WARSAW — A preliminary glimpse of a city-wide tornado warning system plan was given to Warsaw City Council members Monday evening, Aug. 17.

Mike Brubaker, fire chief for the Warsaw/Wayne Township Fire Territory, briefly presented information on a plan to have nine warning systems in the city. It was during his budget presentation the topic was addressed. A complete plan will be presented in the near future at a city council meeting.

Currently the city has three sirens in the central portion of the city — Boggs Industrial Park, Station 1 and Station 2. The sirens at Station 1 and Station 2 are being repaired and/or upgraded. Six additional sirens are needed, a cost estimated up to $250,000. Brubaker noted with the repair/replacement of sirens at Station 1 and Station 2 there will be improvements.

It was also during the budget presentation for the city building and planning department, Jeremy Skinner, city planner, noted work on Mariner’s Drive is underway. Work will begin at the Husky/Mariner Drive area and go north. Equipment is being moved in with demolition of curbs expected by Friday if not earlier.

Skinner encouraged motorist going to the YMCA or other locations on Mariner’s Drive to access the road through North Pointe Drive.

During other business:

• Council members approved the transfer of $60,000 from the street department’s salary and wages fund with $20,000 to the street operating supply and $40,000 to street repair and maintenance.
• Recognized the receipt of $13,949.70 in franchise fees from Comcast.
• Adopted the city’s ordinance regarding flood hazard areas. Skinner stated this ordinance replaces the existing flood hazard areas section. While a number of changes have been made by the Federal Emergency Management Administration, none of the changes have a significant impact on the community. Some of the changes will make the regulations easier for the public to read and understand. There will also be some changes to the maps, as a different datum was used by FEMA to compute elevations. Skinner also noted if the city wished to protect its citizens and property the ordinance needed to be adopted. Without adoption the city and its residents would not be eligible for any disaster relief or insurance relating to flooding.
• Following a 10-minute recess to allow the Warsaw Building Corporation established for the sewer plant project to meet, the council members reconvened to adopt a resolution allowing the refund of revenue bonds. As explained to the council, the refund is similar to refinancing a home mortgage. The refunding will allow better interest rates on the $6,140,0000 still outstanding on the original $10 million bond issued in 2001. The ordinance also states if a 2 percent savings or greater cannot be obtained, the refunding of the bonds be placed on hold. It is estimated there could be a net savings of a minimum of $250,000.