Pictured, from left, are City Planner Jeremy Skinner, Councilmember Mike Klondaris, Clerk-Treasurer Lynne Christiansen, Mayor Joseph Thallemer, Councilmember Diane Quance, Councilmember Jeffery Frush, Board of Works member George Clemens, Assistant City Planner Justin Taylor and Councilmember and Board of Works member Jeff Grose.

WARSAW — During the Warsaw Board of Works meeting held this morning, Jan. 18, the city accepted a $1,615,000 check from the Northeast Indiana Regional Development Authority for the Buffalo Street project.

“The city has essentially met their obligations for their (NIRDA) requirements and I was given a check for $1,615,000 to safely transport back to Warsaw,” said Warsaw Mayor Joseph Thallemer.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation through Regional Cities Initiative funding is contributing a total of $3.5 million in funding. The majority of the remaining funds from the project come from a TIF district bond.

Currently, sewer, stormwater and street infrastructure improvements are completed. The Buffalo Street project will combine urban housing and mixed-use development. When completed, 52 various residences, a multi-use building and a public plaza will be added to Warsaw. Construction on the public plaza is expected to begin this summer.

“It’s been challenging but I think we have a great project ahead of us in terms of the housing that it’s going to create, the mixed-use building and the component that we are going to tie into the park are all going to work out really well,” said City Planner Jeremy Skinner.

The board accepted the NIRDA grant funding.

Another item of large business discussed during the meeting was a development agreement with Greenmark Equipment, Michigan. Greenmark wants to develop land in the Warsaw Technology Park at 2022 Polk Drive into a 41,000 square foot John Deere dealership.

As part of the agreement, Greenmark will construct an extension of Park Drive, including sanitary sewer and water, from CR 200W. Greenmark will also plat three other industrial lots, approval of which will be considered at the next Plan Commission meeting on Feb. 11. It’s estimated that upon completion, the construction value of the improvements will be around $4.5 million.

The board approved the development agreement.

In other news:

• One sealed bid was opened and approved from Lassus Brothers Oil for 2020 gasoline prices at $2.071 for the Warsaw Police Department.
• Twenty-seven various contracts were approved for the parks department. These contracts included items for the summer concert series, fall family fun fest, family carnival and light up the night event.
• The fire department was approved to receive four Zoll Monitors through a grant from the K21 Health Foundation. This grant was previously discussed and approved at the last fire territory board meeting.
• Street closures were approved for the 10th annual Optimist Car Show happening on May 19.
• INDOT contracts for the upcoming Anchorage Road project and the Lincoln neighborhood sidewalk project were approved.
• 2019 rates for Kimpel and Associates for surveying work was approved.
• A change order for phase two of the Market Street project was approved.
• An on-call contract with Burke Engineering for the Stormwater Utility Department was approved.
• Contracts were approved for three upcoming shoreline stabilization projects on Pike Lake.
• Two pay applications were approved for the Center Lake outfall project.
• A contract with Wessler Engineering for professional services for the Osborn pump station was approved.
• The board granted a wastewater summer credit adjustment for the Barbosa residence. A sprinkler system was kept running in October past the summer sprinkler credit time period.
• The wastewater department was approved to purchase an Ox Blue construction camera to document the upcoming sewer expansion project.
• The wastewater department was also approved for two contracts with Wessler engineering for professional services related to the upcoming plant expansion project.
• The wastewater department was also approved for the plant expansion construction contract with Kokosing. A notice to proceed date was set for Feb. 25.
• Oaths of office were performed for Dave Baumgartner for his service on the Plan Commission and Mike Klondaris for his service on the Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory Board.

Mayor Joseph Thallemer, left, gives the oath of office to Dave Baumgartner for his service on the Plan Commission.

Mayor Joseph Thallemer, left, gives the oath of office to Mike Klondaris for his service on the Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory Board.