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The regular monthly meeting of the Warsaw Common Council began Monday with the recognition of two long-time volunteers of the Warsaw Community Development Corporation.

Mark Dobson, executive director of the Warsaw/Kosciusko County Chamber of Commerce, presented plaques to Jean Ann Dennie and Stephanie Salyer for their years of volunteerism and dedication to the WCDC and the Warsaw community.

“These are two of the most fabulous volunteers WCDC had,” Dobson said in recognizing the women. “Without Jean Ann and Stephanie things would not have happened in this community.”

In another WCDC matter, the council approved a revised Facade Improvement Matching Grant program as presented by Dobson. Having used verbiage from a similar program in Goshen, the Warsaw program now includes a stipulation that only one grant is available per address in a one-year period and only two successive grants will be allowed per address.

Businesses in Warsaw will be allowed to apply for matching grants for the purpose of improving building facades, storefronts, awnings and signs that meet certain requirements. The program allows for up to $5,000 to be awarded.

In other business, the Warsaw+Winona Lake Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan was again on the council’s agenda, but this time it was unanimously approved. In the absence of councilman Jeff Grose, the full council agreed to adopt the master plan and begin moving forward with the development of what is expected to be 87 miles of bicycle/pedestrian paths.

With little discussion, the council accepted the final plan to which Mayor Joe Thallemer noted, “Now the work begins.” The vote brought a round of applause from several of the committee members who have worked for nearly a year to develop the plan.

The entire council meeting lasted just 25 minutes and also included a presentation by Mike Brubaker, chief of the Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory. Brubaker provided the council with fourth-quarter and year-end reports for the department.

“In 2012 we had 1,521 runs total, 32 mutual aids were given and 49 mutual aids were received,” Brubaker said. “It makes me feel good because it shows the working relationships we have with other departments. We are building relationships.”

The next meeting of the Warsaw Common Council will be at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 18.