This post was provided by News Now Warsaw
By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw
WARSAW — Warsaw Mayor Jeff Grose is nearly 18 months into his new career after nearly 35 years as a government teacher at Warsaw Community High School.
And as one sits and listens to him speak recently before a service group, it feels as if the former basketball standout has transitioned from one to the other without missing a beat.
Grose often gives presentations to service clubs in Warsaw, and he did that last Friday with the Warsaw Rotary Club when he showed up with — you guessed it — handouts providing a breakdown of city government as well as a few fact sheets highlighting projects being undertaken by the city.
Right off off the bat, from the beginning of his presentation, Grose sounded more like a teacher with great insights into city government, much of which he picked up over the course of 24 years on city council.
“The handout that you’re getting … please don’t look ahead,” Grose said. “Don’t feel like you have to look at it. I’m just giving you something to take. Also, don’t fold any of it. No Super Glue!”
His 40-minute presentation before the Rotary Club on Friday included many familiar faces, including his father, Frank, who was a guest, Superior Court Judge Chad Miner and 103-year-old Bob Gast, a city councilman who served in the late 1980s.
He quizzed the audience on the number of parks the city has (20) and how many of the city’s 220 year-round employees work in the police and fire departments (half).
He also touched on the top tennents of his administration — building trust, building bridges with other communities and the importance of basic government.
“Local government is all about public works, police and fire,” he said.
“This community strongly believes (in) limited government,” Grose said. “I taught that stuff for 35 years. That’s who we are as a nation. But limited government doesn’t mean no government. It means good government.”
Grose also pointed out that $2 million to $3 million arrives into city coffers each year from state and federal government, both of which have been tightening its budgets in recent months.
“Is Jeff a little concerned about that? Yes I am. When you talk cuts,” he said, “That’s going to have an impact on services.”
“Those are big concerns I have. We’ll work through it. Why? Because I love the community and I want good government,” he said.
Grose provided an education in what the city is currently working on, touching on plans for two housing projects and the future orthopedic innovation center planned for Argonne Road, as well as a looming cooperative effort with Kosciusko County leaders in efforts to construct a parking garage in the downtown.
He said he thinks the innovation center — a longterm project that directly involves Grace College — could help transform Argonne Road.
Grose also told the audience that he thinks renovating Winona Avenue from Detroit Street to the roundabout on the edge of Winona Lake town limits should be a top priority on a list that’s been developed by OrthoWorx, which is overseeing $30 million in state money aimed at stimulating job attraction for the orthopedic industry.
And when construction on Winona Avenue starts, he said he thinks it should begin near the roundabout and move west toward downtown Warsaw.
“That’s Jeff talking,” he said playfully. “If you don’t like it, you can run against me.”
The post Mayor Jeff Grose delivers city updates with a teacher-esque approach appeared first on News Now Warsaw.
