By Joseph Slacian
jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com
WABASH COUNTY, Ind. – Elected officials from around Wabash County had the opportunity to highlight the progress of their respective communities made in 2019, as well as to point toward plans for the future during the third annual State of the Communities breakfast on Wednesday, Feb. 12.
Representatives from the five municipalities and Wabash County spoke at the event, sponsored by Grow Wabash County, in the Honeywell Center’s Legacy Hall.
Wabash County
The county replaced two bridges and chip and sealed 75 miles of roads, County Commissioners President Brian Haupert told those present. It also partnered with the town of North Manchester, through the use of Community Crossing Matching Grants, repaired County Road 1100N.
Haupert also noted that the county will continue to use Community Crossing Grant funding this year to mill and overlay old U.S. 24 from U.S. 24 to the county line, and to repair bridge 701 in LaFontaine. It also has been awarded funds for work near White’s Family and Residential Service and in North Manchester.
He also noted the county is continuing to study ways to solve the jail overcrowding issue, including building a new facility at the Wabash County Farm. New construction, he said, could be financed through a USDA grant, helping to keep costs low to Wabash County residents.
“We have a long way to go, but we think we have found a financially feasible path,” he said. “If all the pieces come together, we will be able to build a new jail with minimal impact to the taxpayer.”
In addition to a new jail, Haupert continued, the county also is platting out the County Farm for possible manufacturing and industrial projects.
Town of Lagro
The town completed $100,000 in paving work last year, thanks to a Community Crossing Grant, Clerk-Treasuer Kristie Bone told the crowd. In addition, work on the Wabash River Trail between Lagro and Wabash progressed and will continue to do so this year.
She also noted that the town had new businesses, including the Curless Cattle Co., Love’s Hideaway, Salamonie Bridal Stalls, the Rustic Barn at Hopewell and the Antique Boutique at Hopewell, open last year and that another new business, Riparian AirBnB, will open later this year.
New playground equipment will be installed at the town park later this year, and the community hopes to grow the Christmas in Lagro celebration later this year.
The town also purchased a new truck, thanks to a USDA grant.
The town also will have a water apprenticeship program which will provide the town another water operator.
“That is great for us, because we’re a small community and couldn’t do it without that program,” Bone said.
She also touted Town Water Superintendent Scott Siders, who was named the Best Water Superintendent in 2019 for the region.
Town of Roann
Three new businesses opened in town, two of which are owned by entrepreneurs in their 20s, Clerk-Treasurer Bob Ferguson said.
The Brickhouse RC Raceway offers remote control car racing every weekend. In addition, 135 Salon and Bailey’s Pizza Parlor also opened up, and are run by the aforementioned young entrepreneurs.
Work is progressing on a park where the former Roann school once stood, Ferguson continued. Officials hope to build a pavilion at the site to be used for reunions, family gatherings and more.
The Lions Club is active in town, and this year will work on landscaping an area on the northeast end of the Roann Covered Bridge.
The Main Street Organization, Ferguson said, is collecting plastic bottle caps in hopes of creating a picnic table near the town’s log cabin. It is also working on repainting the mural on the community building and a clock in the downtown area.
“We want to be a place where people come for a purpose,” he said.
Town of LaFontaine
“LaFontaine continued, in 2019, to go through changes throughout the year,” Clerk-Treasurer Diana Heath said.
A Community Crossing grant allowed several streets to be repaved and for the town to become compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act where needed, she said.
Town officials applied for a similar grant this year to work on one mile of Basin Street in the downtown area, she continued. The project entails resurfacing the streets, replacing sidewalks and curbs and adding four new ADA ramps around the town. Officials also hope to add lights and other items to help spruce up the downtown area.
Memorial Day weekend of 2019 showed the town’s resiliency and its citizens willingness to help one another when a storm passed through and dumped 3 ½ inches of rain on the community in 30 minutes.
“The town lost power, which meant sump pumps in basements were not working,” Heath said. “The streets overflowed. Grant Creek and the ditch that runs through our town was overflowing their banks. Several properties had water up to four feet in their garages, work sheds and basements.
“The water receded as fast as it rose, but it left devastation where it had been.”
Residents formed bucket lines to empty basements and other areas.
The town is working to help decrease the chances of that happening in the future by removing debris and other obstacles in the waterways.
In more positive news, the LaFontaine History Club was formed, and a new LaFontaine history book is being written. In other news, Grant Creek Mercantile has purchased the former drug store and will be moving there sometime in 2020.
Town of North Manchester
“We want you to strongly consider living in North Manchester,” Town Council President Allen Miracle said. “If you work in Allen County, Huntington County, Kosciusko County and, of course, Wabash County, we think you should strongly consider living in North Manchester.”
The town, he continued, is within easy driving distance of Fort Wayne, Huntington and more.
“The area in and around North Manchester offers jobs, dining, shopping, entertainment, colleges and universities,” he said.
It also has great child care, a great school system and a new housing development.
“All of these factors make North Manchester a great choice if you work in any of these counties,” Miracle said.
He pointed out several of the benefits of the community, including the Manchester Early Learning Center, which was ranked in the top 15 percent in the state.
Manchester Community Schools is working on a comprehensive strategic plan, while the Manchester University is in the process of renovating its athletic stadium and is creating a marching band for the fall of 2020, he added.
Chester Heights is the town’s new housing addition that will add about 20 new homes and “villaminiums,” or duplexes.
“This project wouldn’t be happening if we were relying solely on private investment,” Miracle said. “This is truly a financial partnership between the town and the builder. We believe this is the new paradigm that towns like ours should consider if they want to flourish.”
City of Wabash
“When we talk about the good things going on in Wabash and Wabash County, we talk about opportunity,” Mayor Scott Long said. “It’s about driving forward, setting the bar high, and accomplishing the goals.
“Opportunities also weathering the storms and witnessing the beauty after the rain has ended. In this case, it’s months and months and months of road construction. Well buckle up and hold on, because Feb. 24 we’re going to start tearing up Cass Street.”
Work will begin on the south end and work its way north, he said, noting that work is scheduled to be completed in August.
A key to success is cooperation among various organizations. The city has done so, Long said, by establishing relationships with organizations in the county such as Grow Wabash County, Visit Wabash County, Wabash Marketplace and Manchester Alive, as well as groups outside the county, such as the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership.
The city also has established relationships on the state level, with the City of Edinburgh, Fort Wayne, and internationally in Japan and China.
As for the future, “we are talking about diversifying our community to build population, attract and retain talent,” Long said. “We’re creating housing for the future at a few different locations in the city. We’re continually updating our community for the future, and we need to establish more relationships and partnerships locally, regionally, statewide and worldwide.”
Housing projects are being explored at the site of the former Parkview Wabash Hospital on East Street, along East Market Street and at the former GenCorp site on Stitt Street.
The city also is working with local partners to create internships and other opportunities for workers to help retain and attract talent.