Traffic Safety Commission Administrator Kip Shuter resigned from the board Wednesday afternoon. Steve Foster was announced as his replacement on the board.
Pictured, from left, are Mayor Joe Thallemer, newly appointed Traffic Commission administrator Steve Foster, former Traffic Commission administrator Kip Shuter and newly appointed Traffic Commission secretary Captain Joel Beam.

WARSAW — Warsaw’s Traffic Safety Commission said so long to its long-time serving administrator Kip Shuter at its last meeting Wednesday afternoon.

Shuter put in his resignation to the Warsaw Police Department and Traffic Safety Commission earlier this year on July 27. He served as an officer for the City of Warsaw for 31 years. During his 31 years of service, he served on the commission for 22 years. Warsaw Police Department’s Captain Joel Beam stated “We appreciate Kip’s service obviously to the police department but to the traffic commission. He’s been instrumental on a lot of ordinances that have involved the public safety and changes to the public safety of the streets to Warsaw over the last couple of decades.”

Shuter served as the board’s administrator for 18 years. He previously served as the Traffic Commissioner for the City of Warsaw. He leaves behind “a big hole to fill,” according to Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer.

Shuter showed a devotion to the traffic force at WPD, being assigned to traffic counts when he first was hired on by former Traffic Commissioner Steve Foster “which helped peaked (Shuter’s) interest in traffic safety.” He will remain in the area and continue his career at his Alma Mater Grace College as the Audio Visual Director. According to Mayor Joe Thallemer, Shuter “is going to leave a big hole to fill.” His last day will be Friday, Sept. 8. Thallemer stated, “We have been blessed with his expertise, his ability to handle difficult situations. Traffic is never easy; Parking is certainly a no win, but we got through that. I’m just thankful for the years he’s given us.”

With the resignation of Shuter, the Traffic Safety Commission elected TSC Secretary Foster as the new administrator. Foster previously served as the Traffic Commissioner prior to the appointment of Shuter, hiring Shuter while he was a student at Grace. He also held the secretary position prior to Shuter’s resignation. Foster “looks forward to (the new appointment).” He will immediately step into the new role.

Captain Joel Beam was elected to fill the newly opened secretary position while Lewis Fuller was selected as to be the second WPD representative.

• Dave Robertson was sworn in to serve on the Traffic Safety Commission as a representative for Warsaw Community Schools.
• The municipal parking lot will undergo rezoning and receive new signs to clarify parking in the lot.
• An inquiry about the stop being turned into a yield at the intersection of Harrison and Dubois was discussed. The board decided no changes would be made.