By David Slone
Times-Union

WARSAW — Several road closures, contracts and pay applications were approved by the Warsaw Board of Public Works and Safety on Friday, March 15, including a payment for the Warsaw Chemical groundwater cleanup.

Warsaw Economic and Development Director Jeremy Skinner presented a payment request from Lynn Douglas Inc. for $33,376 for the cleanup.

The funds are coming from the reissuing of the State Revolving Fund loan for the wastewater treatment plan, which “granted us roughly $3.5 million of ‘free’ money,” he said. “Some of that went to the groundwater cleanup of Warsaw Chemical and the other went to the lift station that we built out by the airport.”

Board member George Clemens asked if the Warsaw Chemical project was about done. Skinner said it’s “nearing” being done.

“They’re testing, so they’re continuing the testing. They’re doing their plan of remediation, and then they test it to see how it’s working,” Skinner said. He thought they were supposed to get a report in the next week or so of that ongoing work.

“So our hope is that the plan they have will work and clean up that groundwater. If it doesn’t, they’ll have to go back to the drawing board and figure out another solution. But, right now, this is the plan they’re enacting,” Skinner stated.

The board approved the pay application.

In other business:

• Zimmer Biomet requested the closure of East Main Street between Detroit and Indiana streets, including a portion of High Street, for 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. March 20.

The road closure is for the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Plug and Play, which is a company Zimmer Biomet is working on a new initiative with, according to a Zimmer Biomet spokesperson at the meeting. VIP guests will include Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb.

The board approved the road closure.

• Bussard Automotive requested the closure of Smith Street between Bronson and Maple streets on June 29 from 4 to 8 p.m. for a classic car cruise-in and shop open house.

Kim Bussard said during the open house there will be hot dogs, hamburgers and chips. “We just want people to come in and see what we’ve been doing there for over 20 years,” he said.

There’s no fee or judging for the cruise-in. With no concerns about the road closure from the emergency services, the board approved the request.

• Human Resource Director Denny Harlan recognized two city employees for their milestone anniversaries in March. Warsaw Police Department Cpl. Phillip Reed has served Warsaw for 15 years, while Capt. Joel Beam has worked for the city for 25 years.

“Both officers have given us a great deal of their time and life, and we’re very thankful for that,” Harlan said.

In his comments, Beam said, “First of all, on a serious note, I’d like to thank my savior Jesus Christ for 25 years. I am blessed to be alive and blessed to work for this city. And, secondly, I’d like to thank the love of my life, my Shelby. Been married 28 years, and we still like each other.”

Reed is a school resource officer for Warsaw Community High School.

• Three sealed quotes for asphalt material and two quotes for concrete materials were opened and read for the street department. Bidders for the various asphalt materials were Brooks Construction, Phend & Brown and Niblock Excavating. For the concrete, bidders were Kuert Concrete and Ozinga.

All bids were accepted by the board as presented so the department can purchase from multiple vendors for 2024 as needed.

• The board approved a contract with Baker Tilly for the city’s annual financial comprehensive plan for $35,000. Clerk-Treasurer Lynne Christiansen said the plan helps the city with budgeting and planning for the next five years.

• City engineer Aaron Ott presented the final payment and release of retainage for $59,000 to CME Corp. for the Zimmer Biomet Center Lake Pavilion renovation project. The board approved the payment.

• Public Works Superintendent Dustin Dillon requested permission to join the state bid for the 2024-25 salt bid. He sought permission to commit to a quantity of 1,800 tons of untreated road salt. The contract does allow the ability for the city to take 20% more or less. He said they’ve participated in the state bid for years and it allows them to get a better bid on it.

The board approved his request.

Dillon also presented a request to purchase a Bobcat L95 Compact Wheelloader from Bobcat of Warsaw for $49,900 after trade-in. He’s trading in an 1991 excavator and a 2010 mini-loader. Before the trade-ins and government discounts, the original price of the Bobcat was about $111,000, he estimated.

The board approved the purchase.

• Wastewater utilities Superintendent Brian Davison requested approval for an agreement with Wessler Engineering for 2024 on-calls engineer services. He said they’ve done the agreement for several years and it’s for an amount not to exceed $40,000.

After the board approved that, they also approved a pay application for $316,003.25 to Inliner Solutions LLC for work on the recently completed sanitary sewer and stormline rehabilitation project.

Davison said there will be one more payment.

His last request to the board was for a notice to proceed and agreement with G & G Hauling & Excavating Inc. for the Park Avenue storm sewer improvements in the amount of $249,999.95.

• Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory Chief Brian Mayo presented a request for the board to approve a contract with Dive Rescue International for DRI to host two classes in the city Sept. 1-4.

“It’s a huge benefit to us to have them bring them here versus sending people out,” he said.

DRI hosted classes in Warsaw in 2013, 2021 and 2022. The board approved the contract.

• The board approved the new hire and change in payroll report as presented by Harlan. The three new hires in the report include Lynnae Miller as the administrative assistant at the parks department for $22.45 per hour; Tabitha Langford as accounts payable in the clerk’s office for $23 per hour; and Ashton Irwin as a groundskeeper at Oakwood Cemetery for $19 per hour.

• The board approved Warsaw Parks and Recreation Department Superintendent Larry Plummer’s request to purchase event cancellation insurance for $1,822.60 for the rock and country concerts this summer.