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Wabash City Council approves ordinance amendments, rainy-day appropriation and first reading of 2026 salary ordinance; hears $6.6M redevelopment spending plan
Summary
At its Dec. 8 meeting the Wabash City Council held a public hearing on a solar-project down payment, approved General Ordinance No. 15 (second reading), passed Resolution No. 17 to add rainy-day fund appropriations, took first reading of the 2026 salary ordinance, and heard that the Redevelopment Commission’s 2026 spending plan estimates about $6.6 million in expenditures.
Council President John Burnssworth, sitting in for the mayor, opened the Wabash City Council meeting on Dec. 8 and called a public hearing on an additional appropriation tied to a planned municipal solar project.
A staff member told the council the requested sum represents a 10% down payment to be paid this year so the city can qualify for a tax credit, and that the remainder of project funding will come next year. No members of the public spoke for or against the appropriation, and the hearing was closed.
The council approved the minutes of its Nov. 24 meeting after a motion and second. During old business the body conducted a second reading of General Ordinance No. 15, 2025, described in the meeting as amendments to various provisions of the Wabash City code; a motion and second were recorded and the clerk called roll for approval.
Under new business the council considered Resolution No. 17, 2025, which authorizes additional appropriations from the rainy-day fund. After what the clerk treasurer described as an explanatory briefing, a motion to pass the resolution was moved, seconded and approved by roll call.
The council also held the first reading of Amended Special Ordinance No. 1225, the 2026 salary ordinance for appointed and elected officials and employees. A presenter said the item is primarily a language change—replacing an earlier term with the word “bonus” to better reflect intent and to improve audit compliance—while the numeric salary figures remain unchanged. Council members asked whether the change was time-sensitive for state filings and were told it will help the city be compliant with future audits. The motion to approve the ordinance by title only was seconded and approved by roll call.
Melanie, the clerk treasurer, reported that the Wabash Redevelopment Commission submitted its 2026 spending plan to the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance by the Dec. 1 deadline. “The Wabash Redevelopment Commission's 2026 spending plan … shows estimated expenditures of about $6.6 million, the majority of which are debt payments on bonds and are paid for by collected TIF revenues; the rest are capital expenses,” she said.
Council members announced two ribbon-cutting events Friday (Arnold’s Jewelry at 11 a.m. and a Hail Drive business move at 4 p.m.) and reminded attendees the next council meeting is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 15 at 5 p.m., when a public hearing and a probable second reading of the ordinance are expected.
No formal public comments were recorded during the public-comment portion of the meeting.
