With the final approval of the Warsaw Board of Works and Public Safety this morning, OrthoWorx will soon be occupying the third floor of the new city hall building. (See story)

The B.O.W., consisting of Mayor Joe Thallemer and Warsaw Common Councilmen Charlie Smith and Jeff Grose, unanimously approved the agreement between OrthoWorx and the Warsaw Redevelopment Commission. The agreement notes OrthoWorx will pay the city $5,000 per month for three years. The money will be used for the renovations of the third floor. OrthoWorx will also be responsible for its own utilities, which are separate from the city hall offices.

In a related vote, the board approved a proposal by Mary Ellen Jordan of Scearce Rudisel Architects to draft the plans for the third floor. The contract, in the amount of $20,000, includes consultation and design for the floor plan and mechanical, electrical, plumbing and interior specs.

The completed plans are to be submitted by May 24 with the bid letting process to begin May 24 and run through June 14. A contract for the renovation will be awarded at the B.O.W.’s regular meeting on June 19, which is rescheduled from June 21 due to a conflict with the mayor’s schedule. Renovations are then expected to begin on June 24.

In other city hall business, city planner Jeremy Skinner said lead testing is needed for paint on the exterior of the building. The testing was approved at a cost not to exceed $700.

Also, a pay application was approved to Harold McComb & Son Inc. of Fort Wayne. An invoice for $8,937.60 was approved for work done through March 31. An additional $109,325.70 has not yet been paid. “We still hold 5 percent of the retainage,” said Skinner, noting “… there are still some outstanding issues that we’re not feeling comfortable releasing that yet.”

A total of four bids were opened for a new construction project that will place restroom facilities and other landscaping in the city hall plaza. Bids were submitted by D.T. Construction of Silver Lake for $160,716; Milestone Construction of Warsaw for $174,000; McComb & Son of Fort Wayne for $176,500; and by Easterday Construction from Culver for $168,950.

The idea of the project is so the plaza can be utilized for more events such as concerts. Currently, the plaza is used each Saturday for the Kosciusko County Farmers Market.

The bids are now being reviewed. The winning bid will be awarded at the June 7 B.O.W. meeting. The meetings are held the first and third Fridays of each month in city hall.