City Hears Plan For More Trees, Shrubs Downtown
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Downtown Warsaw can be green again with sidewalks lined with plantings of trees and shrubs, with a little help from the LandPlan Group, according to Teresa Ho, the city's community development coordinator.
Ho appeared before the Warsaw City Council Monday introducing landscape architect Kevin A. McCrory, of LandPlan, who gave a presentation to the Downtown Action Team recently.
The committee is dedicated to implementing recommendations of the HyettPalma study conducted and presented last year.
HyettPalma urged tree and shrubbery plantings as one way of making downtown more inviting and cosmopolitan.
McCrory said the $24,000 contract for basic services includes a master planning phase, contract document phase, bidding and negotiation and contract administration phase. It would include the redesign of four blocks along Center Street, from High to Washington streets.
He advised the council that proposed trees should be identified at the nursery prior to April 15 to get them above ground before the sap flows or to wait until the fall for plantings.
"We're recommending open tree planters instead of tree grates," he said, adding that the single-tree, street level boxes have proven injurious to tree health.
Councilman Charlie Smith asked if there was enough dirt and space for the trees to grow and expressed concern about root systems interfering in below ground utilities.
McCrory said there were a number of species, such as ornamental pear, which did not encroach on pipes, especially when placed in planters.
Councilman Joe Thallemer questioned the cost of the contract - $24,500 for four blocks - and asked how much redesigned the rest of the city would be.
The architect admitted the master plan for the four blocks would be so detailed the plans could be implemented throughout the rest of the downtown area.
"You won't necessarily need us to come back," he said.
Thallemer asked Ho for a timeline and a list of priorities the downtown action team is considering, which she said she would provide.
"Your priorities aren't necessarily the city's priorities," he said.
Contracts are approved by the Board of Works, and McCrory's appearance before the council was for their information only.
The council welcomed Scout Troop 715, who peppered the members and fire chief Matt Warren with questions at the end of the meeting.
Steven Hodges, Branden Sowers, Ben Blocker, Trenton Porter, Trent McClintock, Ethan Koshnick, Matt Voss and Craig Schneider wondered how many members were on the council, the length of each term, how much the members are paid, what the educational requirements were and asked why the word "unanimous" was used.
Warren was asked how the fire department received funding and how much an average family paid for fire protection.
The boys received a citizen in the community merit badge for their attendance.
In other business, the council:
• Approved several ordinances:
Ordinance 2003-02-01 calls for installation of traffic signs in Lakewood Hills subdivision. The signs have already been placed according to Lacy Francis Jr., public works superintendent. Yield signs are at the northeast corners of Lakewood Hills Drive and Baythorne and Channelview drives. A one-way stop is at the northwest corner of Miner Drive and Lakewood Hills Drive.
Ordinance 2003-02-02 regarded the inclusion of public roads overlooked in 16 annexation orders since July 1996.
City planner Jeff Noffsinger said the roads, streets and highways adjacent to any addition to the city should have been included in each ordinance, but were not.
Ordinance 2003-02-03 calls for the vacation of a portion of Corridor Drive in the East Corridor Industrial Park as requested by 1st Source Bank as trustee of the William B. Bibler I.R.A., Tom Smith and Martha Strayer.
Ordinance 3003-02-04 calls for the vacation of Woodlawn Drive, an unimproved right-of-way in the Phillips Subdivision, west of Hepler Drive and south of Rosemont Ave.
The request comes from property owners Steve and Shirley Rutledge. The plan received a favorable recommendation from the plan commission last week.
Ordinance 2003-002-05 changes the job title "Sewage Collection Manager" to "Director of Collections."
• Heard two police cars were involved in accidents Jan. 5. The council approved transfer of insurance reimbursement checks in the amount of $1,479.43 for car #704, a 1997 Ford, in the amount of $1,475.43 to the and police department's repairs and maintenance account; one for car #741, 1995 Ford, for $4,9876, to the police department's equipment account.
City council members are Bill Rhoades, George Clemens, Charlie Smith, Trish Brown and Joe Thallemer. Jerry Patterson and Jeff Grose were absent. [[In-content Ad]]
Downtown Warsaw can be green again with sidewalks lined with plantings of trees and shrubs, with a little help from the LandPlan Group, according to Teresa Ho, the city's community development coordinator.
Ho appeared before the Warsaw City Council Monday introducing landscape architect Kevin A. McCrory, of LandPlan, who gave a presentation to the Downtown Action Team recently.
The committee is dedicated to implementing recommendations of the HyettPalma study conducted and presented last year.
HyettPalma urged tree and shrubbery plantings as one way of making downtown more inviting and cosmopolitan.
McCrory said the $24,000 contract for basic services includes a master planning phase, contract document phase, bidding and negotiation and contract administration phase. It would include the redesign of four blocks along Center Street, from High to Washington streets.
He advised the council that proposed trees should be identified at the nursery prior to April 15 to get them above ground before the sap flows or to wait until the fall for plantings.
"We're recommending open tree planters instead of tree grates," he said, adding that the single-tree, street level boxes have proven injurious to tree health.
Councilman Charlie Smith asked if there was enough dirt and space for the trees to grow and expressed concern about root systems interfering in below ground utilities.
McCrory said there were a number of species, such as ornamental pear, which did not encroach on pipes, especially when placed in planters.
Councilman Joe Thallemer questioned the cost of the contract - $24,500 for four blocks - and asked how much redesigned the rest of the city would be.
The architect admitted the master plan for the four blocks would be so detailed the plans could be implemented throughout the rest of the downtown area.
"You won't necessarily need us to come back," he said.
Thallemer asked Ho for a timeline and a list of priorities the downtown action team is considering, which she said she would provide.
"Your priorities aren't necessarily the city's priorities," he said.
Contracts are approved by the Board of Works, and McCrory's appearance before the council was for their information only.
The council welcomed Scout Troop 715, who peppered the members and fire chief Matt Warren with questions at the end of the meeting.
Steven Hodges, Branden Sowers, Ben Blocker, Trenton Porter, Trent McClintock, Ethan Koshnick, Matt Voss and Craig Schneider wondered how many members were on the council, the length of each term, how much the members are paid, what the educational requirements were and asked why the word "unanimous" was used.
Warren was asked how the fire department received funding and how much an average family paid for fire protection.
The boys received a citizen in the community merit badge for their attendance.
In other business, the council:
• Approved several ordinances:
Ordinance 2003-02-01 calls for installation of traffic signs in Lakewood Hills subdivision. The signs have already been placed according to Lacy Francis Jr., public works superintendent. Yield signs are at the northeast corners of Lakewood Hills Drive and Baythorne and Channelview drives. A one-way stop is at the northwest corner of Miner Drive and Lakewood Hills Drive.
Ordinance 2003-02-02 regarded the inclusion of public roads overlooked in 16 annexation orders since July 1996.
City planner Jeff Noffsinger said the roads, streets and highways adjacent to any addition to the city should have been included in each ordinance, but were not.
Ordinance 2003-02-03 calls for the vacation of a portion of Corridor Drive in the East Corridor Industrial Park as requested by 1st Source Bank as trustee of the William B. Bibler I.R.A., Tom Smith and Martha Strayer.
Ordinance 3003-02-04 calls for the vacation of Woodlawn Drive, an unimproved right-of-way in the Phillips Subdivision, west of Hepler Drive and south of Rosemont Ave.
The request comes from property owners Steve and Shirley Rutledge. The plan received a favorable recommendation from the plan commission last week.
Ordinance 2003-002-05 changes the job title "Sewage Collection Manager" to "Director of Collections."
• Heard two police cars were involved in accidents Jan. 5. The council approved transfer of insurance reimbursement checks in the amount of $1,479.43 for car #704, a 1997 Ford, in the amount of $1,475.43 to the and police department's repairs and maintenance account; one for car #741, 1995 Ford, for $4,9876, to the police department's equipment account.
City council members are Bill Rhoades, George Clemens, Charlie Smith, Trish Brown and Joe Thallemer. Jerry Patterson and Jeff Grose were absent. [[In-content Ad]]