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Kosciusko County Convention, Recreation and Visitors Commission talked over how best to allocate funds for two organizations that are a part of the America 250 celebration during a meeting Wednesday.
Warsaw City Planner Justin Taylor, representing the Warsaw Public Arts Commission (WPAC), asked for a sponsorship for the art for America’s 250th anniversary. By asking for the $20,000, this would help for the cost of seven new members, artwork and marketing for a “call for artists.”
“Think back to the, at least, last five years of the visitors guide, and what’s been featured on the cover,” Taylor said. “There are five bison painted around the community that were painted in collaboration of the Bicentennial for Indiana.”
Taylor made the case that because of what the WPAC does, they were asking for the support to make the America 250 celebration better.
“The sculpture on Center Lake was Osman Aiken,” said Taylor. “He’s an artist out of New York, cost $150,000.”
Kathy Ray, commission member, asked what the call for artists is, and Taylor stated that it is a service that is a national call, which costs about $500 per call for applicants, and then the WPAC reviews the calls as they come in.
Matt Metzger, commission member, did mention that with art like this, it’s hard to put a number on what people come to see, and where they are coming from. Cori Humes, executive director for the Kosciusko County Visitors Bureau, stated that the public art passport is one of the most popular.
“We’re about at 1.9 million visitors in 2025 alone. If you look at that, maybe those are potential eyes on these art pieces …” stated Humes.
She also mentioned that this is something that will be here for years to come.
“Do you know how much of that is permanent, and is it just art or is it for this specific celebration?” KCCRVC Vice President Lyle Schrock asked.
Taylor stated that several ideas have been thrown around, such as having a permanent artwork, and an ephemeral piece. Taylor also stated that this would have to be started in the spring, to be done by June. Ray made a motion to approve $1,000 so they could make two calls, but Taylor stated that they would not call out unless they knew what they were reimbursing the artists for. The lack of a second motion caused this to not move forward.
Sandy Hatcher, a committee member for the Kosciusko County Freedom Fest, asked for $13,000 to help with promotional costs for the festival next June. She stated that they have the venue and a nationally known performer, with plans on doing car shows and a fireworks display.
“We’ve already been talking to some of the billboard people … and we intend to be the go-to center in northern Indiana. We’ve already got the support from the governor, lieutenant governor, congressmen and the mayor,” stated Hatcher.
Metzger asked who Hatcher thought this was going to attract to the community, to which Hatcher said they expected to bring people in from surrounding counties.
When asked what artists they were going to have, Hatcher stated that they were still in talks about what nationally known artists they plan on bringing in.
“I feel like this is the third time we’ve been asked … Why isn’t everybody working together?” Schrock asked.
“We are working together, but we all have our own expertise,” stated Hatcher.
She mentioned that they are collaborating with anyone and everyone and want to make this spectacular.
Mark Skibowski, Commission president, stated he was not opposed to assisting with billboards to get the word out, and Ray stated it was not fair to just help one and not the other, as Taylor’s ask was also for the 250th anniversary celebration. The commission discussed giving both Hatcher and Taylor their remaining $9,000 split between them, to which Hatcher stated after looking into billboard costs, the smallest package they were offered was $8,500, which would give them numerous billboards around the county.
“We expect to raise a million to a million and a half to bring all the activities and fun stuff here,” Hatcher remarked.
Humes stated that this event will probably be a lot like the Bicentennial event that happened in 2016, with a lot of organizations coming together, but also using their own platforms to promote different activities. Schrock stated that the impact through Taylor’s ask would be a lasting one, compared to the three-day event. The commission made a motion to split the remaining $9,000 between Hatcher and Taylor, who would both receive $4,500.
Updates from CCAC and CVB
Skibowski discussed a banner recognition with the City-County Athletic Complex in Warsaw. CCAC Executive Director Mike Hagy recapped the Hometown Heroes event that happened, and how they are planning an indoor dodgeball tourney in December for the Hometown Heroes.
They hosted a Toys for Tots adults slowpitch tournament that saw over 50 teams. On Dec. 5, they will be going to an award ceremony, in which they think they set a record for raising over $32,000.
Megan Davis gave a report on the indoor programming, one of which being a dance program, which will be headed by a recent Warsaw graduate who was also the “Dancing with the Stars in Kosciusko County” choreography champion. Davis stated that “she is very excited to be collaborating.” There will be an indoor adults cornhole league, adults’ soccer league and indoor soccer. Davis stated that the indoor calendar for CCAC is at 100% usage until March.
Hagy stated that outdoor is at about 85% complete. They have added USSSA baseball, and they have more than 40 teams for the tournaments in April.
“We are also looking at hosting an adult fast-pitched national tournament,” said Hagy.
Hagy stated that the CCAC is looking at growing and expanding as they are becoming a part of more national organizations.
A letter came to Skibowski from the County Visitors Bureau, thanking the commission for the continued usage of the Placer.AI software, research based marketing, and collaborative tourism sponsorships. Humes gave an update on Placer.AI, and other news with the Bureau.
Humes gave the commission an updated schematic on what was happening with Placer.AI, and how within the three-year plan, they are two-thirds of the way of completing it for next year.
“We have completed and grown a lot of our marketing. Our email database has grown by about 19%,” said Humes.
She stated that this does provide the median household income for the community, and how that changes how the CVB markets.
She also mentioned that on Nov. 17, they will be launching their holiday passports and will have at least 11 participating locations. There will be a holiday shopping campaign starting next week, to help bring in more visitors.
A big investment that they have looked into was Over the Top, which will help them reach out to visitors in areas such as Kalamazoo, Mich.; Muncie; Valparaiso; and Battle Creek, Mich., and this will help create more outreach for visitors to come.
Occupancy report is trending up, and they have seen a slight drop of visitors at the end of October, but it is not translating to those who are staying in hotels. As of right now, they have seen 1.9 million visitors, which is about a 2% drop from this time last year. Overall, Kosciusko County has seen 11.2 million visitors.
Other News
Mark Knecht of the Oakwood Foundation and president of Chautauqua-Wawasee, asked for a publicity sponsorship for the annual Old-Fashioned Christmas.
“Where can you go for two and a half hours and see Santa, live reindeer, have your Christmas family picture taken, have the Christmas Bible story told in our chapel, and it’s all for free?” asked Knecht.
He stated that last year there was a dip because of the weather but is hoping that this year will be even better. Knecht did remark that they estimated about 12-15 overnight stays at the Oakwood Inn, but was unsure about the rest of the hotels, Airbnb’s and others in town.
“This is multiple times we’ve supported, and it’s for a $500 investment for 1,200 people. I think it’s a good return,” stated Skibowski. The motion to approve the $500 publicity sponsorship was approved.
Alyssa Schmucker, county auditor, gave a review of financials and paid claims for all commission members. The list of approved claims totaled $77,538.63, which was approved. On the financials claims, they were paid to date of $249,641.28, with additional appropriations approved from last meeting, which makes the cash balance of $1,054,388.83. Skibowski asked where they were with the collections, to which Schmucker responded that everyone is in good standing and up to date.
The interlocal agreement with the KCCRVC and the county was signed by the council and commissioners at their respected meetings, which was approved by the commission.
The CCAC agreement was $200,000 and the CVB agreement was $535,000. Both of these agreements are ones that have been continuous, but the amounts are updated after every year. These both were approved.
The next meeting for the KCCRVC will be Jan. 14, 2026.
