City attorney Scott Reust, left, and Warsaw Mayor Jeff Grose, right, listen during a presentation at Monday’s Warsaw Common Council meeting. Photo by David Slone, Times-Union.

By David Slone
Times-Union

WARSAW — For the Warsaw Public Works building project, the Common Council on Monday, March 3, held a public hearing for two reasons. Randy Rompola, bond counsel from Barnes & Thornburg LLP, explained, “Tonight, the public hearing is actually for two purposes: One, it’s a public hearing on the additional appropriation … it’s also a public hearing on the lease for the project financing.”

Back on Feb. 3, the council adopted a resolution allowing the Warsaw Redevelopment Commission to go ahead with the approval process for the financing of the project. The commission held public hearings on Feb. 18 and on Monday, and on Monday adopted two resolutions.

One resolution closed out the public hearings and made a preliminary determination to enter into the lease with the Warsaw Redevelopment Authority that will provide the mechanism for the project’s financing. The redevelopment authority also met Monday and adopted its own resolution, agreeing to enter into that lease as well and authorizing the issuance of bonds, subject to the city council’s approval of the lease and adoption of the resolution Monday night.

The city is using lease financing for the building project because of the scope and size of it.

The project’s cost is not to exceed $14.5 million, though it’s projected to come in somewhere around $13 million. The maximum lease rental is $1.3 million, with a maximum term of 20 years. The bonds are expected to be sold in late May and close in early June.

When the hearing was opened up to the public, the sole person who said anything was Nate Callithen, who said he was in support of the project. The resolution approving a lease between the redevelopment authority and commission, and taking other related actions, was unanimously approved by the council.

In other business, the council:

• Approved resolution 2025-03-01 reducing the 2025 budget for a total of $402,625. Of the total, $224,585 came from the general fund; $52,000, parks and recreation; $35,000, aviation; $16,040, cemetery; and $75,000, fire territory operating fund.

Clerk-Treasurer Lynne Christiansen said most of the reductions are from health insurance.

Mayor Jeff Grose said last year they presented to the council a 12% increase for 2025 health insurance to protect the city in case costs went up high. The city has always budgeted on the high side for medical coverage increases. The numbers came in from the medical trust much lower than anticipated, so department heads were asked to provide budget cuts of 10% from the health insurance line item.

• Approved, on first reading, an ordinance amending the city’s municipal codes in regards to its utilities, as presented by Utility Superintendent Brian Davison. The second reading will be at the council’s March 18 meeting at 7 p.m.

• Acknowledged six city employees’ conflict of interest statements. The employees public works superintendent; Brent Fifer, firefighter; Justin Miller, firefighter; Brandon Schmitt, firefighter; Tony Shilling, firefighter; and Morgan Woodcock, payroll clerk.