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After the Kosciusko County Commissioners approved the memorandum of understanding Tuesday between the county and city, the Warsaw Board of Public Works and Safety approved the MOU Friday for Warsaw Municipal Airport Capital Improvement Projects.
Airport Manager Nick King explained to the Board of Works, “This is a memorandum of understanding, or agreement, with the county. The county commissioners have partnered with the airport. They will be contributing $500,000 towards the phase II of our east-west runway rehabilitation project.”
He said they got the bids in and the Warsaw Board of Aviation Commissioners awarded those at their meeting July 8.
“This is just to enter into the agreement with the county so that they can contribute toward that project,” King said.
Warsaw Mayor Jeff Grose asked how many years now has $500,000 in support come from the county. He said he had great appreciation for the county’s support in the past for the airport, which is not just a municipal airport but a community and regional airport. He asked King to provide a brief history on the support from the county.
King said if the Board of Works were to approve the MOU at their meeting Friday, it would be the third year the county partners with the city on the project.
“We’re hoping for at least one more next year as the third and final phase of the runway project. With the state and federal grants and projects we have going on, by the end of ’28, possibly ’29, depending on our funding schedule, all of our major asphalt at the airport will be replaced. So we will go from having some of the oldest asphalt in the state to some of the newest, and that just really decreases the wear and tear on the aircraft that are flying in and out of our airport. We have asphalt that is over 40 years old out at the airport that we are still trying to maintain,” King said.
This year, they are doing the north-south taxiway.
“And so, this project will be going in conjunction with that project,” he stated, which will help decrease the amount that the airport’s tenants are impacted.
Grose expressed his appreciation for the support from other local, state and federal government agencies to support the city’s efforts to serve businesses and the people that work at those businesses.
Councilwoman Diane Quance said she hoped they still have the county’s support even after the runway improvements are made as the airport provides economic development to the entire county.
She made the motion to approve the MOU, Board member George Clemens seconded the motion and it passed 3-0.
Earlier in the meeting, Warsaw Human Resources Director Denny Harlan recognized the milestone service anniversaries for four city employees.
Jeremy Humes, parks department electrician, and Matthew Trump, street department, were recognized for five years of service. Warsaw Police Department officer Clayton Rieder was recognized for 10 years of service, but he was unable to be present. For 40 years of service to the city, Steven Rockey, retired from the WPD but currently with the airport, was recognized.
In other business, the Board approved:
• For the Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory to purchase a 2026 Chevy Silverado 1500 SSV 4x4 for $47,653 from Kelley Chevy, as requested by Assistant Chief William Kornrumph. The WWFT Board approved the purchase at their July 7 meeting.
• For the WWFT to make an emergency purchase of a new generator for station 17 to replace a 40-year generator that had a critical failure, as requested by Kornrumph. Currently, station 17 doesn’t have a generator. The WWFT Board approved the purchase at their July 7 meeting. The lowest bid was for $87,686.43 from Keough & Sons Electric LLC.
• For the Warsaw Police Department to enter into a memorandum of understanding with Health First Kosciusko for a $2,264 grant for CARE kits, as requested by Deputy Chief Bryan Sherwin.
• The annual joint funding agreement with the United States Geological Survey for operations of the Pike Lake stream gage for $4,400, as requested by the Warsaw Stormwater Utility. The period is from Oct. 1, 2026, through Sept. 30, 2027.
• The new hire and change in payroll report, as presented by Harlan.
Danielle Morris was hired July 13 as the new administrative assistant for Oakwood Cemetery, replacing Leigh Ann Denlinger, who is retiring at the end of the month. She will be paid $23 per hour.
Asher Meyer was hired, effective Aug. 16, as the Warsaw Police Department’s 44th officer. He will be paid $2,550.84 biweekly. With Meyer’s hire as a probationary officer, Harlan said the police department will be fully staffed.
• The travel requests, as presented by Harlan.
