WARSAW — If you reside in the city limits of Warsaw, hang on to those trash cans. At least for another six months.

The Warsaw Board of Public Works and Safety approved Thursday, Nov. 19, the purchase of  64 and 94 gallon containers. The containers are expected to be delivered in April.

Residents will soon be contacted to choose which size is best for them for the weekly trash pick up. Jeff Beeler, public works superintendent, stated the larger size is the same size as the current recyclable container. Initially one trash container will be provided per family and will be delivered to the resident. Arrangements will be made for residents who indicate they may need additional containers.

Beeler, going through the National Joint Powers Alliance contract, stated the price is $33.85 per 64 gallon container and $44.90 per 96 gallon containers. The containers have a 10-year-warranty. He is anticipating ordering approximately 5,000 containers. These containers will be compatible with the new side load garbage truck.

Discussion was held about the NJPA — an entity allowing cities to purchase numerous items on a national scale. The NJPA handles all the required advertising and bidding. Participation in the organization is free and meets the requirements of the state board of accounts.

The public works was also given permission to solicit bids for a new loader to replace the 1988 Volvo L50 loader. The current loader is beginning to incur many repairs and parts are harder to locate. The request for bidding now would allow the bids to be open and the loader purchased and delivered mid-winter.

B.O.W. members additionally approved the purchase of a single axle snow plow truck at the cost of $136,241 from Hill Truck Sales, Inc., South Bend. Beeler noted three vendors were contacted to submit quotes, but only one was received. He noted the quotes were for pre-built trucks with broad specifications such as engine size, transmission, and specific sized dump bed. The quote is also comparable to recently purchased trucks by the county highway department, less the plow and hydraulic system.

Shoreline Restoration

An agreement was signed with Heartland Restoration Services, Inc., Fort Wayne, for the Lucerne-Pike Lake shoreline restoration. Action on the agreement was tabled at the Nov. 2 B.O.W. meeting until more details could be obtained. Theresa Sailor, stormwater coordinator, presented to the board in writing, a 95 percent warranty on survival of all plants. The warranty does not cover vandalism or acts of God. A maintenance agreement was also included.

The maintenance agreement includes Heartland making a site visit monthly during the growing season to assess the project development and plant growth, as well as weed treatment program. The project will cost $37,500.

The project will be the restoration of 200 feet of severely eroded shoreline in Lucerne Park, along Pike Lake. The project is a joint effort between the parks department and stormwater utility as a water quality project to reduce the amount of sediment and nutrients going into the lake. The project will also reduce the loss of shoreline.

The stormwater utility has evaluated all city owned properties over the summer and identified over 4,000 linear feet of eroded soils along the waterways. This was one of the most heavily eroded areas and the most heavily used.

The project will include the placement of vegetated coir logs, a vegetated buffer, and rock outcropping.