Bids for the CR 200S sewer extension project were opened at the Warsaw Board of Public Works and Safety meeting Friday, with one coming in less than the engineer’s estimate and the other one coming in higher.
The base bid from G & G Hauling & Excavating, Warsaw, was $1,314,780.46, while the base bid from HRP Construction, South Bend, was $1,483,820.
The engineer’s estimate was $1,353,600, according to city engineer Aaron Ott. He said the bids were within the budget for the project and requested to take the two bids under advisement to make sure the bids are fully responsible. He said a recommendation on awarding a bid will be presented to the Board of Works at their next meeting.
The Board approved taking the bids under advisement and awarding the project at the Sept. 2 meeting.
City Planner Justin Taylor requested the Board accept the donation of 3.95 acres at 216 S. Hand Ave. from Indiana American Water to the city. He said IAW was planning on retaining a small easement through a portion of the property, but otherwise wanted to donate it.
“There has been some interest in this parcel from the Warsaw Rotary Club, as well as the city, to develop a dog park. The Rotary Club would like to work with the city to raise money for the development of that site,” Taylor said.
Mayor Joe Thallemer asked if there were any concerns with flooding on the property.
“The parcel does periodically become inundated with water. It is right by the creek there,” Taylor responded. “As far as the use of the site, a park would probably be the best use. It doesn’t have a lot of industrial value because of the flooding issues so they would have to raise it significantly. But something like a park can be inundated and not cause any major issues. We’d have open-frame structures there, or we could place a restroom facility that was elevated, but it wouldn’t have to be the entire site. It could be continued flooding and that would be a natural process that would happen on the site. We would design it around that, knowing that it does flood.”
The Board approved accepting the property donation.
Taylor also presented a contract between the Warsaw Building and Planning Department and Chuck Shane Excavating for $8,500 for the demolition of the four-apartment structure at 500 Chinworth Court, owned by Ralph Fitch.
“This property was dilapidated and went to code hearing over the span of several years. So, when there was no resolution with the property owner, there comes a time when we have to seek these demolitions,” Taylor said.
On June 28, a code hearing was held to hear the city’s case against Fitch. The structure at 500 Chinworth Court has several building code violations and was deemed an unsafe structure by Code Hearing Officer Tom Earhart, who also ordered the building demolished.
Taylor said Friday that they have a bidding process for the demolition jobs and Chuck Shane Excavating was the lowest bid.
Thallemer said the code hearing officer gives a property owner adequate time to respond to these requests and “this isn’t something we take lightly.” He said they don’t like tearing buildings down, but in this case “we don’t have a choice.”
The Board accepted the demolition bid from Chuck Shane Excavating.
In other business, the Board of Works approved:
• The acquisition of two right-of-way parcels for the Anchorage Road project, as requested by Warsaw Community Economic and Development Director Jeremy Skinner. A parcel from Shamrock Village MHC LLC is for $21,140, and another parcel is from D Group Inc. for $1,120. The funds to pay for the property acquisitions will come out of the Northern Tax Increment Finance District.
• A one-year full-service agreement with Right Stuff Software for $27,300 for 2023, as requested by Human Resource Director Denny Harlan. The agreement is for the time-keeping software for the city.
• Signing the contract for the Warsaw Street Department with Ceres Solutions Cooperative for diesel prices for the remainder of 2022, taking effect Sept. 1, as requested by Street Superintendent Dustin Dillon.
The bids for on-road diesel ($3.745 per gallon), off-road diesel ($3.895 per gallon) and ethanol-free gasoline ($3.480 per gallon) were opened and awarded to Ceres Solutions Cooperative on Aug. 5.
• Change order No. 3 with HRP Construction Inc. for the McKinley storm sewer improvements for a deduction of $5,400.92. The reduction in the contract amount was due to less paving done than originally budgeted and planned for.
A pay application for $52,643.63 with HRP Construction Inc. for work on the improvements also was approved.
• Pay application No. 31 for $43,660 to Kokosing Industrial Inc. for work on the plant expansion project.
• An agreement with ITG for $5,200 for a new copier for the mayor’s office and human resource department to share. The amount includes ongoing service and maintenance for one year. The need for a new copier this year was anticipated so it was put into this year’s budget, Thallemer said.
• A new hire for the Warsaw Parks and Recreation Department. Andrew Daeger was hired as a full-time laborer at $18.58 per hour.
• A street closure for East Clark Street between North Lincoln Street and North Lindberg Drive for a neighborhood block party on Oct. 8. The road will be closed from 4 to 11 p.m., with the block party scheduled for 5 to 11 p.m. The request was made by Patrick Loebs.
• A street closure for South Indiana Street from East Fort Wayne Street to East Center Street for the Boy Scouts of America Lincolnway Cubmobile races on Sept. 17. The road closure does include the intersections at Indiana and Fort Wayne and Indiana and Main, but not the intersection at Indiana and Center. The road will be closed from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., with the event scheduled for 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
