Warsaw City Council Monday approved a resolution supporting Kosciusko County’s Regional Cities Initiative Partner Engagement.
The city and county will work with Fort Wayne on the initiative.
Kosciusko County Commissioners already approved being part of the initiative, and the county council will review it at its May 14 meeting.
Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer said Governor Mike Pence set fourth the initiative.
“Regionalism is a very important part of economic development that allows for mutually beneficial assets and surrounding areas and counties to work toward the same purpose,” Thallemer said.
Mark Dobson, Kosciusko County Chamber president, said the county leaned toward partering with Fort Wayne instead of South Bend because Fort Wayne is more in line with commuting patterns such as the U.S. 30 upgrade and high-speed rail potential.
The initiative is a tool designed to help strengthen communities by investing in quality of life amenities on a regional basis.
The state has identified the importance of communities collaborating as a region to attract workforce and economic development opportunities.
A task force comprised of leadership from the Kosciusko County Chamber, OrthoWorx, Kosciusko County Community Foundation, county and municipal government leaders and the business community was convened to determine partnership opportunities for the initiative. The consensus of the group was the importance of communicating Kosciusko County’s openness to regional collaborations.
In other business, the council approved a 10-year tax abatement application for Symmetry Medical on real and personal property.
The business is looking to expand its existing manufacturing facility along Ind. 15. This expansion will include approximately $1.2 million in real property at the existing Warsaw facility.
Along with the real property improvements, Symmetry plans on an additional $8.5 million in manufacturing equipment and IT equipment at the Warsaw facility.
These renovations and new equipment will lead to an expected increase in 107 employees, and the retention of 411 employees at Symmetry’s Warsaw facility.
The council also approved:
• A conflict-of-interest disclosure statement for Karen Smith, Warsaw human resources administrative assistant, teaching yoga in the park class.
• An ordinance on second reading for stop signs and no parking zones.
The ordinance includes one-way stop signs at the northeast corner of the intersection of Glad Street and Husky Trail, at the southeast corner of the intersection of Glad Street and Flora Avenue and at the northeast corner of the intersection of Flora and Marion Avenues; two-way stops at the northeast and southwest corners of the intersection of Husky Trail and Mariners Drive; and a no parking zone on the east side of Colfax Street for 120 feet north of Center Street.
Tax Abatement Compliance Review forms were approved for Flexaust Company, Martin’s Super Markets, Whimet Inc. and Iconacy Orthopedic Implants.
An alley vacation request from 1st Source Bank was approved for the alley on the east side of Lake Street south of the railroad tracks.
Thallemer read a proclamation declaring this week as Chamber Week.
(Story By The Times Union)
