Kosciusko County Surveyor Michael Kissinger addresses the Kosciusko Redevelopment Commission at a meeting Thursday, Sept. 26.

By Madison Hart
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — The Kosciusko Redevelopment Commission has approved initial engineering steps for a significant drainage infrastructure upgrade in Kosciusko County, provided the next elected surveyor agrees to see the project through to completion.

The commission heard Kosciusko County Surveyor Michael Kissinger discuss an Indiana Department of Environmental Management report stating that the town of Claypool was experiencing notable drainage problems. In order to connect the Claypool drain tile to the county tile, the tile would have to be replaced due to mismatched size. The project could also benefit the local railroad drainage and provide Louis Dreyfus Co. opportunities to expand.

Kissinger estimated that, should funding become available, work on surveying and engineering could start immediately, with the goal of completion in six months. However, he noted that his term as county surveyor ends in three months, so he recommended confirming the plan with the next surveyor. The commission approved a motion to move forward with next engineering steps of the $176,000 tax incremental financing drainage project, contingent on confirmation the next surveyor will see the project to completion. Kissinger was tasked with getting his successor up to date on the project. Although the new county tile will reach Claypool, it was noted that the town of Claypool will be responsible for significant additional expenses to complete its infrastructure updates.

TIF budget requirements were the topic of another discussion as Andy Mouser, a director with Baker Tilly Municipal Advisors LLC in Indianapolis, provided three options for TIF-compliant budget templates. The commission approved a motion to use the one-page budget sheet provided by Baker Tilly.

Another primary agenda item for the commission was the CR 1300N development. Crystal Welsh presented a draft of the findings of the “1300N Corridor Study,” which evaluated infrastructure possibilities between Syracuse and Milford. This study, conducted with input from the steering committee, focused on the feasibility of a new overpass and the potential for business and residential development in the area. Welsh noted that the small survey size led to some inaccuracies in the sampling, prompting the committee to seek further feedback from local real estate agents and schools. The steering committee is reviewing 168 acres for future development. Welsh emphasized that the study is just to provide information about what’s possible; it would not take away private land ownership rights. Kosciusko County Administrator Marsha McSherry was tasked with sending the draft of the study to the county commissioner, whose feedback will determine if the steering committee will move forward with sharing the draft at a public meeting in order to get community feedback.

In other business, KEDCo updates were provided by Peggy Friday, who reported on the progress of a redevelopment initiative. Although information regarding the project is currently protected under a nondisclosure agreement, Friday stated she hoped to present an revised incentive package that would secure the development of the site. Friday also stated KEDCo intends to ask all Kosciusko towns what they need, create a database of available sites and create a task force to help meet the needs of the towns.

The next Kosciusko Redevelopment Commission meeting will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14, in the Old Courtroom of the Kosciusko County Courthouse, 121 N. Lake St. Warsaw.