug. 3. Those are: One from Robert Vaile to rezone 6 acres of property at the corner of CR 875W and CR 200N near Atwood from agricultural to agricultural II; one from Teresa Jackson to rezone 2.81 acres just off of Old SR 30 West a half mile west of CR 875W from residential to agricultural II; and one from Jonathan Knisley to rezone 18.6 acres on the north side of Old SR 30 West about a half mile west of Zimmer Road from industrial II to agricultural.
- Approved a request brought by Kosciusko County Highway Department Superintendent Steve Moriarty to change a three-way stop at CR 300E and CR 1300S on the border with Wabash County to a four-way stop.
- Approved a contract related to work being done on a bridge on Packerton Road just south of Pierceton Road. That’s not to start until 2027.
- Witnessed a scholarship presentation done by the Association of Indiana Counties. The AIC scholarship in partnership with Nationwide Retirement Solutions is given out “annually … to children or grandchildren of county employees,” said AIC General Counsel Ryan Hoff. This year, one was given to Ashley Irwin, daughter of Kosciusko County employee Amy Irwin and Joe Irwin. She’s studying nursing.
- Approved a $123,454 estimate from Miller Sewer and Drain Inc. for the repair of a pipe that collapsed beneath the Kosciusko County Jail kitchen.
- Approved paying the county’s payroll software’s licensing fee for three years at a cost of $25,300. Right Stuff has the software.
The commissioners’ next meeting is 9 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 30, at the Kosciusko County Courthouse’s Old Courtroom.