City Planner Jeremy Skinner presented two resolutions to the Warsaw Redevelopment Commission Monday for the authorization of final disposition of property for two separate projects.
Both were unanimously approved.
The first resolution authorizes Commission President Tim Meyer to deed property in the 800 block of East Center and Market streets to developer Englewood for $1. The property is where Englewood’s planned 72-unit senior housing facility will be built. The resolution approves Skinner and board president Tim Meyer to close on the property.
Commission Vice President Rick Snodgrass said it seemed to him the commission needs some assurance Englewood was going to proceed. Skinner said everything the city agreed on up to now provides for that, but the resolution also spells out the city’s and Englewood’s responsibilities.
“In order for them to get the financing, they need the property on hand to do that,” Skinner said.
The second resolution was similar, but was for the authorization of the disposition of property for $1 to Michael Kinder & Sons Inc. by Meyer for the Buffalo Street mixed-used project at the end of North Buffalo Street.
“By doing this now, we don’t have to do this in three months when they’re ready to move forward,” Skinner said, noting it will speed up the process to dispose of the property when the project is ready to take off.
Another agreement between Buffalo Street project developer Dave Matthews and Kinder is necessary before the disposition of property can take place, as well as between the city and Kinder. Kinder will develop the former Indiana American Water Co. property into a mixed-used building.
The board also approved claims, including $445 to Rockhill Pinnick LLP for work on right-of-way acquisition; $2,372.50 to Troyer Group for on a traffic study on Husky Trail and Parker Street; $743.70 to Barnes & Thornburg LLP for the work on the resolutions for Market and Buffalo streets; $47 to the Times-Union for public meeting advertising; $170.49 to NIPSCO for electrical service for property purchased by Redevelopment on Fort Wayne Street; $3,054.32 to Wessler Engineering for ongoing services related to the sewer piping at Airport Industrial Park; $3,100 to Wessler Engineering for a sanitary sewer master plan; $250 to Huntington National Bank for an annual fee for administering bonds; and $132,305.62 for a pay application to Phend & Brown for CR 350N and Shelden Street work.
Skinner said the 350N and Shelden Street roundabout and improvement project was already delayed last year due to a number of challenges throughout the project, before the coronavirus pandemic, but it will continue to move ahead. It was supposed to have been completed last year, but now it will get done “when it gets done,” Skinner said.
He said he needed to contact Phend & Brown to see when they planned to finish the project.
Finally, Skinner noted the Commission and city council had the annual Tax Increment Finance District report. Prior to June 15, the Commission will have to have a public meeting on the report to conform to state laws, if the state doesn’t postpone the rules due to the pandemic.
“So this is for your review,” Skinner told the board. He told them they could contact him if they had any questions.
Warsaw Community Schools Board President Heather Reichenbach, sitting in on the board for WCS representative Jeremy?Mullins, asked if she and WCS Superintendent Dr. David Hoffert could receive copies of the annual report after it’s corrected. Skinner said he already sent one to Mullins, but will send one to her and Hoffert.
Snodgrass told Skinner he appreciated the work he put into the report. Skinner said it certainly helps him when he looks back on all the projects the Commission has tackled. He said he was excited about what they’ve done and will do in the future.
