Vol. 40, No. 1
PO Box 603, Wabash, IN 46992 (260) 563-8326
of Wabash County Inc. March 22, 2017
www.thepaperofwabash.com Proudly Serving Wabash County Since 1977
RDA board rejects use of eminant domain By Joseph Slacian jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com
Round Up. While the event allowed educators to assess youth on kindergarten readiness as parents filled out school forms, the occasion really served to
FORT WAYNE – The Northeast Indiana Regional Development Authority will not use eminent domain to obtain land for the Wabash River Trail project. The four-member board unanimously approved a resolution Tuesday afternoon, March 14, saying that if it chooses “to provide funding for the project it shall not use its eminent domain powers in association with the project.” Furthermore, “the RDA does hereby resolve that it shall not use its eminent domain powers, in any form, as it relates to the project.” The RDA’s Road to One Million director Michael Galbraith said “in Wabash there has been some concern that the approval of any projects – and that’s a bridge to be crossed later – that if the board approves the Wabash River Trail project, that that would mean that somehow it now has eminent domain authority and can come in and condemn other people’s land in order to acquire trail right-of-way. We just want to make it perfectly clear that the board has no desire, no thought of doing any such action, and make it clear that is not part of consideration, nor would it ever be part of any action in regard to that trail project by this board.” He told The Paper of Wabash County following the meeting that media coverage from Wabash County brought attention to the fact that there was a concern among residents about the possible use of eminent domain. “We wanted to make sure that it was perfectly clear that the RDA had no desire to exercise eminent domain,” he said. “That was one of those very things in the future that we wanted to make perfectly clear that
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Raegan Bassett recites numbers at the Kindergarten Round Up event on Wednesday, March 15. Educators from Wabash County’s school systems assessed youths on kindergarten readiness during the event. Photo by Emma Rausch
Students participate in Kindergarten Round Up By Emma Rausch emma@thepaperofwabash.com
Four-year-olds assembled at the Honeywell Center Wednesday, March 15, for the annual Kindergarten
C3 group plans meeting on Wabash River Trail By The Paper staff Citizens Committed to the Constitution (C3) of Wabash County will host a special meeting regarding the Wabash River Trail on Monday, March 27. The 7 p.m. meeting will be at Bass and Bucks. Tom Deweese, editor of the DeWeese Report and Founder and President of the American Policy Center in Warrenton, Va., will speak. In light of recent discussion regardTom Deweese ing the Wabash River Trail, property rights and eminent domain and Wabash County’s participation in the Northeast Indiana Regional Development Authority, this will be a very timely and informative meeting, organizers said. DeWeese is one of the nation’s leading advocates of individual liberty, free enterprise, private property rights, personal privacy, back-to-basics education and American sovereignty and independence. A native of Ohio, he’s been a candi(continued on page 5)
Rock City Lofts on schedule, on budget By Joseph Slacian jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com The Rock City Lofts project is on schedule and on budget. That’s what Brent Mather told the Wabash City Council on Monday night, March 13, during an update on the Stellar Community Grant project. The project seeks to create 42 senior citizen apartments in the building on the
south side of East Market Street, Mather, of R&B Architecture, reminded the council. He called the project “an infused project.” “It’s an opportunity for housing to return above Market Street in downtown Wabash,” he said, “as well as the retention real estate with the Rock City Café, and other store fronts.” The Rock City Café will continue to be located in the building, and the Dallas L.
Winchester Senior Center will house an annex in the site. “It is a mixed-use project that includes senior living up above in 42 apartments that are partly funded by the (Indiana Housing Community Development Authority),” Mather continued. “Ultimately, it’s a federal program where Section 42 HUD money is given to developers who create high-quality housing for people who make a moderate income in your community. Usually about 60 per-
cent of your average income of residents in Wabash.” Of the 42 units, there will be four handicapped apartments on the first floor. “So, we’re also able to serve a population that might not be served other places,” he said. “People who may be currently living in their homes and having a difficult time with a large house, or accessibility, that would take an opportunity to come into your very vibrant (continued on page 5)