Terry Sweeney, Main Street Warsaw downtown development director, addresses the Kosciusko County Convention, Recreation and Visitors Commission on Wednesday, March 12.

Text and Photos
By Liz Adkins
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — The Kosciusko County Convention, Recreation and Visitors Commission approved giving Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts in Warsaw over $40,000 for a parking lot repaving project.

Kira Lace Hawkins, Wagon Wheel’s director of education and community engagement, attended the KCCRVC meeting on Wednesday, March 12, alongside Thomas Burnworth, architect and project manager at Milestone Construction.

Hawkins described the center’s parking lot as “deteriorating and extremely dangerous.” She requested $168,000 for the project.

“We care very deeply about the experience that our patrons, both local and traveling, have at our theatre,” said Hawkins. “We don’t want the experience of our incredible professional shows to be marred by unsightly disrepair.”

Burnworth said American Rescue Plan Act funds were recently used to update the center’s entrance. The repaving project has been broken down into three phases.

“The first phase comes up to that front door,” said Burnworth. “It’s critical because it’s the main thoroughfare for cars. That area basically needs milled down, torn out, and redone because it’s in such a deteriorated state. If we can do that part initially, that would get patrons safely to the building.”

Burnworth said with the KCCRVC’s assistance, that phase could be completed prior to the center’s summer performances.

KCCRVC President Mark Skibowski asked if the project would be completely done in 2025. Burnworth said it would depend on funding and Hawkins told the commission she would look into additional funding for the work.

“It goes back to when we changed to a non-profit,” said Hawkins. “When the building was for-profit, (the parking lot) was regularly repaired. Since we’ve turned non-profit, those funds have become much harder to come by.”

The commission approved giving Wagon Wheel $40,750 to cover half of the first phase of the project.

Downtown 2030 – Warsaw

Terry Sweeney, Main Street Warsaw downtown development director, attended the meeting and requested $34,000 to help the organization implement priorities with its 2030 strategic plan.

“We’re looking to become a culturally focused district and become a certified Indiana cultural district, which should help tourism,” said Sweeney. “We’re also trying to create more culturally-focused events that highlight our businesses and the county experience.”

Three new events were unveiled during an MSW 2030 Strategic Plan launch party on Feb. 27. Le Diner En Blanc will take place in June, featuring seven downtown Warsaw restaurants. Duck Cluck and Harvest Festival will take place in September, spotlighting local agricultural businesses. Downtown Fashion Weekend, featuring several boutiques, would take place in October.

Sweeney said the events are tied to overnight hotel packages. He told the commission he was hoping to have enough traction with the events after their inaugural year to not have to make any additional requests to the KCCRVC for funding.

KCCRVC Vice President Lyle Schrock, who serves on MSW’s board, said he was excited about the plan being implemented.

Skibowski expressed concern with KCCRVC awarding the request in its entirety. KCCRVC Member Chris Polk agreed with Skibowski’s statement.

“I think the promotion side of it makes sense,” said Skibowski.

The commission approved giving Sweeney $20,000, with Schrock abstaining from the vote. Half of the funds will be used for marketing and the other half will be used for street anchors.

Grace College Request

Mark Pohl, vice president of enrollment management at Grace College, asked for $92,200 to go toward promotions, tourism incentives and a recreational equipment hub at the Shook Welcome Center, located in Westminster Hall.

Pohl said the recreational hub would be pushed to everyone, not just to current or prospective students.

“We are trying to highlight the opportunities and get them to stay in our community longer,” said Pohl. “Some folks certainly come for three hours, and they only spend time on campus. We really want them in our community because we believe our community has lots to offer.”

Pohl said he was looking at hotel and restaurant gift cards as incentives for campus visitors to check out the community.

The commission approved giving Grace College $10,000 for hotel gift certificates to be used at area hotels.

Local Organizations Approved For Requests

Pictured, from left, are KCCRVC Vice President Lyle Schrock and KCCRVC President Mark Skibowski.

The commission also approved giving funds to three county attractions.

Bob Dailey, president of Dixie Sternwheeler Inc., requested $20,700 for necessary repairs and maintenance to The Dixie Boat in North Webster. Dailey said the boat is 96 years old and that over time, it’s began to “hog,” or bend.

“We want to stop that, there’s no way we can fix it,” said Dailey. “We’ve decided to put trusses on each side to prevent that.”

Dailey said the organization had found someone to do the work at the cost of materials only.

Kevin Harris, Kosciusko County Community Fair Board secretary, requested $28,000 for renovations at the Shrine Building. Harris said the building needs its flooring and ceiling tiles replaced.

“We feel if we can beautify the building more, we could get more rentals in there, which is a mainstay of our income,” said Harris.

He noted the building hosts a lot of weddings, receptions, meetings and other events. Harris also said a lot of work has already been completed at the Shrine Building, but said the board couldn’t move forward with the flooring and ceiling work due to lack of funds.

The commission approved the request with a 3-2 vote, with Schrock and KCCRVC Member Mike Loher voting in opposition.

City-County Athletic Complex Executive Director Mike Hagy asked for $10,440 for eight new portable baseball pitching mounds. Hagy said the CCAC hosts five to six baseball tournaments a summer. He told the commission portable mounds would be more time-efficient and cost-effective.

Syracuse Trail and Signage Proposals

The commission declined funding requests for two Syracuse projects.

Tracey Ford, executive director of Syracuse Wawasee Trails, requested $50,000 to help fund “Wawasee South,” a 2.2-mile trail that would allow for safe passage on SR 13. Ford also said the trail would provide school-to-school connectivity from Wawasee Middle to Wawasee High Schools, as well as to the town of Syracuse.

Ford said the project is in its preliminary engineering and early fundraising stages. Some grants and private donations have been received.

David Wilkinson, Syracuse’s town manager requested $37,900 for way-finding signs on all four sides of town. He said the town’s current signs are old and outdated. The commission declined the request, stating if they did so for Syracuse, other towns in the county may make similar requests.

The commission also:

• Approved three publicity grants totaling $1,500 for Sally Mahnken with Oakwood Foundation Chautauqua Wawasee.
• Approved a $500 publicity grant for Echoes of the Past’s SummerFest tractor show and pull.
• Approved using a maximum of $1,000 for the development of a logo for KCCRVC. Loher will handle finding a designer to present three options to the commission at its next meeting on Wednesday, May 14.