Warsaw Board of Works and Public Safety had a full agenda of new business to handle Friday morning with contract, purchase and agreement requests among business.

A request by the John C. Peterson American Legion Post No. 49, Warsaw, to close Fort Wayne Street between Buffalo and Lake streets from 8 a.m. until 11 a.m. Saturday, May 16, was approved. The area will accommodate parking for participants in a motorcycle poker run fundraiser for veteran services. The street will reopen as soon as the last motorcycle leaves.

Permission was given to the parks department to solicit bids for a pick-up truck and for the public works to solicit bids for a garbage truck, two rear load conversions, trash cans and trash can advertisements.

The park department’s request will replace the existing 2001 GMC, which is said to have many deficiencies.

Jeff Beeler’s request for the public works is part of a project to upgrade the city’s trash program. A bond, previously issued, included the purchase of equipment to upgrade the trash pick up program saving on labor cost and efficiency. There will be up to 5,000 trash cans sought in 96 gallon or 64 gallon capacities.

Beeler also announced the city has been approved to receive 100 percent reinbursement from the state’s 2015 grade crossing fund, to upgrade signs and pavement markings at all town railroad crossings.

During other business:

• Approved the purchase of a 2016 Ford Transit Connect Van from Rice Ford, Warsaw, at a cost of $21,798, that includes a $2,000 trade-in allowance, for the wastewater department. There was a 3.5 percent difference between Rice Ford’s bid and the lowest bidder from Rochester. “We’re trying to do the right thing and keep it local,” said Thallemer.
• Granted permission for the public works to purchase four tailgate spreaders, a total of $18,196; four dump beds with hoists, a total cost of $41,076, all from Hoosier Equipment, Plymouth; and two zero turn lawn mowers, a total cost of $8,704, from More Farm Store, Columbia City.
• Contracts were approved for the parks department with Charlie Frisinger for $300 to provide a 15-week walking program from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesdays; and with Potawatomi Zoo for $255 to transport and share three farm animals for the Mommy Son event tonight.
• A payment of $3,500 toward the Warsaw-Winona Lake fireworks display on July 4, from the parks department budget, was approved.
• Approved a proposal from Michiana Contracting, Inc., in the amount of $5,700 to replace cables on East Center Street, which currently hold various signs and banners. The current cables are becoming unsafe.
• A contract was signed with Pavement Solutions, Inc., for a road maintenance demonstration at a cost of $7,500. The company will demonstration a hot fiberized crack sealant which is colder and cleaner than the town’s cold applied crack sealant. The demonstration will include sealing approximately 15,000 to 20,000 square yards.
• Signed a lease agreement with Kosciusko County Farmers Market LLC to use and close Center Street, between Lake and Buffalo streets, and use of the city hall parking lot for the farmers market. The street will be closed from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday May 2 through Oct. 31. The farmers market will pay $5 per month for the use.
• Approved travel requests for seven city employees to attend conferences.
• A contract was approved with Barker Archives, Inc., for the destruction of city records, approved for destruction by the state board of accounts. The company will charge 15 cents per pound collected and a $30 trip charge.
• A lease agreement with First Source Bank for a street sweeper was approved, at an interest rate of 1.680 percent. Payments, over five years, will be $44,086.02 yearly.

The next meeting of the board will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 15.