Among the 2024 contracts approved by the Warsaw Board of Public Works and Safety on Friday were for the city attorney and a number of nonprofits.
City attorney Scott Reust, of Rockhill Pinnick, explained that last year his retainer was $100,000 and that was increased by 3% for 2024 to $103,000. The retainer is to be paid in 12 installments of $8,583.33, according to the contract worksheet.
He said he had been at an hourly rate of $220 for several years. That’s been increased to $275, which is $100 below the rate what he bills people for private work.
“The $275-per-hour rate is for what we call outside the contract, and that’s basically litigation work that we file litigation in court and appear in court. That triggers some additional malpractice insurance policies, appearing in court, those kind of things. We don’t do that very often,” Reust said.
Mayor Joe Thallemer said the 3% increase was a very modest amount, and work billed hourly outside of the contract “is very, very common” since he’s been mayor. “I have no problem with this.”
The contract was approved 3-0.
The board then went through the nonprofit contracts, approving all that came before them.
“Remember, the city changed their funding of broad-reach nonprofit to very specific where they’re actually providing services that the city otherwise couldn’t provide in a series of five different areas,” Thallemer stated.
The 2024 nonprofit contracts approved included: $10,000 for Beaman Home; $70,000 to Animal Welfare League of Kosciusko County, in 12 installments of $5,833.33; Kosciusko Area Bus Service, $21,000; Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation, $100,000, payable in 12 monthly installments, with $10,000 of that to go for dues to the Northeast Regional Partnership; $25,000, Kosciusko County Senior Services; and $20,000, Lilly Center for Lakes and Streams.
The 2024 lease agreement with Kosciusko Farmers Market was approved at $2,500. Thallemer said they use the money to promote the monthly farmers market.
For the Main Street coordinator, the 2024 agreement was approved at $30,000. Thallemer said, “This was contemplated after the HyettPalma study. Discussed at council. In discussions with Main Street, this will go to help support a new position to implement the HyettPalma recommendations.” He said he didn’t think the individual has been hired yet.
The Warsaw Housing Authority 2024 agreement was approved at $35,000. WHA “basically administers Section (8), rental assistance, and that’s basically it. Been doing this since I’ve been around,” Thallemer said.
The Warsaw Main Street Facade Grant was doubled to $50,000 for 2024, after a “lot of discussion and the recommendation of HyettPalma,” Thallemer said.
Councilwoman and Board member Diane Quance said she was excited as she could remember a time when the facade grant wasn’t all used up and now there’s a waiting line.
The last agreement was for $31,100 for the contract with Warsaw Main Street. That’s unchanged from last year.
A special claim for $6,435 was then presented to the board from Baker Tilly.
Thallemer said, “This was a Baker Tilly analysis of street, fire department projects for the coming year. So it’s just looking at the impact of bonds on the tax rate.”
The special claim was approved.
Airport Manager Nick King and GIS coordinator Mary Beaman, members of the Warsaw IT Committee, presented a contract for an analysis and some on-site training for the city’s Elements software users. The total cost is $12,500. The contract was approved.