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Covering Milford, Syracuse & North Webster, Indiana
Wednesday, January 19, 2022
Trio of Warriors One Nation Under God
Page 7 www.the-papers.com
County narrowly approves $63,000 in additional legal services %\ '$9,' 6/21( 7LPHV 8QLRQ Everything that went before the Kosciusko County Council Thursday, Jan. 13, was unanimously approved, except a transfer for legal services, which was approved by a vote of 4-3. Kosciusko County Administrator Marsha McSherry presented the transfer of $63,000 in the county cumulative capital development fund, which is part of the county commissioners’ budget, from CCD land and improvements to legal services. Councilwoman Kimberly Cates asked if the $63,000 was for county attorney Ed Ormsby’s 2021 bill, and McSherry said that was correct. “And this is in addition to what was budgeted?” Cates asked. “Yes, it was,” McSherry replied. Thursday, Councilwoman Kathy Groninger made a motion to approve the transfer for legal services and Councilman Ernie Wiggins seconded it. Kathy Groninger, Wiggins, Council President Sue Ann Mitchell and Councilman Mike Long voted in favor of it. Council Vice President Joni Truex, Cates and Councilman Jon Garber voted against the transfer. Mitchell said she wanted to “qualify” her vote as she wasn’t
sure the council had a choice on it. “We know that we fixed the problem,” she said. Cates qualified her vote by stating she would have liked to see the bill be specific. Truex said, “And I would also like to say ... the bill only goes through November so I guess you’ll be back” because December 2021 hasn’t been billed yet. McSherry said the bill was through the end of November and she hadn’t received the December bill yet. “And when he came before the council before, he told us he would start billing timely. I don’t think waiting until December is billing timely,” Truex stated. Garber agreed he would have liked to seen some of the expenditures listed because he thought there may be some he didn’t agree with. “Ditto,” Truex said. “We didn’t get billed for January through November until just now,” Truex said. “And, also, there’s some things billed that … aren’t in the area of the commissioners’ responsibility.” After the meeting, Truex said McSherry didn’t receive the legal services bill until Dec. 14 and the auditor received it Dec. 17, which was after the council’s December meeting. In other business, the council Continued on page 2
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Syracuse Council gets through agenda Tuesday in record time %\ /$85(1 =(8*1(5 6WDII :ULWHU Syracuse Town Council completed its agenda for its January meeting in just under 25 minutes Tuesday night. Cindy Kaiser attended the meeting via Facetime while Paul Stoelting was absent. During the meeting, council ),(/' (175$1&( ³ 6KRZQ LV WKH PDLQ HQWUDQFH WR :DUULRU )LHOG ZKHUH IRRWEDOO JDPHV DUH SOD\HG DQG members approved establishing WUDFN PHHWV DUH KHOG DW :DZDVHH +LJK 6FKRRO 3KRWR E\ 7LP $VKOH\ a 25 mile per hour speed limit within the Syracuse Technology Park, located north of town. The council also approved a request from Polywood to have Oak
Baumgartner leading efforts to rename football field in honor of war hero
There have been approximately 100 Medal of Honor winners from the State of Indiana with only 10 being awarded to those serving during World War II. Among them was Harry J. Michael, who grew up west of Milford and is the only Medal of Honor recipient from all wars coming from Kosciusko County. Dave Baumgartner, a Wawasee High School graduate and retired teacher and coach, is at the front of an effort to get Warrior Field, the football venue for WHS, renamed in honor of Michael. He spoke at the most recent Wawasee School Board meeting Jan. 11 and also
addressed the board during its September meeting. Rich Rhodes, a nephew of Michael who lives on the homestead Michael grew up on located on CR 200W, has also spoken to the school board. Before Lt. Michael was killed by a German sniper on his 23rd birthday in 1945 during World War II, he had captured more than 70 Germans, liberated two Americans who had been captured and silenced a row of enemy pillboxes and two machine gun nests in a series of advances. Michael’s platoon, a unit of the 80th Infantry Division, was pushing into a forest to take a ridge. A fellow soldier later said when
the snipers opened fire, Michael deliberately drew fire and located and killed one sniper before the second one killed him. Baumgartner said he has felt for several years something should be done, but life’s responsibilities put it on the back burner. Then a couple years ago he met Rhodes and interviewed him for a virtual Veterans Day program in 2020 for WHS. Baumgartner drove out to Rhodes’ house and was impressed by the large amount of archives on Michael that Rhodes has in a room in an old barn. “That sparked me,” Baumgartner said. “We needed to do someContinued on page 2
%\ &+(/6($ /26 *XHVW :ULWHU Icy roads and sickness kept the meeting short for the Turkey Creek Regional Sewer District. The meeting was held Monday evening, Jan. 17, at the Cromwell office. The board reviewed claims and project updates and wrapped up the meeting in one full hour. Jeff Hersha, Jones and Henry, reported digitally on the progress of the Eastshore, Northshore, and Vawter Park projects.
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Public members may recall the last meeting brought about the suggestion of a final sewer extension in the Vawter Park area. Hersha reported design for that proposal is about 30% complete. His team is also continuing to work with property owners to set stakes to indicate placement of incoming grinder pumps, and estimated about 63% completion. Timothy Woodward, district superintendent, reported two wells were repaired by the company Ortwell, and encouraged the board to approve the pur-
mendation by the Syracuse Redevelopment Commission to approve a contract for $5,500 with Bose McKinney and Evans for legal services regarding residential tax increment finance districts. The funds will come from the town manager’s professional services budget. Town Manager David Wilkinson noted the Harkless Foundation awarded the town a $4,000 grant. Chad Jonsson, park superintendent, reported work is conContinued on page 2
Town council donates to upcoming kids business fair %\ 5$< %$/2*+ 6WDII :ULWHU North Webster Town Council Tuesday, Jan. 18, ended its meeting with an altruistic gesture by donating $250 to the Kids Business Fair to be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 19, at the North Webster Community Center, 301 N. Main St. The annual fair provides an opportunity for youth, grades K-8, to sell products and services in their own business ventures. In other business, Police Chief Greg Church submitted his department’s report for calendar
Construction meeting planned for Turkey Creek Sewer
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Street and Polywood Drive a twoway stop instead of a four-way stop. The company is also willing to purchase solar powered digital speed signs. After discussion the council voted 3 to 1 in favor of Polywood’s request. “That felt good. I don’t think I’ve ever voted against something before,” Councilman Larry Martindale said after the vote. Martindale lives in the neighborhood near Polywood and doesn’t believe the changes will benefit traffic. The council approved a recom-
chase of one backup pump. He also announced the Eastshore Northshore project is officially underway, and shared the board would be part of a construction meeting at 10 a.m. Feb. 10. The board’s short meeting is no indication of the hustle and bustle of all the local projects to add and improve sewers around the lakes. The board will meet again Monday, Feb. 21, to share more updates on construction progress. All monthly meetings are open to the public, and begin at 7 p.m.
Surge In Interest See Page 8 See Public Notices On Page 11
year 2021. During the year, department officers responded to 2,939 calls for service, an average of more just over eight calls per day. During their patrols and responses, department personnel drove 43,179 miles. Church announced his department had two openings for patrol officers and stated the starting salary is $52,000 per year. He said interested prospects can email nwpd@northwebster.org or stop by the police station, located at 144 S. Main St., across from Pilcher’s, during business hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday
through Friday. Jayne Alger, project manager for Inframark Water Infrastructure Operations, gave the monthly report on behalf of the town’s wastewater and street departments. She said her company and the town are trying to remediate operation of some of the wastewater pumps. She also reported one of the department personnel is working on implementing an e-maintenance program that will keep track of infrastructure repairs and maintenance and alert the department when further Continued on page 2