WARSAW — Mayor Joe Thallemer started off the Warsaw Common Council meeting Monday, March 7, by reading a proclamation designating March 2016, as American Red Cross Month.

The proclamation stated “It is a special time to recognize and thank our every day heroes.” Volunteers from The American Red Cross were at the meeting and said they were part of the Disaster Assistance Team. The DAT team responds to fires and other disasters for families to help them rebuild their lives by finding them a place to stay, clothing, get them money for food and to help them find the resources they need to start the process of rebuilding.

Following the recognition of the DAT team, Pam Kennedy, Housing Opportunities of Warsaw, spoke concerning the award of a Community Development Block Grant for the amount of $200,000 to rehabilitate houses. Kennedy said Housing Opportunities is going to concentrate on the East Market Street Corridor, but will be open to all low-income homeowners within city limits.

Kennedy said eight families have been found and went through the “Life Cycles of Home Ownership” program, which lasts about four weeks. The program helps teach homeowners how to save money, how to protect their investment in a house and house maintenance.

Each house can have up to $25,000 put into but Housing Opportunities will match it for costs not covered by the grant. Terms of the grant specify completion of the rehabilitation project to be July 17. The money has to be spent by this time. If not it has to be returned.

The acceptance of the grant was approved with a unanimous vote.

In other business:

• An additional appropriation of $110,00 for the Certified Tech Park plan was tabled until the March 21 meeting.
• A policy on materiality; loss of and/or stealing of cash, equipment or securities of $100 minimum cash and $500 in property was approved and will be submitted to the State Board of Accounts.

The next meeting will be 7 p.m. Monday, March 21.