By David Slone
Times-Union

WARSAW — In a short meeting Monday with only meeting minutes and claims to approve, the Warsaw Redevelopment Commission also managed to discuss semi parking at the former Marsh building.

The claims included $5,000 for ER Engineering Resources Inc. for engineering work for Shelden Street improvements; $8,175.50 for Barnes & Thornburg LLP for legal services on the Owen’s, Gatke, 330 S. Buffalo St. and Marsh properties projects; $49.37 for Visa for administrative assistant Whitney Shilling’s notary continuing education; and five claims from Indiana American Water totaling $477.88 for the service period from Aug. 17 to Sept. 19 on the Marsh property.

The city bought the Marsh property, 500 S. Buffalo St., from Cardinal Services for $1.25 million earlier this year. The Warsaw Redevelopment Commission also approved an agreement with Ram Development earlier this year for Ram to have one year to try to market the building to a national retailer, preferably a grocery store.

Looking at the IAW claims Monday, Commission Vice President and Councilman Mike Klondaris asked if the city was using water at the Marsh property.

Shilling said they weren’t using water, but the bill was for services.

“Kind of like trash. Even if you don’t take your trash out, you’re still going to get a bill?” Klondaris asked, which Shilling confirmed.

She said the bills were just for water, and the building has to have water for the sprinkler system. “We’ll only get (bills) for water, NIPSCO and wastewater,” she stated.

After the claims were unanimously approved, Commission President Tim Meyer brought up that Community Economic Development Director Jeremy Skinner was going to bring up the matter of semis parking at the Marsh building and asked Shilling if she knew anything about it. Skinner was not at Monday’s meeting due to illness.

Shilling said she didn’t know, but did know they’ve received a few complaints regarding semis parking at Marsh.

Klondaris asked if people were complaining about trucks parking in that parking lot and why. Commission member George Clemens responded that semis parking in the lot wasn’t good for the pavement. Meyer said there’s one truck that’s parked there a lot and the owner needs to be told not to park there.

Shilling said Skinner was concerned about who would enforce that, especially after hours. Code Enforcement and the parking officer leave at 4 p.m. each day.

Meyer said there’s also a concern about liability with trucks parking there and who is at fault if something happens. Cardinal Services tried to enforce that as well, he said.

Brad Johnson, commission member, said with Village Pantry right there, enforcement of parking rules may be difficult. He said there are signs already out there about vehicles being towed if they park there.

The next Redevelopment Commission meeting is at 4 p.m. Nov. 6 in the council chambers of City Hall.