North Webster Clerk-Treasurer Leigh Ann Jessop swears in Raymon Torres as a new police officer for the North Webster Police Department. Photo by Jackie Gorski, Times-Union.

By Jackie Gorski
Times-Union

NORTH WEBSTER – North Webster Town Council approved a $8,200 supplemental agreement to update an engineering assessment done for the trail project the town is working on.

Beth Johnson, from USI Consultants Inc., said USI previously helped the town with an engineering assesment for the trail project from the town to Wawasee Middle School.

She said the Indiana Department of Transportation came back with questions when the town applied for grant money through INDOT regarding how a right-of-way was going to work, as well as questions on drainage.

Due to the questions, the grant needs to be applied for again, but Johnson said she believes the 80/20 matching INDOT grant is still a funding source for the project.

Councilman Dave Waliczek asked if Johnson knew how much the trail project would cost. As far as construction costs, it’s going to be upward of $1 million. The cost of the project will be updated when the engineering assessment is updated for reapplication to INDOT.

She said the application process for grant money through INDOT opens Nov. 1.

The cost of redoing the engineering assessment would be $8,200, which would be paid at the end of year, Johnson said. Clerk-Treasurer Leigh Ann Jessop said the town didn’t have the money budgeted for this year and asked what kind of leeway they had. Johnson said the cost could be paid in January.

Resident Scott Kuhn asked about the 20% of trail project cost the town would be responsible for.

Council President Dan Thystrup said he is part of a small group that is trying to get grant money for the trail project. At this point, the town has been promised at least $400,000 in grant money from K21 Health Foundation and other organizations to cover the town’s 20% it is responsible for.

Waliczek said the town doesn’t have a crystal ball, but said they hope the town doesn’t have to pay anything.

“If it works out as we see it, it’ll make the town very nice,” Waliczek said.

The council approved paying the $8,200 for the engineering assessment, as long as they can pay it in January.

The council also gave their blessing on a variance request from Kuhn, of Tangibles Resale & Consignment. Plans include putting up a 6-foot fence.

Kuhn said he went before the council to get approval before going to the county because it’ll make it easier if the council gives their approval first.

Jessop said Kuhn also asked if the town could move some signs in that area so a gate can be put in and Inframark Utilities Manager Mike Noe said that wouldn’t be a problem.

Thystrup said the work needs to be done and Kuhn owns the property.

In other business, the council:

• Heard a presentation from Alan Tio, Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation CEO, about KEDCO’s housing and entrepreneurship initiatives.
• Heard a presentation from Amy Roe, Kosciusko County community coordinator, about the Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program.
• Saw Raymon Torres sworn in by Jessop as a police officer for the North Webster Police Department.
• Learned the fence around Pizza King and the Dixie has allegedly been hit by Pizza King employees.

Waliczek said the parks department will pay for the fence to be fixed properly at about $1,500 and will ask Jessop to send Pizza King a letter about paying the bill.

The next meeting will be at 6 p.m. Sept. 19 at the North Webster Community Center.