WARSAW — A GOP candidate forum at the Warsaw Community Public Library Saturday afternoon touched on many topics, including whether the two candidates for Kosciusko County Commissioners support the proposed city-county parking garage.

Incumbent county commissioner Bob Conley and his primary opponent, Don Wiesehan,  were both asked to address the issue.

The county, which would operate the parking garage south of the courthouse, has already acquired land for the project and is working with the city of Warsaw on the joint venture.

Numerous city and county officials have expressed support for the parking garage, but ultimately, the decision is in the hands of the county commissioners.

Conley said the county and the downtown are facing parking challenges, but sounded noncommittal.

He stressed that no decision has been made, and if it is found to be necessary and feasible, he believes the commissioners will support it.

The project would rely in part on $5 million from the $30 million Orthopedic Industry Retention Initiative, with more support coming from the city and county.

Supporters say the $5 million is a rare chance to support the project that might not otherwise be affordable.

Coney spoke first.

"If it's determined that the parking garage is a feasible answer to that ... I'm sure we would all — especially the commissioners — would take a long, hard look at that and make a determination based on what is best for the economy and the downtown area," Conley said.

Wiesehan said parking garages tend to require a lot of maintenance and upkeep, and he said the county needs to focus on adequately maintaining what they already have.

He said he thinks the county needs to first focus on maintaining its existing properties before looking at other projects.

He said he thinks parking garages often require significant maintenance and upkeep.

Weisehan said it comes down to fiscal responsibility.

"I am not, right now, for a parking garage," he said.

Both men also addressed an issue at a recent GOP fish fry in which supporters for Wiesehan claimed Conley had declined to serve those wearing Wiesehan shirts. 

Conley said he walked around at the event ready to provide more fish to those who were seated, but that Wiesehan's supporters did not reach out to him. He said it was a matter of people just raising their hands to alert him.

"They wanted fish, and all they had to do was state so. They never did," Conley said.

"My opponent was there for two hours, at six o'clock, the crowd thinned out. They weren't coming in the door (and) he quit," Conley said.

Wiesehan then disputed that last claim.

The annual fish fry continued until 7 p.m.

At some point, Wiesehan said he began talking to guests instead of serving fish. He said it's hard to shake hands when you're wearing big, heavy fish fry gloves.

"I was there the whole time, Bob, and I don't appreciate you saying I wasn't," Wiesehan said. "Was I serving fish the entire time? No, I was not."

About ten candidates participated in the two-hour event hosted by the Republican Women's Club.

Numerous questions focused on the state legislature’s attempts to provide property tax reform.

Lawmakers passed significant changes two years ago and then adjusted them again this year. 

Several county officials said they expect more changes next year as local taxing units struggle with the notion of reduced revenues needed to cover services.

County Councilman Dave Wolkins said the problem does not involve the legislature, but rather local boards that keep proposing new spending measures.

He lays the blame on local leaders.

“It's our local boards, it's our Kosciusko County Council, it's your city council, it's your library. We have a hard time saying no,” Wolkins said.

“We've got lots of requests coming in (and) The first question that's always asked is do we have the money, and yes we do … so it's very difficult for us to say no,” he said.

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