“The cooperation and support Cinergy MetroNet has received from M a y o r B o b V a n l a n d i n g h a m , t h e c u r re n t C i t y C o u n c i l a n d B i l l K o n y h a a r e t h e b e s t we have experienced anywhere in the state.” Steve Biggerstaff, Cinergy MetroNet
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April 27, 2011
Konyha requests CEDIT funds economic development projects by Danielle Smith Bill Konyha, chief executive officer of the Economic Development Group of Wabash County (EDG), attended the April 25 meeting of the Wabash County Commissioners to present two requests for grants of County E c o n o m i c Development Income Tax (CEDIT) funds. Konyha’s first request was for $12,500 to retain BT ProjectPoint, LLC, a municipal advisor, to assist with a current business attraction project of EDG. Konyha was unable to disclose specific information about the project, but informed the commissioners that it will represent a $12 million capital investment and will create 150 jobs, paying over $16 per hour. The total retainer fee is $25,000; (continued on page 6)
In Memoriam Rodney Azbell, 48 Tommy Custer, 64 Marjorie Dilling, 80 Robert Hester, 48 Tony Hobbs, 86 Richard Prickett Sr., 79 Mack Sluss, 64 Deloris Young, 99
Index Classifieds................27-31 Community News ..18-20, 23 D & E ...........................22 Sports Shorts................23 Weekly Reports ........12-14 Vol. 34, No. 6
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City council candidates voice opinions during debate by Shaun Tilghman Eight of the 11 candidates running for Wabash City Council participated in a debate, sponsored by the Government Affairs Committee of the Wabash County Chamber of Commerce, on April 20, at the Honeywell Center. The candidates, who are involved in contested races for the May 3 Primary Election, fielded questions by district from moderator Charles Miller. The three candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for the AtLarge seat are Joan Haag, Jim Cosby, and Harold Chatlosh. The District 1 Republican race features John Gilpin and Bill Evans, while the District 2 Democratic candidates are Tina Carroll and Bill Hapner. In District 3, Jim Wenrich contends with Preston Miracle, and in District 4, Paul Lewis is running against Pat Lynn, all who are Democrats. According to Jim Widner, Government Affairs Committee chair, the chamber believes it is important for someone to facilitate an event such as this to provide the public an opportunity to get to know the candidates a little better. “I’m a little disappointed that more of the general public didn’t attend but we’d like to thank [local media sources] for reporting what happened and stimulating some thinking in that way,” Widner said. “I think it’s always important to have the public armed with as much information as they can get and there’s a lot of ways to do that; this is one way and I just hope that people who were not here will take advantage of the media opportunities present.” Miller posed four questions to the candi-
dates present from each district, but much of the focus in each set of questions related to bringing more jobs to the City of Wabash and the issue of tax abatements. At-Large Joan Haag, an incumbent council member, identified her main goal as increasing employment opportunities and improving the quality of life in Wabash. “We want to try to bring as much good business and as many goodpaying jobs into Wabash as possible,” Haag explained. “Wabash, like any town, is having that problem; we’re trying to make jobs benefit for everybody. We are in the process of looking into using some land that will come available to the city but we have to go through certain hoops in doing so. “Nothing can be done overnight. We’d love to see all these businesses come here and we’ve made advances in getting the areas ready for people to come in and do it but we’ve got to go out and beat the bushes to see if we can get those businesses to us.” She went on to say that while there have been many changes in Wabash over the years, she strongly believes that the progress has not come at the cost of the community’s small town atmosphere. She also stressed the need for cooperation with the county in regards to potential projects, as that will help all parties achieve the common goal of bettering the community. Jim Cosby, a former six-term council member, was adamant regarding his view of tax abatements and the impact they can have on the Wabash community. “I think tax abatement for businesses is a necessary evil,” Cosby said. “If you don’t give them (new businesses) some abate-
WABASH CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES running in contested races for the May 3 Primary Election participated in a recent debate sponsored by the Wabash County Chamber of Commerce’s Government Affairs Committee. Eight of the 11 candidates were present, including (front row, from left): Pat Lynn, Joan Haag, Paul Lewis, Tina Carroll; back row, John Gilpin, Jim Wenrich, Jim Cosby, and Preston Miracle. (photo by Shaun Tilghman) ment or something they but I believe that with 20 people here and there. won’t come; they’ll go hard times come chal“We need to figure out somewhere where they’ll lenges, and with chal- how to bring jobs to get it. At the same time, I lenges comes opportuni- Wabash County but I think there ought to be ty. I stand ready to help don’t think we need to strict restrictions on how the city meet these chal- spend $4-6 million to find they perform in the city lenges and find opportu- out, which is what is of Wabash. It’s some- nities to make our great involved in the new busithing we need to provide city of Wabash the best ness park,” he continued. but we also need to pro- that it can be.” “If you could convince vide restrictions on how Harold Chatlosh, who me that there is someit’s used.” is also a former council body interested in that Cosby then discussed member, was not present place (the new business another significant issue during the debate but park) – instead of telling he would like to see weighed in on the issues everybody there are peoChatlosh addressed, which is during a recent inter- ple interested and then re-election as an incumbringing more industries view with The Paper. He nothing happens – then it bent and expressed his in that can provide better began by apologizing for would be different. belief that the council paying jobs for the peo- his absence and “I think they need to has accomplished more ple of Wabash. “I hear explained that he had a get some facts out to us in the last five years than numbers about there prior obligation in and actually say who is he can recall of any being new jobs but I Indianapolis. coming in before we go to other time in the past. don’t hear many num“I was notified with a spend the money putting “A lot of that has to do bers of those being letter and I did receive a the infrastructure in just with the fact that we’ve offered with a reasonable phone call but, as I told to find out what’s going worked so well together,” salary and benefits,” he Jim Widner a few weeks on. Once people find out he added, “you get so continued, “and I think ago, I had some meetings there is something of much accomplished that that’s what the people that day and I wasn’t interest going in there way. We did bring in new need. Times are hard and sure if they would be at maybe they’ll go along jobs with two companies, people are having a hard the same time as the with it more than what Cinergy MetroNet and time coping. debate,” he stated. “I still they are now.” Living Essentials, and I “[P]eople need to see hope to get elected in the In closing, Chatlosh think there are more jobs results, they want to see Primary and then go on stressed that no other we can bring into the city facts and they want to from there.” media outlets contacted … this is just the beginknow what’s being done According to him for an interview ning of what we can do right now. We’ve seen Chatlosh, when it comes prior to or following the for the city and the citinothing yet that we can to jobs he believes the debate other than The zens of Wabash. take to the bank – I admit focus should be placed on Paper of Wabash County. “I think we need to I have no magic formula getting more small busiDistrict 1 for curing the economy nesses coming in with 15John Gilpin is seeking (continued on page 6)