City OKs Funds For Rail Study

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.

By Jennifer [email protected]

Warsaw Board of Public Works and Safety Friday approved a memorandum of understanding that will bring Warsaw one step closer to being a part of a high speed rail system proposal.
The memorandum will allow Warsaw to donate $23,000 in funds to the city of Fort Wayne to assist with the completion of an environmental impact study for a possible high speed rail line with a proposed stop in Warsaw.
The proposal is for the high-speed rail line to be between Columbus, Ohio, and Chicago, with stops at several cities in between, including Fort Wayne and Warsaw.
The board approved the memorandum to transfer funds from Warsaw to Fort Wayne for the purpose of funding the completion of the Tier One Environmental Impact Study.
“If the study is not approved, then the money we donate will not be used for something else and will be returned to us,” said Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer.
The funds will be transferred by agreement among participating governments to a qualified project manager selected by the participating Indiana municipalities who will be responsible for getting bids, selecting the general contractor and overseeing the performance of the study.
The board also approved a $38,905 contract between the city and A & Z Engineering for redesign and bidding of the Market Street project.
According to Jeremy Skinner, city planner, the project will include milling and resurfacing 2,400 feet of roadway from Argonne Road to Bronson Street; widening the roadway by 2 feet each side and replacing the curb and gutter and drive approaches.
The project also will include removing existing sidewalks and replacing them with 6-foot sidewalks on the north side and 10-foot sidewalks on the south side.
The city also wishes to place street lighting and trees at the project site.
This is the first phase of the Market Street reconstruction project as the city intends to submit phase two for federal funding later this year.
The intent of the project will allow for safe on-street parking, connect downtown Warsaw with Krebs Trailhead Park and Winona Lake and address various pavement and sidewalk issues throughout the corridor, Skinner said. The project will begin this summer.
The board approved salaries for the new street superintendent Jeffrey Beeler at $2,346.16 bi-weekly and Joshua Salsgiver, building and planning department building inspector, at $21.43 an hour.
A take-home vehicle for work purposes only for driving to and from work only  was approved for Beeler.
A salary for Stephen Prater, Warsaw refuse collector, was approved at $15.22 an hour.
Also approved were cell phone allowances for Beeler, Roger Long, assistant street superintendent, Joshua Salsgiver, building inspector and James Overbey, police department mechanic.
The board approved a $9,697.50 payment to Dore & Associates for the demolition of the Center Street Wastewater Plan demolition.
The board approved several summer concert event contracts for concerts from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in Central Park.
Contracts were approved with The Infatuations, a motown rock and roll group, to perform May 23;   Island Vibe to perform May 30; Alligator Blackbird, a folk and pop group to perform July 25; Meet The Beatles, a Beatles Tribute band, will perform Aug. 8; Kris Hitchcock & Small Town Son, a country group, to perform Aug. 15 and Wesley Feaster Band, Indianapolis, will be the opener for the Blues and Barbecue concert June 27.

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Warsaw Board of Public Works and Safety Friday approved a memorandum of understanding that will bring Warsaw one step closer to being a part of a high speed rail system proposal.
The memorandum will allow Warsaw to donate $23,000 in funds to the city of Fort Wayne to assist with the completion of an environmental impact study for a possible high speed rail line with a proposed stop in Warsaw.
The proposal is for the high-speed rail line to be between Columbus, Ohio, and Chicago, with stops at several cities in between, including Fort Wayne and Warsaw.
The board approved the memorandum to transfer funds from Warsaw to Fort Wayne for the purpose of funding the completion of the Tier One Environmental Impact Study.
“If the study is not approved, then the money we donate will not be used for something else and will be returned to us,” said Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer.
The funds will be transferred by agreement among participating governments to a qualified project manager selected by the participating Indiana municipalities who will be responsible for getting bids, selecting the general contractor and overseeing the performance of the study.
The board also approved a $38,905 contract between the city and A & Z Engineering for redesign and bidding of the Market Street project.
According to Jeremy Skinner, city planner, the project will include milling and resurfacing 2,400 feet of roadway from Argonne Road to Bronson Street; widening the roadway by 2 feet each side and replacing the curb and gutter and drive approaches.
The project also will include removing existing sidewalks and replacing them with 6-foot sidewalks on the north side and 10-foot sidewalks on the south side.
The city also wishes to place street lighting and trees at the project site.
This is the first phase of the Market Street reconstruction project as the city intends to submit phase two for federal funding later this year.
The intent of the project will allow for safe on-street parking, connect downtown Warsaw with Krebs Trailhead Park and Winona Lake and address various pavement and sidewalk issues throughout the corridor, Skinner said. The project will begin this summer.
The board approved salaries for the new street superintendent Jeffrey Beeler at $2,346.16 bi-weekly and Joshua Salsgiver, building and planning department building inspector, at $21.43 an hour.
A take-home vehicle for work purposes only for driving to and from work only  was approved for Beeler.
A salary for Stephen Prater, Warsaw refuse collector, was approved at $15.22 an hour.
Also approved were cell phone allowances for Beeler, Roger Long, assistant street superintendent, Joshua Salsgiver, building inspector and James Overbey, police department mechanic.
The board approved a $9,697.50 payment to Dore & Associates for the demolition of the Center Street Wastewater Plan demolition.
The board approved several summer concert event contracts for concerts from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in Central Park.
Contracts were approved with The Infatuations, a motown rock and roll group, to perform May 23;   Island Vibe to perform May 30; Alligator Blackbird, a folk and pop group to perform July 25; Meet The Beatles, a Beatles Tribute band, will perform Aug. 8; Kris Hitchcock & Small Town Son, a country group, to perform Aug. 15 and Wesley Feaster Band, Indianapolis, will be the opener for the Blues and Barbecue concert June 27.

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