Warsaw City Council turned down a resolution Monday that would increase accountability and record keeping for Warsaw police officers who take personal patrol vehicles home.

Originally proposed at the October city council meeting, the resolution would have required officers to record their personal mileage each month for approval by the council.

The resolution was tabled for further research at the October meeting at the request of councilman Mac Silveus.

At Monday's meeting, Silveus said his research indicated no evidence of abuse: "I find a lot more positives than negatives," he said.

Council member Dewey Lawshe, who proposed the resolution, said he was mostly concerned with officers who live outside Warsaw city limits, and he wanted an accounting of the miles traveled during their personal time.

Lawshe was joined by councilman Ernie Wiggins, who said, "I would like to have some way of measuring (mileage). ... I'm not asking you to do anything I wouldn't do for my business vehicle."

Warsaw police officers Chuck Hodges and David Morales told the council they drive their PPVs only for work-related reasons, and that they are already required to keep track of mileage.

Because mileage records are already being kept, and because officers often respond to calls when they are off duty, the council decided to leave the current regulations in place and not to add new regulations.

Also voted on was the 1997 salary ordinance tabled from the October meeting. The annual salaries approved by the council were: $43,300 for mayor, $37,200 for clerk-treasurer, and $4,000 for council members.

The council also:

• Heard from Mayor Jeff Plank that the city's goal was met of reopening Center Street in mid-November following the reconstruction of the block in front of the county courthouse. The job is not complete, Plank said, but will be allowed to settle over the winter and will be finished in the spring.

• Decided not to establish a noise ordinance beyond what is already available for police to enforce. Nuisance ordinances and state statutes should have their wording updated, said councilwoman Tammy Rockey, but they are adequate for police enforcement.

• Heard a report from USA Rail's CEO Steve DePlanty on his company's plans to develop high-speed rail service through Warsaw. DePlanty said east-west routes from Chicago to the east coast and north-south routes from Chicago to Indianapolis and beyond would go through Warsaw. His company is interested in light freight and passenger service, and made an offer of $20 million in August to buy Union Station in Indianapolis.

• Agreed to meet at 6 p.m. Thursday at Center Lake Pavilion to discuss reductions in the 1997 budget. [[In-content Ad]]