In a whirlwind of transfer requests, the Warsaw city council approved seven ordinances Monday to allow funds to be relocated in various city departments.

Due to recent increases in fuel costs, two of the ordinances passed involved enlarging operating supply budgets.

The Fire Department transferred $8,000 from fire salaries to operating supplies, and $20,000 was moved inside the police department from police utilities to operating supplies.

Other transfers were approved to cover Public Employees Retirement Funds, machinery and equipment budgets in various departments.

The board approved an aviation department request for $200,000 in appropriations to accommodate changes to the Hangar Taxiway project and an expansion of an airport hanger at the Warsaw Municipal Airport that Zimmer leases from the city.

Zimmer also was approved for the continuation of its tax abatement from a 2004 agreement on personal and real property. Zimmer estimated adding 270 new jobs over a 10-year time period, and have currently added 20 since the abatement's initial agreement.

In other issues, members discussed a salary ordinance to modify 2005 and 2006 police shift premiums. Under the ordinance, premiums would not be awarded to officers who have been demoted or who have been relocated due to disciplinary reasons.

"I don't like moving officers to different shifts as punishment," councilman Bob Morrison said. "You're just moving a problem to a different shift and nothing is being fixed."

Morrison and other council members said they wouldn't want the premium penalty to be a career-long punishment for officers, and hoped that a reevaluation could be conducted for penalized officers after six months.

After discussion, the board approved the ordinances under the advisement that penalties will be readjusted accordingly after a time of no less than six months and no more than one year.

The board also:

• Approved trick-or-treat hours on Oct. 31, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

• Approved WCDC's request for street closings for Warsaw's Spooktakular. Beginning at 4:30 p.m. Oct. 28, Center Street, from Lake to Indiana Street, will be closed until the end of the event. Also closing are Buffalo Street, from the parking lot on South Buffalo to Main Street; and Market, from Lake to Indiana Street. No trick-or-treating is allowed before 6 p.m.

• Approved modifications to the city's travel policy for city employees. Changes to various expenses valid for reimbursement were made to better organize the city's financial responsibilities.

• Approved Umbaugh and Associates, Plymouth, to move forward on refinancing bonds to cover future costs related to the city's CSO storage solution.

Present members were Mayor Ernie Wiggins, Morrison, George Clemens, Charlie Smith, Jerry Patterson, Joe Thallemer, Jeff Grose and Bill Rhoades.

After the council's adjournment, the Board of Public Works and Safety met to discuss a personal issue inside the Police Department.

Warsaw Police Captain Perry Hunter announced a four-day suspension and overall demotion of Corporal Eric Coburn. Coburn will be demoted to the rank of patrolman and will be reduced in pay accordingly. The board approved the demotion.

Board of Works members are Wiggins, Smith and Patterson. [[In-content Ad]]