By David Slone
Times-Union

WARSAW — South Shore Golf Club closed almost three years ago, but since then developers have been working to give the property new life that will include commercial and recreational uses and housing.

The final steps taken by the county Thursday will put the property in a tax increment finance district that will help the project plans be realized.

Speaking virtually at Thursday night’s Kosciusko County Council meeting, Councilwoman Joni Truex reported that the Kosciusko County Redevelopment Commission approved TIF district confirmatory declaration earlier Thursday for the South Shore redevelopment project.

Jeff Dyson, one of the partners for the project, said, “We’ve been working on the project for a couple years. The TIF project started back in September and we’ve gone through the entire process now. They finalized the vote today, and I guess this is the final step, so with your blessing then the TIF will be approved and we’ll get started.”

The project is taking place where the former South Shore Golf Course was south of Syracuse on Ind. 13.

“My business partner and I purchased the 112 acres and we’re looking to create a master plan community, so we’ll have a combination of residential homes, we have a segment for youth activities through Lakeland Youth Center and others. And then we also have space for commercial development as well,” Dyson said.

The overall plan is to try to bring new businesses and residents into the community by creating the master plan community at the old golf course, he explained to the council.

Kimberly Cates, councilwoman, said it was “pretty impressive.”

Council President Mike Long asked what their plans were regarding the builder/developer because he heard Schrock had pulled out.

Dyson said they have not pulled out. The initial plan was that Schrock would commit to developing 50 acres, but due to timing and inflation and other factors, they scaled back.

“We’re still in communication with them for a smaller portion, but we are currently having conversations — actively, right now, we have at least six or seven other developers that we are talking to and vetting to figure out how we can work together to make this whole thing come together,” he said.

Truex said there’s also potential for multi-family units. Dyson said they’re looking at some apartments, maybe some senior living.

“And, really, the No. 1 obstacle that we’ve had up to this point is that every developer that we’ve spoken to has said that they’re excited about the project, they want to be a part of it, but because of costs — the roads and infrastructure are killing them. They literally can’t break ground unless there’s some assistance. So that’s why we’ve gone through this TIF process now,” Dyson said.

He stated that the developers are excited to be a part of the project now because of the TIF district.

More information on the project can be found at southshorevillage.com.

The county council unanimously voted in support of the project and the TIF district.

Bridge 139 on CR 700E over the Eel River isn’t scheduled to be replaced until 2029, but the planning for the construction has started.

Kosciusko County Highway Department Superintendent Steve Moriarty requested the council approve an additional appropriation of $5,449,000 for it Thursday. Federal funding is paying for 80% of the project, with the county’s portion to be approximately $1.2 million.

Cates asked how the cost is impacted by inflation.

“The state builds in an inflation rate of about, I think it’s 25%, so that just when it gets to that time they’re hoping that’s enough. But we have had other bridges that fell a little short in the federal funding and they have adjusted that for us through the county,” Moriarty said.

Sue Ann Mitchell, councilwoman, said that when Moritary said he has the money for the bridge replacement project, what he means is that he has a plan to acquire the money. He agreed and added that he also has other bridges he has to pay for.

The county is responsible for all bridges within the county, even within city and town limits.

Mitchell then asked Moriarity if he requested the additional appropriation now because he may have some costs that come up related to the project and it’s a “place holder.” He agreed.

“So when I give you our annual budget, we have a spot broken down for some state … so the first one that you’d see would be construction engineer of the bridge, and then there’s other phases spread out through that five to six years. This one is spread out a little longer,” Moriarty said.

The council approved the additional appropriation.

An additional appropriation is pursued when a unit needs to spend more from a fund than the certified budget allows, according to the state’s website. This is not a loan, but a process to justify an increase in expenditures of money a unit already has but that hasn’t previously been appropriated.

Moriarty then presented an additional appropriation request for $1,466,167 for a Community Crossings state grant project. He said they already received the 50/50 portion from the state and the county’s portion is in there as well.

“If you approve this, we’ll move that money so we can start paying bills on this one,” he said.

The project for Old 30 is from Ind. 13 to CR 450E, and the project for Pierceton Road is from the town limits of Winona Lake to the town limits of Pierceton.

The council unanimously approved the additional appropriation.

In other business, the council:

• Approved April encumbrances totaling $355,417.22, as presented by County Auditor Rhonda Helser.
• Approved the purchase of a 2017 Nissan Pathfinder for $24,478 out of the sheriff’s commissary fund, as requested by Sheriff Jim Smith and Lt. Mike Mulligan. The Nissan will be an administrative vehicle to be used for such things as the Jail Chemical Addiction Program. There won’t be any police markings on the vehicle. There’s approximately 54,000 miles on the vehicle.

 

Smith reported there’s a little over $200,000 in the commissary fund.

• Approved an additional appropriation for $20,000, as requested by Emergency Management Agency Director Kip Shuter.

 

“We just received information from the Indiana Department of Homeland Security that we received an … Emergency Management Performance Grant for $20,000. That’s for a mobile dispatch center,” Shuter said.

• Approved an amendment to the salary ordinance as it pertains to the county’s communicable disease clinic at the health pavilion, as requested by Health Department Administrator Bob Weaver. A part-time registered nurse will be paid $22.70 hourly.
• Scheduled budget hearing dates and times as 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 30 and Aug. 31.