The Warsaw Board of Works approved the proposal of Gasoline Equipment Service Co. Inc. for $29,510 to remove a 10,000-gallon underground gas tank and 6,000-gallon diesel barrel at the former NIPSCO property.

Also approved for the same building is a 15-foot easement and security lights on the property. The contract with engineering and architect company Ken Herceg and Associates, South Bend, was approved for renovating the former NIPSCO garage, and their design fees of $12,540 for renovation of the garage were approved.

In other business:

• The board approved the Warsaw Fire Department to have an extra wellness profile for the firefighters in addition to their regular physicals. Fire Chief Matt Warren explained that a profile already has been scheduled and money has been budgeted for it. The cost is $25 extra per firefighter for 26 employees.

Warren believes this profile will benefit the department in knowing the physical condition of the employees. Warren also said that once this evaluation is completed, it is his intention to begin a fitness program for the employees.

The board also approved the purchase of new self-contained breathing apparatus from Hoosier Fire Equipment Inc. for $74,950. The Fire Department will sell their own packs rather than trade them in. The money will be put back into the department budget.

• The following new hires were approved: Kristy Mehlberg for the Warsaw Building and Planning Department; Shaun Gardner for the Warsaw Parks Department; Melvin Keplinger for the Warsaw Sewage Department; Scott Martin for the sewage department; Cheryl Thomas for the sewage department; Tim Hunt for the Warsaw Street Department; and Scott Frush for the Street Department.

Members of the Board of Works are: Mayor Ernie Wiggins, Jerry Patterson and Charles Smith. [[In-content Ad]]