Todd Slabaugh was approved by the Warsaw Board of Works Friday as the new building commissioner.

Previously, he was a building inspector for the city.

Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins said Slabaugh has been attending some code education classes in Indianapolis and "we're looking forward to having him in this position."

He will be paid $18.27 hourly or approximately $38,000 per year.

Several other new hires were approved, including: Matthew Krallman, Lindsay J. Bruick, Heidi Bowers, Melissa Blaschke, parks department; Paul Mullins, Larry Hilliard Jr., Thomas Varney, Louis Mediano, Steven Robinson, Randall Creamer, Brian Littlejohn, Benjamin Gates, David Richter, Thames Malcolm and William James Jr., street department; Jonathan Mullins, David Riddell and Dan Dahms, sewage; Ryan Smith, aviation; and Justin Lowrance, police department.

"I think it's safe to say we're gearing up for summer," said Wiggins.

In other business:

• Wiggins presented the board with a letter from Ken Herceg & Associates Inc. regarding the police department office relocation to the former NIPSCO building on Fort Wayne Street.

The letter is about a revised schedule of the project and states: "The revision shows an extended time period required for design development and construction drawings from 60 to 90 days each. Additionally, we have increased the estimated time for construction to 120 days due to the scope of work. These revisions estimate a project completion date of Jan. 28, 2002."

Wiggins also presented to the board a letter regarding a revised estimate of cost for the new wastewater treatment plant and intercepting sewers.

The estimated cost is $15.7 million.

According to the letter from Jones & Henry Engineers Ltd., the estimated cost is "based upon the revised plans for the treatment plant in accordance with our meeting of April 16. We have eliminated Class A sludge processing from the project, reduced the size of the mixing tank and added two aerobic digesters. The solids storage building will be a concrete slab with 4-foot-high concrete walls and a steel roof. The space between the walls and the roof will be open."

• Street superintendent Lacy Francis reported the Buffalo Street project is 1-1/2 weeks ahead of schedule. The completion date is scheduled for June 29.

• The board approved a business equipment maintenance agreement with Adams/Remco Inc., South Bend, for work on typewriters.

• Park activity director Andy McCleary presented the board with two contracts for Friday concerts, a contract for a caricature artist and two contracts for additional security for Sunday's Cinco de Mayo Festival.

Gold Room will perform June 8 at Central Park for $500. The cost is covered by a grant.

"Elvis" will perform July 20 for $600, which is covered by a grant. McCleary said the Elvis impersonator is a 17-year-old from Argos who impersonates a young Elvis Presley.

"He's very, very sharp from what I know," said McCleary.

Drawn & Quartered will do caricatures for children June 22. Their fee from the city will be $200.

Daniel Meza and Danny Hall will provide additional security at Sunday's Cinco de Mayo festival for $160 each.

"With the event growing," said McCleary, "we really need added security down there."

All the contracts were approved.

• City planner Jeff Noffsinger reported that a Bath & Body Works store is going to locate in the Marketplace Shopping Center near J.C. Penney.

Members of the Board of Works include Jerry Patterson, Charles Smith and Wiggins. [[In-content Ad]]