Text and Photos
By David Slone
Times-Union

WARSAW — The city of Warsaw’s longest-serving employee was one of three men recognized Friday, Sept. 20, at the Board of Public Works and Safety meeting.

Warsaw Human Resource Director Denny Harlan recognizes city employees’ service anniversaries once a month at the meeting, and for September he presented certificates to Troy Skees, electrician, wastewater treatment utility, 20 years; Arden McFarland, public works, 25 years; and Parks and Recreation Department Superintendent Larry Plummer Jr., 40 years.

Noting that their years of service combined totaled 85 years, Harlan said, “It’s really awesome.”

Members of the Parks and Recreation Department attended Friday’s meeting for Plummer’s recognition, as well as Plummer’s wife, MaryLou, and mother, Dorothy.

At the end of the board meeting, Plummer was asked by Mayor Jeff Grose if he had anything he’d like to say.

“I’ve enjoyed my career with the city,” he said, adding that he’s worked with a lot of people, had a lot of good crew members and worked for a lot of mayors. “I’m looking forward to at least another 10 years.”

In other business, the Board of Works approved:

• A pay application for $25,201 to Lynn Douglas Inc. for the ongoing Warsaw Chemical groundwater cleanup, as requested by Community and Economic Development Director Jeremy Skinner.

“This was part of the refinancing of the sewage bonds a few years back,” Skinner said. “You’re just approving this pay application which will get submitted to the state for payment.”

Councilwoman Diane Quance asked if the city committed a certain amount of money toward the cleanup. Skinner said they committed about $1.2 million to $1.3 million toward it.

• A pay application for $6,649.17 to The Troyer Group for construction inspection services for the Lincoln Neighborhood Sidewalk Project, as requested by City Planner Justin Taylor. The Indiana Department of Transportation is paying 80% of each pay application for the project.

“The project has currently reached a point where most of the work has been done. Residents in that area can expect to see some trees going in, in October, and there’s a few things on our punch list that we’ll have to do to close out the project,” Taylor said.

“There were a couple utilities that need to be relocated and some ramps done. Then there’s little punch list items that we’ll be doing in that area to close out the project.”

As the project winds down, he said there’s construction inspection that needs to be completed to produce documentation for INDOT.

Grose said it’s an “amazing” project and the city’s received thanks for it, and neighbors in the neighborhood have been very patient.

Taylor gave kudos to city engineer Aaron Ott for being instrumental in making the project successful. “He’s the reason why it was able to happen the way it did,” Taylor stated.

• A contract with Firehouse Santa for $500 for Santa Claus to attend the Light Up the Night event on Dec. 6 to meet and greet with children at Central Park Plaza from 6 to 8 p.m., as requested by Warsaw Parks Recreation Director Stephanie Schaefer. The funds are sponsorship dollars.

“I also want to make note that we are going to have live reindeer there this year,” she said. “Trying to make it better than it already is.”

Schaefer also presented, and the board approved, two contracts with Firehouse Santa for Santa Claus to attend the Santa’s Workshop event on Dec. 13 and 14 for $500 each day.
Santa will be at the Pete Thorn Gym from 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 13 and 9 to 11 a.m. Dec. 14.

• For the Warsaw Police Department to apply for the Comprehensive Hoosier Highways Injury Reduction Program (CHHIRP) grant, which they have done in years past, as requested by WPD Capt. Joel Beam.

The grant is through the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, but coordinated through the town of Winona Lake for the Kosciusko County Traffic Safety Partnership. Beam said the grant pays off-duty officers to enforce traffic law, including speeding on U.S. 30 and seatbelt enforcement.

The Traffic Safety Partnership is expecting about $80,000 for the county, with WPD’s portion being approximately $20,000. There is no local match for the grant.

• For the WPD to participate in the Stop Arm Violation Enforcement grant for 2025, as requested by Beam. He said the grant pays off-duty officers to follow Warsaw Community Schools buses and enforce stop arm violations.

It’s expected that the Traffic Safety Partnership will receive about $40,000, with WPD’s portion being about $10,000. There is no local match for the grant.

• A contract between the city and Metzger Property Services LLC for an online auction, as presented by Whitney Olson, mayor’s office administrative assistant, who is working with Jeff Ticknor, WPD, on the matter.

Olson said all of the city’s departments currently are gathering a list of the items they have for auction. Those lists will be provided to Olson and Ticknor who then will coordinate getting the items to the police department. Metzger Auction will take photos of the items, catalog them and get them posted online.

The auction date is to be determined, but Olson said it will be toward the end of October.
Quance said she thinks this will be a lot more effective than the public auctions.

According to the contract, Metzger Property Services will be paid 5% of the gross sale dollars. All auction labor and the costs for clerking and cashiers’ services will be paid by Metzger. Cost of advertising, online bidding, rent and security, if wanted, will be paid by Metzger. All items are sold “as is.”

• The contract with Keystone Cooperative for on-road diesel ($2.734 per gallon), off-road diesel ($2.847 per gallon) and 90 clear gasoline ($3.716 per gallon) for 2025 for the city, as requested by Public Works Superintendent Dustin Dillon. The sealed bids were opened at the Sept. 6 Board of Works meeting.

• A pay application for $156,060.90 for Niblock Excavating for reconstruction of Lincoln Street (Hodges Addition phase III), as requested by Dillon. The project is funded in part by the state’s Community Crossings Matching Grant fund. Phase I is expected to be completed by Sept. 30. Phase II will start in October, with Phase III finalized in November.

• The purchase of a 2024 Ford Transit cargo van from Model 1 Ford of Warsaw for $49,694.75, including trade-in of a 2014 Ford F350 dump truck and a 1986 Chevrolet P Series van, as requested by Dillon.

• A service agreement for $1,176 with Flow-Tech Plumbing & Heating Inc. for the servicing and inspection of six furnaces and six air conditioning units at the Zimmer Biomet Center Lake Pavilion, as requested by Plummer.

• For the Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory to apply for and accept a grant for Tanya Jackson to attend the Crisis Intervention Team International Coordinator Certification Course, as requested by Fire Chief Joel Shilling. The grant will pay for the entire course, which is $450. Jackson is a responder/navigator with WWFT’s CARES (Community Assistance, Resources, Emergency Services) program.

• The new hire/change in payroll report and travel request as presented by Harlan.