Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory Chief Joel Shilling requested permission from the Warsaw Board of Public Works and Safety on Friday to close Canal Street, from North Indiana Street to the east parking lots, and North Indiana Street, north of Canal Street, to Buffalo Street for Family Safety Day on Sept. 19.
The road closures would start at 7 a.m. and reopen at 1 p.m., with Family Safety Day starting at 9 a.m. and going until noon.
“It’s the same that we did last year for our annual Family Safety Day event,” he said.
Shilling said it’s not anticipated that they’ll have to use North Indiana Street because donations for Family Safety Day are down and the event is not as big as it has been in the past. However, they are requesting North Indiana to be included in case something changes.
He thanked Warsaw Parks and Recreation Department Superintendent Larry Plummer and his staff for their assistance for Family Safety Day.
Councilwoman Diane Quance stated, “This is a well-attended event, and especially the kids in the community always look forward to it.” She thanked those involved for all their time and effort in making it possible and made the motion to approve the road closure, which passed 2-0.
Other Business
In other business, the board approved:
• Pay application #4 from Core Mechanical Services for $218,061.38 for HVAC improvements at City Hall, as presented by Public Works Director Dustin Dillon. He said the work is continuing.
• A contract between the Warsaw Stormwater Utility and Second Nature Consulting for an amount not to exceed $30,000 for on-calls, as requested by Utility Manager Brian Davison.
• The new hire/change in payroll report, as presented by Human Resource generalist Montana Gardner.
The two new hires includes Kyle Alger as the city engineer at a biweekly pay of $3,653.84, starting April 6; and Viviana Soriano as the Building administrative assistant for the Building & Planning Department at $22 per hour, starting April 6. Currently, Amber Utter is the building administrative assistant but she’s moving to the planning side to be the planning administrative assistant at $24.50 per hour, starting March 29.
David Neace, maintenance technician with the wastewater treatment utility earned a merit pay increase to $28.04 per hour, starting March 1.
Warsaw Police Department probationary patrol officer Jacob Anderson’s biweekly pay was corrected to $2,627.37 as his pay approved at the last Board of Works meeting did not account for his three years of longevity pay since he’s a lateral transfer.
• All three of the travel requests, as presented by Gardner.
• The annual contract between the Parks Department and Anderson Property Management for the maintenance of beds and urns at Central Park for $2,222 per month for nine months for a total of $19,998, as requested by Plummer.
• A contract with Kennedy’s Kitchen for entertainment for the Summer Concert Series from 7 to 8:30 p.m. May 22 at the Central Park Plaza for $1,500 out of the Recreation Department’s regular budget, as requested by Recreation Director Stephanie Schaefer. Kennedy’s Kitchen performs Irish music.
• A contract with Beez and the Rocker for entertainment for the Summer Concert Series from 7 to 8:30 p.m. May 29 at Lucerne Park Amphitheater for $500 from Kosciusko County Community Foundation grant funds, as requested by Schaefer. They are a ukulele-driven rock-and-roll duo.
• A contract with Matt Fawcett, contemporary Christian music, for entertainment for the Summer Concert Series from 7 to 8:30 p.m. June 12 at Lucerne Park Amphitheater for $1,750, as requested by Schaefer.
• Two contracts with Brian Fravel, doing business as Pro Audio Services, to provide production for the rock concert at Glover Pavilion on June 19 for $11,125 and for the country concert at Glover Pavilion on July 17 for $4,500. Funds will come out of the regular budget, Schaefer stated.
• A contract with Derek Tenney to be a DJ for the Mommy and Son Dance from 6 to 8 p.m. May 1 at the Zimmer Biomet Center Lake Pavilion for $250, as requested by Schaefer. The funds will come out of the regular budget.
• A contract with the Penguinnes for $1,200 to provide three human hamster wheels and staff to work a station at the Family Carnival from 6 to 9 p.m. July 31 at Central Park for $1,200, as requested by Schaefer. It will be paid for by sponsorship money from Mariano Oliveri State Farm Office.
• A request from Cold Delights to reduce the peddler’s permit fee to $300 for their mobile ice cream business, as presented by Warsaw Assistant Planner Leah Parker. Cold Delights is an out-of-county business and has received the reduced rate for the last four years.
• For Warsaw Police Department Chief of Police Scott Whitaker to pursue sealed bids for a 2026 Ford Transit 350 Extended Wheelbase U8U Gas Cargo Van. The quotes must be received by Clerk-Treasurer Lynne Christiansen at 10 a.m. April 2 to be opened at the April 2 Board of Works meeting at 10:30 a.m. Whitaker said the vehicle was a part of the 2026 budget as approved by the city council.
• Street Department Superintendent Joe Vetor’s request to accept an invitation from the state to join the state bid for the 2026-27 salt bid. Estimated quantities are due no later than March 27 to OneIndiana to participate in the statewide bid. Vetor said he wants to commit to a quantity of 2,000 tons of untreated road salt, with the minimum commitment of 80% (1,600 tons) and maximum of 120% (2,400 tons).
The next Board of Public Works and Safety meeting will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, April 2 at the Warsaw Police Department Training Center.
