By Tim Arnett
WABASH,Indiana – At the Wabash Parks and Recreation Board meeting Wednesday night, the board heard an update from attorney Kristina Lynn on the Dallas Winchester Senior Center and whether it can expand its footprint. As our readers know, the last Park Board meeting revolved around the Senior Center and the fact that such a building is not suppose to be within the city park without approval from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. The city did not get the necessary approval when the Senior Center was and the DNR ordered the city to designate five-acres of new land within – or contiguous to – the city limits as a mitigation. To this point, finding that land has been extremely difficult, to put it mildly.
At Wednesday night’s meeting, Lynn said that she did not find the letter from DNR stating the city’s violation, but she did find notes from a conversation with a DNR representative from January 2012. She said her notes state that the DNR designates that portion of the city park which the Senior Center sits on as an outdoor recreational area forever as a result of an old grant the city received. She also stated that the city must replace the five acres of the Senior Center with equal or greater value of land to mitigate the damages.
Board President John Salb asked Lynn about the next steps and she responded that the city should leave it alone until a good mitigation property is found. Salb asked Lynn if there is any guarantee the DNR will approve an addition to the Senior Center if the city mitigates by finding a suitable piece of land. Lynn said there is no guarantee, but her understanding is that in that eventuality DNR will give permission.