WARSAW — Business was kept short at the Warsaw Common Council meeting July 3, with most items carrying little discussion.

Warsaw Parks Superintendent Larry Plummer was present before the council to request a transfer of funds to build new restrooms at Richardson-DuBois Park, Market Street, Warsaw, and to replace weathered safety mats at Kiddieland.

Originally, funds were approved within the park equipment appropriation as part of the Stella and OCRA opportunities that did not happen. Because those opportunities presented short timelines, Plummer initially planned on a prefabricated restroom. With the ability to take some time, Plummer is able to save $50,000 by building the restrooms on site and with proper foundation. Plummer also asked for transfer of funds to replace safety mats at Kiddieland. Council approved a total of $70,000 to be moved from the park equipment appropriation fund to complete the projects.

Further, per council member Diane Quance’s recommendation, the council approved a suspension to the rules to approve a second reading so that the restroom project can get underway.

Mayor Joe Thallemer asked the council to acknowledge and approve that the city will apply for the maximum INDOT Community Crossings matching grant in the amount of $1 million. The money is tied in specific projects, with three projects approved within the Northern TIF District at the July 3 redevelopment meeting. The sources are as follows: $500,000, redevelopment of Northern TIF; $280,000, wheel tax; $160,000, motor vehicle highway fund; and $60,000, local road and street fund. The council approved.

Finishing old business, the council approved the second reading of ordinance 2017-06-02, transferring $100,000 within the Cumulative Capital Development budget for the Eisenhower Basin project. Details were discussed last meeting, June 19.

City planner Jeremy Skinner presented a request to extend the existing Riverfront Development District along Buffalo Street to include property between SR 15 and Center Lake. This expansion would allow the state to issue additional alcoholic beverage permits specifically for restaurants.

The request began months ago and was initially presented to the redevelopment commission that approved the expansion of the Central TIF District. The board approved that expansion of the Riverfront Development District in that area with the approval of resolution 2017-07-02.

In other business:

• The second quarter investment report was approved.
• A request to reduce encumbrances, resolution 2017-07-01, was approved.
• Attendant Gary Parker asked the council to clean up the property at 302 E. Market St., Warsaw.