Warsaw Public Works Superintendent Dustin Dillon requests the Board of Public Works and Safety on Friday approve the contract with Borden Waste-Away Services for recycling services. Photo by David Slone, Times-Union.

By David Slone
Times-Union

WARSAW — Public Works Superintendent Dustin Dillon requested the Warsaw Board of Public Works and Safety approve the curbside recycling contract Friday, Dec. 1, for 2024-28 with Borden Waste-Away Services.

Borden was the only bidder on the city’s recycling services when bids were opened Nov. 17 and they were awarded the bid at that day’s Board of Works meeting.

“Street pick-up for 2024 will be $3.93 per month per unit with a monthly price of $13,755 for 2024,” he said.

The current per-unit price the city is paying is $3.85 per month per unit.
Mayor Joe Thallemer asked if there were “built-in escalators” in the contract. Dillon said that was correct. The price for 2024 will be $165,060; 2025, $170,520; 2026, $176,820; 2027, $182,700; and for 2028 the price will be $189,000.

In other business, the board:

• Approved the 2024 stormwater utility and wastewater treatment utility budget guidelines as presented by Superintendent Brian Davison.
The budget for the stormwater is $1.3 million, while the wastewater budget is $8,925,259.

“Just as a reminder, as a separate utility, the utility manager is responsible to present these budgets to the Board of Works. It’s not in our municipal budget. (They’re) separate budgets, and don’t really go before the council, they just come here for acknowledgement,” Thallemer said, though the city council is kept abreast of the utilities.

• Approved a change order from SiteWorx Services for the sidewalk improvement projects on Center and Bronson streets, as presented by Dillon. The change order increased the Center Street project cost by $823.72 for some additional necessary work, and the Bronson Street project by $11,406.28. He said the increases were for “increased quantities” on both projects.

The board also approved the pay application from SiteWorx for a total of $97,211, which includes the change order increases.

Dillon said the work turned out great and he was pleased with the projects.

• Approved Main Street Warsaw’s road closure request for 3:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. 15 for the Third Friday Christmas Celebration. The actual time of the event is from 5 to 8 p.m. Roads to be closed are Center Street between Lake and Indiana streets and Buffalo Street between Main and Market streets.

Main Street Warsaw Member Relations Manager Scott Wiley said the Twinkle Light Parade and a visit from Santa Claus will take place during the Third Friday event.

• Approved pay application No. 3 for $194,135.35 to R. Yoder Construction Inc. for work completed on the Center Lake Recreational Trail construction through Nov. 16.

City engineer Aaron Ott said the project is complete except the deck on the pump house. They are waiting on materials for it, which are scheduled to arrive next week.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the trail is scheduled for noon Dec. 11.
Thallemer said he was “very proud” of the project and everyone’s done a “great job” on it. “I’m very pleased with that project.”

• Approved all the wage increases for all city employees for 2024, as presented by Human Resource Director Denny Harlan.

• Approved pay application No. 38 for $5,509 from American Structurepoint for design work for the Anchorage Road project. The city will be reimbursed 80% from the Indiana Department of Transportation, according to Warsaw Community Economic Development Director Jeremy Skinner.

He said the project will bid sometime after July 2024, but he didn’t know if any construction would start in 2024. Utility work will probably start early next year.

• Approved pay application No. 5 for $21,352.97 from The Troyer Group for construction inspection services for the Lincoln Neighborhood Sidewalk Project, as requested by City Planner Justin Taylor. INDOT will reimburse 80% of the project’s costs.

He said the project is winding down for the winter season, but will gear back up in the spring.

• Accepted a $3,000 grant from the Kosciusko County Convention Recreation and Visitors Commission for the Warsaw Public Arts Commission’s Creative Convergence Project, as presented by Taylor.
“This will go to the Creative Convergence efforts that the Warsaw Public Arts Commission is currently undertaking. They’re fundraising for a community collaboration art project that will involve a national call for an artist to create a permanent installation,” he said.

Thallemer said he was “really excited about it” and it was a “great opportunity” for the community.

• Appointed Juergen Voss to the nine-member Warsaw Plan Commission as the Board of Work’s representative. Voss ran unopposed as a city councilman this year and his four-year term begins in January. Voss replaces Councilman Jeff Grose on the Plan Commission as Grose ran unopposed to become Warsaw’s next mayor.