Board Of Works Moves Forward With Various Projects
WARSAW — The Warsaw Board of Works approved 15 items of new business during its rescheduled meeting held this morning, Oct. 25. The meeting was originally scheduled for Friday, Oct. 20, but was delayed due to the birth of Mayor Joseph Thallemer’s grandchild.
The board approved waiving a sewer inspection fee for the residence located at 118 S. Scott St., Warsaw. The residence is part of the Home of Your Own Program through Warsaw Housing Authority. An unexpected repair of the sewer line has become a burden to the homeowner. Due to the city’s involvement with the residence, a request to waive the normal $250 inspection fee was made.
“I think with our involvement and assisting people in the community trying to make things right, this is the right direction,” commented board member Jeff Grose.
The board approved the waiver. The inspection will still be done but the homeowner will not be required to pay the fee.
The seventh pay application for the Husky Trail project was approved. Initially, the project was projected to be finished by the end of the week, but due to rain has been delayed a few days. The road construction is complete and the crews are finishing striping and laying sod.
City Planner Jeremy Skinner is meeting with the construction team later this week to figure out when the road will be open to the public. Skinner hopes to have a concrete date ready for the public on Friday.
The board approved applying for an EPA Brownfield Assessment Grant. Brownfield is an urban site for potential building development that had previous development on it which may be contaminated. The grant application combines the efforts of Marshall County, Elkhart County, Kosciusko County and Warsaw. The sites being considered in Warsaw are the Tinkey site, the Arnolt building and 2208 E. Durbin St.
The city has applied for EPA grants in the past and been unsuccessful. The hope is that applying with other communities will give the city a better chance of receiving the grant. If received the grant will fund assessment of the sites. After assessments are done, another grant may be applied for that would fund clean-up of the areas.
In other news:
- An agreement with the Kosciusko County Historical Society was approved. The agreement provides $1,000 to the society for improvements.
- The board approved releasing a performance bond for the Mariners Drive project.
- The contract with Selge Construction for the Buffalo Street Project was approved. The project bid had already been awarded. A change order for the project was also approved.
- A pay application was approved to G&G Hauling for the Eisenhower Basin Project. The first phase of the project is nearly complete.
- The board approved a contract with the U.S. Department of Interior for joint funding aggrement of the Pike Lake stream gauge. This is a yearly contract where the city pays to keep and maintain the gauge so the information gathered can be used for research and study purposes.
- A yearly agreement between Lake City Radio and the Warsaw Parks Department was approved.
- The board approved accepting a DUI grant for the Warsaw Police Department.
- A change order was approved for the dam removal on Fox Farm Road. Soil will now be tested before the dam is removed. The total project cost will still be 100 percent grant funded.
- The board approved a notice to proceed for the Market Street project. The hope is to bid the project out in the spring.
- Nipsco was approved for an easement for gas facilities regarding the Buffalo Street project.
- Rex’s Rendezvous was approved to close a portion of Buffalo Street from 3 p.m. until midnight Saturday, Nov. 4 for a benefit.