LEESBURG — A check presentation, and presentations from Cardinal Services and Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer were part of the fourth quarter general luncheon of the Kosciusko Board of Realtors. The event was held Wednesday, Oct. 18, at Tippecanoe Country Club.

The luncheon included the recognition of real estate agents anniversaries for five, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 40 years. Four realtors were recognized for special milestones.

Joe Todd was recognized for his 50 years as a realtor. He is a past Realtor of the Year, past director and president of KBOR and past director of Indiana Association of Realtors.

KBOR has been honored with four of its members – Niki Pawlicki, Harlan Steffan, Todd and Gloria Jean Williams – being designated as emeritus members to the National Association of Realtors. Mark Skibowski, KBOR president, announced three more individuals now join this group. Jack Albertson, Jim Klotz and Ernie Rogers have now received this designation.

Special Presentations

Mickey Kaufman, executive director of Habitat for Humanity in Kosciusko County, was presented a $4,385 check, raised by KBOR at its 5K Build A Home-Run Oct. 2. This was the third year for the event. Kaufman noted this was the biggest fundraising check Habitat for Humanity has ever received from the longest ongoing fundraiser.

Briefly Kaufman noted there are seven families waiting for homes in the county including a family who lost their home to fire and cannot find housing, due to income limitations. She compared what Habitat For Humanity does for families to that of planting a plant. “A house for a family is like soil to a plant … a plant will not flourish until it goes into the soil, a family will flourish when it has a home.”

Randy Hall, chief executive officer with Cardinal Services, talked about Cardinal’s mission statement to assist and support people in the areas of dignity, growth and opportunity.

Hall provided positive stories of higher self esteem and confidence resulting in persons being able to live on their own for the first time and those getting jobs and earning their own money, things most take for granted.

“Our greatest challenge is we have 220 adults who are asking for reasonable things — to go to church, go shopping, go to the haunted house. Daily we have to tell them we’re sorry we don’t have enough staff,” Hall said. Additionally there is a need for businesses willing to hire clients.

Thallemer focused on the city’s project for critical infrastructure repairs and sewer treatment facility expansion. The project will be in two phases – the relining of pre-1900 sewer lines and then the expansion of the treatment plant.

Thallemer noted the 120 year old lines are are collapsing and causing sinkholes and allowing infiltration of surface water into the wastewater treatment plant. This project is critical, he stated.

The second phase is the expansion of the treatment plant, which is nearing capacity. The expansion should handle potential growth for the next 20 years.

The controversial sewer rate increase was also explained by Thallemer. The proposed rate is changing from a flat rate to a metered rate, based on billed water usage. Depending on individual usage, the increase may be minimal to a 20 percent increase.

Thallemer was asked about the conclusion of the Husky Trail Project and a cut on US 30 at Spring Hill Road to Parkview Hospital. Thallemer responded his estimate is Husky Trail would be open in seven to 10 days. Additionally he noted the city is working with the US 30 coalition regarding traffic problems on US 30.