At the Kosciusko County Redevelopment Commission meeting on Thursday, March 10, are from left: Commission Member Dan Thystrup, Secretary Doug Hanes, President Joni Truex, Vice President Jan Orban, Member Mike Metzger and Non-voting Member Jeremy Mullins. InkFreeNews photo by Leah Sander.

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — The Kosciusko County Redevelopment Commission has hired its own attorney.

At its meeting on Thursday, March 10, at the Kosciusko County Courthouse, the commission approved hiring Adam Turner of Turner Valentine.

At its last meeting in January, Commission President Joni Truex made the suggestion to hire an attorney, which the rest of the board agreed with.

Truex had Turner in mind for the role originally but did chat with some other attorneys.

“I did do my due diligence and talk to other attorneys in our area and came back with basically glowing recommendations for Adam and his knowledge of this area and his knowledge of both city and county government, which is very important, and did not find anyone (else) that felt compelled or qualified to submit … a letter of retainment,” she said.

The commission agreed to Turner’s retainment fee of $2,000, which covers regular meetings for the rest of the year. He is to paid on an hourly basis of $200 for any special meetings that come up, which Truex noted “is less than his regular fee.”

Turner will be paid with money from the county’s Tax Increment Financing (TIF) districts.

Commission funds

That discussion on the funds also tied in with how to pay for services that Baker Tilly government financial consultants had provided for the commission. Baker Tilly recently charged the commission $4,250 for services.

The commission opted to also pay for the services with TIF money.

To pay Turner and Baker Tilly, the commission must ask for an appropriation from the Kosciusko County Council. The commission opted to seek more than the $6,250 total for the bills to cover possible extra expenses.

The commission agreed to ask for $12,500.

In other business, the commission:

• Heard an update on the county’s comprehensive plan, Forward Kosciusko County, from Project Manager Katie Clark of Taylor Siefker Williams Design Group. People can learn more about the project, which is meant to plan for the county’s future, by visiting forwardkosciusko.com.
• Were introduced to the county’s new Community Coordinator Amy Roe. Her position was created via the county receiving a Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs’ (OCRA) Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program (HELP) grant. Roe’s job is to help the county and its towns and cities improve using American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and other monetary sources.
• Completed its annual review of two of the county’s TIF districts: US 30 West and Louis Dreyfus.
• Saw  Kosciusko County Auditor Michelle Puckett swear in Commission Member Mike Metzger.

The commission’s next meeting is 1:30 p.m. Thursday, May 12, at the Kosciusko County Courthouse’s Old Courtroom.