Kosciusko Community YMCA CEO Jim Swanson speaks before the Kosciusko County American Rescue Plan Act Committee on Wednesday, March 8, in the Kosciusko County Courthouse’s Old Courtroom. InkFreeNews photo by Leah Sander.

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — The former Madison Elementary School gym should become a Kosciusko Community YMCA property soon.

That topic came up during the Kosciusko County American Rescue Plan Act Plan Committee’s meeting on Wednesday, March 8.

Kosciusko Community YMCA CEO Jim Swanson appeared before the committee to ask for $280,000 to redo the gym as a recreation center.

“We’re coming, asking for assistance to help with our partnership in redeveloping and remodeling the old Madison Elementary School,” he said. “We think it’s a unique opportunity to reach an underserved population in downtown Warsaw.”

Swanson noted there were “very few fitness facilities, very few health and wellness opportunities for businesses, families, residents in that area.”

“So it’s about a $1.7 million renovation project,” added Swanson. “We are nearing a closing date on the property … So our ask is just a partnership with us.”

The specific funds requested would be for “some of the amenities … new equipment, turf and obviously a security system to put in place for 24/7 access,” said Swanson.

He said the facility would also allow for outreach into other communities like Mentone and Silver Lake as not many people from those areas use YMCA facilities currently, and people only want to travel approximately nine minutes to use something.

“My only concern is the transfer has not yet happened,” said ARPA Committee Member and Kosciusko County Councilwoman Sue Ann Mitchell.

Fellow ARPA Committee Member Mike Long, who is also the Kosciusko County Council president, agreed, so the two tabled the request until its next meeting set for Wednesday, May 10.

The third ARPA Committee Member Cary Groninger, also a Kosciusko County commissioner, had to abstain from voting as he owns the gym and is thus selling it to the YMCA.

The gym is by Gateway Grove, a housing community at the former Madison Elementary School and Gateway Educational Center that Groninger’s company, the Groninger Group, developed.

In other business, the committee:

• Approved $252,800 of an original $650,000 request brought by North Webster Community Center Executive Director Emily Worrell. Those funds will pay for items including repairing the center’s roof and new windows. Mitchell abstained from voting as she serves on the center’s board.
• Approved a $5,836 request for a metal detector out at Kosciusko County Work Release.
• Approved a $86,322 request for body camera equipment for the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office.
• Approved $44,000 out of an original $163,000 request brought by The Beaman Home Executive Director Renea Salyer. The funds will pay for security cameras, new doors and electrical items at the home’s charity store Mary Ann’s Place.
• Tabled a $202,213 request brought by Combined Community Services’ Executive Director Randy Polston for a garage to store the organization’s vehicles and donations. The committee asked Polston to pare down his request before it makes a decision.
• Denied a $19,713.75 request from Randall Byrer for pagers for the Etna Township Fire Department in part because the K21 Health Foundation has pledged to purchase them for the department.
• Tabled a $118,797 request from Kosciusko Community Senior Services Executive Director David Neff to buy a bus as it wants him to seek out other funding first.
• Approved $32,000 for radios for the Milford Fire Department.
• Approved $23,898 for gutters and ceiling insulation for the Animal Welfare League of Kosciusko County’s cat house and paving for the league’s parking area.
• Approved $10,952 for radios for the Warsaw Police Department.
• Approved $19,100 for Court Appointed Special Advocates of Kosciusko County. The group will use the money for items including fingerprinting its staff and volunteers and new training manuals for volunteers.

All funds approved Wednesday must also be approved by the county council and commissioners before they can be spent.

The committee also agreed to make its next meeting on May 10 the last time nonprofits can request ARPA money from the county. Per ARPA rules, all funds must be earmarked by 2024.

That May 10 meeting begins at 1 p.m. in the Kosciusko County Courthouse’s Old Courtroom.