Warsaw Dive Team is purchasing a bus to replace the emergency response vehicle it’s currently using. During the Board of Works meeting Friday, Police Chief Scott Whitaker asked for the board’s authorization to purchase a 2002 Thomas bus for $6,000 (before trade-in) from Kerlin Bus Sales. He said dive commander Det. Sgt. RJ Nethaway researched the purchase. “Kerlin Bus Sales offered us a great trade-in value of $3,000 for the purchase. That $3,000 will be from the 2017 budget,” Whitaker said. Trading in was the team’s 1991 Ford Econoline E350. Whitaker said the bus will require some internal changes, but “we have the person I think can do that for a limited cost.” The 1991 E350 is in need of replacement for a number of reasons, Whitaker stated. Nethaway told the board, “The current vehicle we have, when loaded with all the equipment, exceeds the gross vehicle weight by about 2,800 pounds. We can’t put all of our equipment on the current vehicle. The bus will allow us to fit all of our equipment on there.” He said that will increase the dive team’s response time. “Also, the dive truck has needed several repairs in the past. Just recently has been repaired,” Nethaway said. Whitaker said the 2002 bus has high mileage on it, but it is a diesel. Getting $3,000 for the trade-in vehicle was a “real value,” he said. Nethaway said Kerlin is letting the dive team keep the E350 until the bus is purchased and correctly fitted. “So the net is $3,000?” Mayor Joe Thallemer asked, to which Whitaker replied it was. In other business, the board: • Reviewed the 2016 annual traffic report, which indicated Warsaw Police investigated 1,027 motor vehicle crashes, up from 980 in 2015. • Approved the annual contract between the Parks & Recreation Department and Wayne Township for the township to give the parks $75,000 for 2017, an increase of $2,500 over 2016. Many residents in Wayne Township live outside the city limits, but make use of city facilities, programs and parks. The money will help offset the park department’s costs. “This is the highest it’s been,” Parks Superintendent Larry Plummer said. • Approved Central Park Concert Series contracts with Marty Miles for $525 to perform acoustic folk music July 14; My Lost Tribe, a rock band, $600, Aug. 18; Smooth Edge 2, a cappella, $750, July 28; The Bulldogs, 1950s and 1960s music, $1,600, June 23; and The J Taylors, big band/classic country/standards, $1,000, Aug. 11. • Approved an agreement with Warsaw Community Schools to use the Lakeview Middle School auditorium as a rain location for the Central Park Concert. Cost is $400 per use, but WCS won’t charge the Parks Department for the first use. Recreation Director Sheila Wieringa said it was only used once in 2016. • Approved contracts for summer concerts stagehands, including Carrie Heflick for $240 for two dates; Paul Lafferty, $360 for three dates; Brett Leach, $240 for two dates; Brian Neher, $360 for three dates; Tim Smith, $360 for three dates; and Tad Heflick, $240 for two dates. Plummer said the stagehands arrive for event at 7:30 a.m. the day of the event and leave about 12:30 a.m. “They work great with our sound man. It’s a great deal for a reasonable price,” he said. • Approved an agreement for $3,500 with H.J. Umbaugh & Associates for post-employment benefits reporting, as requested by Clerk-Treasurer Lynne Christiansen. • Approved the hiring of James Martin as a part-time electrician for the wastewater treatment utility at $17 per hour.
