At the February meeting of the Warsaw Board of Works on Friday, Feb. 6, the board took care of some general housekeeping.
First, the board resolved some unfinished business regarding the street department. Warsaw Street Department accepted bids for a new street sweeper. Jeff Beeler, superintendent of public works, stated that several machines were tested. He recommended a machine from Brown Equipment Company.
It was reported that this street sweeper was not the lowest bid, but was the machine that most closely matched the specifications, such as a 99 horsepower engine, that the street department was looking for.
The board approved the bid. The street sweeper will be financed over four years. It will cost $172,575 with trade ins.
The board approved an agreement with Wessler Engineering Inc. for a lift station project study at the technology park. City Planner Jeremy Skinner reported that the funding for the study would come out of the northern TIF District, and that the plan was to construct a lift station that could accommodate future growth at the tech park. The cost of $42,000 was approved.
A road closure for the Hero 5K run on April 25 was approved. Buffalo Street between Main Street and Center Street will be closed from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. the day of the race. Some other streets may be closed off briefly for racers to cross the road.
The board accepted a bid of $75,000 from First Source Bank for disposal of the Lake Street property. “I feel confident that the price we’ve got is a good price,” said Skinner.
Warsaw Parks Department Superintendent Larry Plummer reported he’d received bids for phase two of a project changing the bulbs in the ornamental lights in Central Park to LEDs. This project eliminates the need for ballasts and the lights and results in significant energy cost savings. The bid for the project was awarded to Wabash Electric for $13,271.32.
Green Acres Mobile Home Park requested a credit for a late fee incurred in December 2014. “I have no sympathy here. A bills a bill, you pay it when its due,” said board member Charles Smith. The request was denied.
The Warsaw Police Department requested permission to solicit bids for three new police cruisers. The request was approved.
All claims and travel requests were approved, and the meeting was adjourned.
The next Warsaw Board of Works meeting is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 20.