Public Works Superintendent Jeff Beeler discusses the bids for a road paving project.

WARSAW — The majority of the Warsaw Board of Works meeting held today, Oct. 5, was spent discussing a road paving bid and grants for Rotary Park.

Public Works Superintendent Jeff Beeler announced that three sealed bids were opened on Oct. 4, for the repaving of Provident Drive and Provident Court. E & B Paving, Rochester, supplied a bid of $110,092; Niblock, Columbia City, provided a bid of $78,649.50; and Phend & Brown, Milford, provided a bid of $97,230.

Beeler explained that while Niblock appeared to be the low bidder, their bid did not account for enough asphalt to achieve the requests two percent slope. After adjusting their asphalt per ton price to account for the necessary slope, their bid came out to $96,598. Niblock also noted on their bid that the work would not be completed until 2019, even though the project requested work to be completed this year.

Based on the price adjustment and the time factor, Beeler requested the board award the bid to Phend & Brown. The board approved this request.

“Based on the timing issue, I think that justifies the $600 difference,” commented Warsaw Mayor Joseph Thallemer.

Assistant City Planner Justin Taylor was present to request the board accept two grants for Rotary Park. The board accepted both grants.

The first grant was a $20,000 from the K21 Health Foundation. This grant will be used to add the climbing rock feature to the park. The second grant was for $2,500 from the Kosciusko County Community Foundation for continued development of the park. Taylor noted that these grants bring the total contributions very close to the initial funding goal.

In other news:

• The board approved a lease agreement between Warsaw-Wayne Fire Station 3 and Kosciusko Ambulance Service. This agreement was previously approved by the fire territory board.
• The board approved the annual elevator maintenance agreement with American Elevator. The price rose three percent from last year.
• A pay application for the Buffalo Steet Project was approved. City Planner Jeremy Skinner noted that almost all the underground work has been completed. The total infrastructure project is expected to be completed by Nov. 4.
• A change order for sewer work with Selge Construction was approved. The change order asked for no additional funds, just additional days to complete the work. Delays occurred when the company discovered an old unmarked lead telephone line and a high-pressure gas line.