Warsaw Plan Commission Reorganizes For 2023
By David Slone
Times-Union
WARSAW — With no petitions before the Warsaw Plan Commission Monday, Jan. 9, the board met to reorganize for 2023 and welcome a new member.
Renea Salyer has joined the commission, replacing Tom Allen who resigned in December after 15 years. Allen served as president for the last few years.
Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer administered the oaths of office to Salyer and Bob Coffelt. Coffelt’s term was up but he agreed to serve another four years.
“We’re certainly happy to have you both,” Thallemer told them.
Quoting former Mayor Jeff Plank, who was mayor when Thallemer was on the commission, Thallemer said the plan commission is “where the action is.”
With all nine members of the commission in attendance, they elected Rick Keeven as president and Councilwoman Diane Quance as vice president. Keeven had served as vice president previously.
They then approved the 2023 schedule. The plan commission meets at 7 p.m. on the second Monday of the month. For this year, those dates will be Feb. 13, March 13, April 10, May 8, June 12, July 10, Aug. 14, Sept. 11, Oct. 9, Nov. 13 and Dec. 11.
After approving the minutes of the December meeting, the last agenda item was the commission’s board of zoning appeals appointment.
City attorney Scott Reust explained the plan commission is made up of nine members: city engineer Aaron Ott; Councilman Jeff Grose from the board of public works and safety; Councilwoman Diane Quance from the council; Michelle Boxell from the parks board and mayor appointments Keeven, Jim Gast, Dan Stevens, Salyer and Coffelt.
The BZA has five members. One is a mayor’s appointment off the plan commission, which will be Keeven for 2023.
“But the only remaining people that can be chosen then are not from the council, not the engineer. It leaves your choices to be Mr. Gast, Mr. Stevens, Ms. Salyer or Mr. Coffelt. So those are four that are eligible that could be appointed to the BZA as the Plan Commission’s appointment to the BZA,” Reust stated.
Quance nominated Coffelt.
“I believe that he has the background and experience, both with his previous service in another state and his service here on the Commission, to do a good job for us on the BZA,” she said.
Stevens seconded the motion, and with no other nominations made, Coffelt was appointed to the BZA.