Trees, shrubbery plantings, concrete pavers and hanging flower baskets are all part of phase one of the downtown streetscape project, which should begin next spring, according to Kevin A. McCrory of The LandPlan Group.

McCrory addressed the Warsaw City Council Monday, bringing illustrations of the downtown area and a rendering of how the streets will look with greenery added.

The council has approved $265,000 from the Cumulative Capital Development Fund for phase one, or both sides of Center Street from High Street to Washington Street.

A sample of materials was presented, showing a prefabricated concrete curb, custom limestone accents on all four corners of each planter and red and gray paver bricks. The plan calls for hanging flower baskets and decorative banners hung from light poles, square poles for street signs, lighted street name signs, benches and bicycle racks.

McCrory also detailed the "master plan" to transform a 12-block area - Washington, Lake, Buffalo, Indiana and High streets from the railroad tracks to and including Main Street, and Main and Market streets from High Street to Washington Street. A wide boulevard with planted median on Buffalo Street from Main Street to Center Lake was proposed.

Extended phases include pedestrian-friendly alleyways. Four major improvements to the alleys were recommended: concrete pavement, colorful graphics on building facades with banners or murals, wall-mounted light fixtures matching the street lights and centralizing trash dumpsters.

Screening for the public parking lots and standardizing sign posts, sign shapes, color and graphics also were recommended.

The bid package will be released to general contractors Dec. 10, with bid awards set for Jan. 26. Construction on the first phase could begin as early as March 1, weather permitting, with completion by June 1.

In other business, the council approved nine ordinances.

Ordinance 2003-11-01, elected officials' 2004 salaries, reflect a 3 percent increase for the mayor and clerk and not for council members. The ordinance was approved with Jeff Grose voting nay.

Ordinance 2003-11-02, additional appropriation transfers Riverboat Fund money, $78,504, for the purchase of equipment at the wastewater treatment plant.

Ordinance 2003-11-03, establishes a capital asset policy. The policy documents the minimum value of capital assets reported and includes infrastructure assets. The city will now depreciate capital assets with a threshold of $5,000, except assets from the wastewater treatment plant.

The state used to depreciate assets with a value of more than $750 and will no longer do this work.

Ordinance 2003-11-04 amends the salary ordinance. Major changes added the title of wastewater treatment plant utility manager, to be paid $2,230.77 bi-weekly; street department supervisor, to be paid up to $16.50 an hour; and a cemetery foreman's position, to be paid up to $14.32 an hour; and several wastewater treatment plant job titles.

Ordinance 2003-11-05 adds the street department supervisor job title and cemetery foreman job title to the salary ordinance. Grose opposed this ordinance, too.

Ordinance 2003-11-06 transfers $10,000 of the fire department's money from salaries and wages to the repairs and maintenance account to fix a generator and radio system.

Ordinance 2003-11-07 vacates a public way commonly known as Mohawk Drive in the Indian Village subdivision. The undeveloped road is north of Old Road 30 and west of Cheyenne Drive in the recently annexed housing area.

Ordinance 2003-11-08 transfers $1,600 for landscaping along McKinley Street, $200 for recording fees as requested by the building and planning department and $15,000 for materials and $20,000 for G&G Hauling to make infrastructure improvements along CR 250E in the northern TIF district.

Ordinance 2003-11-09 is a transfer of $20,000 as requested by the public works department from salaries and wages to other services to pay for trash billing and 2004 magnetized recycling calendars.

City council members are Trish Brown, George Clemens, Jeff Grose, Jerry Patterson, Bill Rhoades and Joe Thallemer. Charlie Smith was absent. [[In-content Ad]]