Local Locksmith Doesn't Like City Lockout Policy
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Don Kollman feels the city has locked him out of his livelihood.
A locksmith by trade, Kollman appeared before Warsaw city council members Monday to discuss the city's lockout policy. Presently police officers aid citizens who have locked themselves out of their vehicles.
The city maintains the service is good public relations and a service to the community.
Kollman maintains the city is taking money out of his pocket.
"A police report shows 801 lockouts in 4-1/2 months," he said, adding that the lockout service was the police department's No. 1 activity.
"This is a lot of money," the locksmith said, "and I'd say the figure has increased dramatically. I never get to do lockouts like I want." Out-of-towners, unaware of the city policy, call Kollman for service.
Kollman said he monitors a scanner, too, and heard a policeman respond to a lockout in Leesburg the other day and another going to the City-County Athletic Complex, both areas outside city limits.
Mayor Ernie Wiggins said the lockout is one of the best contacts people ever have with a police officer.
Bill Dalton and Bob Lichtenwalter approached the council regarding the display of the American flag.
Appearing twice at Board of Works meetings in recent months, the men were recently told by street superintendent Lacy Francis that the ornamental light poles are too fragile to support flags. The size of the flags was also questioned because pedestrians could pull them down if they were on the sidewalk side. Placed on the street side they might interfere with snow removal efforts.
Dalton advised the council that a petition to prominently display flags or banners is being circulated.
"We hope there is a way to resolve these issues," Dalton said. "The (American) Legion is in favor of moving forward with the project."
Dalton indicated several organizations might be interested in combining resources to pay for the flags.
Wiggins, Charlie Smith and Jerry Patterson, Board of Works members and councilmen, said they were in favor of the patriotic display. The mayor said flags have been ordered for the light poles at major intersections, paid for by an anonymous donor.
Dan Beam, Duncan Drive, asked the council for more time to pay a sewer tap-in fee. Beam installed a new septic system in 1997 and he continues to make payments on it. Last year the city installed a sanitary sewer line and demands, per ordinance, that Beam get connected.
Beam said he asked about city service before committing to his new system and was told there were no plans to expand.
Plan director Jeff Noffsinger said about eight out of the 50 residents are not yet tapped into the city system.
The council tabled Beam's request so they could review past tap-in fee reductions.
Sewage rates will increase by $10 per residential customer beginning Jan. 1, bringing sewage costs to $24.50 per month.
Ordinance 2001-10-01 also makes concession in rates for individuals or families whose gross income is less than $15,000 per year. Their bill will be $12.50 per month.
Commercial and industrial users will pay $7.69 per thousand gallons for the first 2,000 gallons used per month (or $15.38 for up to 2,000 gallons); $6.58 for the next 8,000; $5.48 for the next 30,000; $4.41 for the next 60,000; and $3.08 for more than 100,000 gallons.
The council also approved an ordinance to secure $5.8 million in revenue bonds for the acquisition and construction of the planned wastewater treatment plant; authorized the sale of bonds of the Warsaw Building Corp. not to exceed $12 million; and signed an agency agreement with Warsaw Building Corp.
City council members are Joe Thallemer, Trish Brown, Jeff Grose, Charles Smith, George Clemens, Jerry Patterson and Bill Rhoades. [[In-content Ad]]
Don Kollman feels the city has locked him out of his livelihood.
A locksmith by trade, Kollman appeared before Warsaw city council members Monday to discuss the city's lockout policy. Presently police officers aid citizens who have locked themselves out of their vehicles.
The city maintains the service is good public relations and a service to the community.
Kollman maintains the city is taking money out of his pocket.
"A police report shows 801 lockouts in 4-1/2 months," he said, adding that the lockout service was the police department's No. 1 activity.
"This is a lot of money," the locksmith said, "and I'd say the figure has increased dramatically. I never get to do lockouts like I want." Out-of-towners, unaware of the city policy, call Kollman for service.
Kollman said he monitors a scanner, too, and heard a policeman respond to a lockout in Leesburg the other day and another going to the City-County Athletic Complex, both areas outside city limits.
Mayor Ernie Wiggins said the lockout is one of the best contacts people ever have with a police officer.
Bill Dalton and Bob Lichtenwalter approached the council regarding the display of the American flag.
Appearing twice at Board of Works meetings in recent months, the men were recently told by street superintendent Lacy Francis that the ornamental light poles are too fragile to support flags. The size of the flags was also questioned because pedestrians could pull them down if they were on the sidewalk side. Placed on the street side they might interfere with snow removal efforts.
Dalton advised the council that a petition to prominently display flags or banners is being circulated.
"We hope there is a way to resolve these issues," Dalton said. "The (American) Legion is in favor of moving forward with the project."
Dalton indicated several organizations might be interested in combining resources to pay for the flags.
Wiggins, Charlie Smith and Jerry Patterson, Board of Works members and councilmen, said they were in favor of the patriotic display. The mayor said flags have been ordered for the light poles at major intersections, paid for by an anonymous donor.
Dan Beam, Duncan Drive, asked the council for more time to pay a sewer tap-in fee. Beam installed a new septic system in 1997 and he continues to make payments on it. Last year the city installed a sanitary sewer line and demands, per ordinance, that Beam get connected.
Beam said he asked about city service before committing to his new system and was told there were no plans to expand.
Plan director Jeff Noffsinger said about eight out of the 50 residents are not yet tapped into the city system.
The council tabled Beam's request so they could review past tap-in fee reductions.
Sewage rates will increase by $10 per residential customer beginning Jan. 1, bringing sewage costs to $24.50 per month.
Ordinance 2001-10-01 also makes concession in rates for individuals or families whose gross income is less than $15,000 per year. Their bill will be $12.50 per month.
Commercial and industrial users will pay $7.69 per thousand gallons for the first 2,000 gallons used per month (or $15.38 for up to 2,000 gallons); $6.58 for the next 8,000; $5.48 for the next 30,000; $4.41 for the next 60,000; and $3.08 for more than 100,000 gallons.
The council also approved an ordinance to secure $5.8 million in revenue bonds for the acquisition and construction of the planned wastewater treatment plant; authorized the sale of bonds of the Warsaw Building Corp. not to exceed $12 million; and signed an agency agreement with Warsaw Building Corp.
City council members are Joe Thallemer, Trish Brown, Jeff Grose, Charles Smith, George Clemens, Jerry Patterson and Bill Rhoades. [[In-content Ad]]