BOW Approves Parade Plans For ‘Spooktakular’
October 3, 2020 at 2:10 a.m.
BOW Approves Parade Plans For ‘Spooktakular’
By Teresa [email protected]
Bowman said the Oct. 30 event will be a parade of vehicles with costumed children and decorated cars and trucks.
The parade begins in the former Owen’s parking lot and winds through downtown. The board approved street closures from the lot, east on Center Street, to Buffalo, north to Center Lake and south on Indiana as requested.
“This will be a drive-thru Spooktakular because of COVID-19 restrictions,” Bowman said. “Any downtown merchants can set up wrapped candies and wrapped gifts.”
Cross traffic on Fort Wayne and Main streets will continue and Bowman has requested crossing guard help from the police and fire departments.
Buffalo Street also will be closed between Center and Main streets for the fifth annual Babes, Bubbles and Brunch at 110 Craft Meatery.
Jason Brown, restaurant owner, said the Oct. 10 event is from noon to 3 p.m. and asked the street be closed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. He expected about 50 ticketed guests. The event is in partnership with Glam Boutique.
A BIT Computers contract to make upgrades to the audio visual system in Council Chambers and the second floor conference room to integrate wireless screen sharing and video conference, costing $18,323.27 was approved.
Warsaw Mayor and BOW member Joe Thallemer explained the upgrades will enhance call-in quality, tying directly into the audio system. The system is reimbursable with CARES Act funds.
Board of Works member and City Councilman Jeff Grose said he appreciated the mayor’s efforts to make virtual meetings better.
“I assume virtual meetings will continue beyond the emergency,” Thallemer aid.
Justin Taylor, senior assistant city planner, talked with the board about the Bessie Ronk’s donation of the north portion of lot 24 in Thrall’s Addition. The property is close to the street department, accessible by an alley.
Planner Jeremy Skinner said he would like to begin the process of accepting the property, starting with a title search, which was approved.
Taylor also presented pay application No. 17, as requested by the Troyer Group, for professional services on the Lincoln neighborhood sidewalk project for $1,845, which was approved
Dustin Dillon, street superintendent, presented pay application No. 4 from Phend & Brown for road work in progress on Lincoln Drive and Johnson Street for $94,579. Dillon said the work should be completed by the end of the month. The road work invoice was approved.
Rebecca Jenkins, utility payment supervisor, recommended the billing dates for the summer watering credit be changed to May through November, covering the March 15 to Oct. 15 service dates, instead of from April to October. She said many citizens complain about the early credit cut off because they continue to water their landscape and gardens well into October.
She also requested the winter average billing dates be changed to January through March, covering the Dec. 15 to March 15 service dates, which would better represent wintertime water usage. Now the average is calculated from September through December.
Now in its third year, Jenkins said she receives several phone calls about the early cut off.
Grose said he agreed with changing the dates as he is still watering his landscape. The dates still cover times when swimming pools are filled.
Thallemer reiterated the purpose of the credit, saying the discount lowers the sewage portion of the water bill. Water not being used in the house is going into the ground and not being treated at the wastewater plant.
Clerk-treasurer Lynn Christiansen noted an ordinance for the new dates will have to be approved before the new billing can be done.
Brian Davison, utility superintendent, presented Cardno Inc.’s invoice for a feasibility study of the Springhill Road ravine and wetlands for $8,500, which was approved. The company will document hydrologic and hydraulic conditions, extent of vegetation and the wetlands and the site soils. Following the initial survey, three project alternatives will be presented.
Davison said stormwater runs into a ravine and then to Pike Lake forming a delta area.
“All the study will do is let us look at possible improvements,” he said. “The area used to be a direct ditch. The homeowner would like some of his shoreline back.”
Davison also presented a $287,634 pay request, No. 77, from Kokosing Industrial for work on the wastewater treatment plant expansion project, which was approved, along with a bill from Wessler Engineering for $64,005 for construction administration and ongoing engineering for the expansion project.
A special claim of $150,000 to Wishbone Medical as an incentive loan was approved along with regular claims of $2,227,228.83.
Grose noted the Deer Task Force has harvested 15 deer in 15 days.
The next Board of Works meeting is Oct. 16.
Bowman said the Oct. 30 event will be a parade of vehicles with costumed children and decorated cars and trucks.
The parade begins in the former Owen’s parking lot and winds through downtown. The board approved street closures from the lot, east on Center Street, to Buffalo, north to Center Lake and south on Indiana as requested.
“This will be a drive-thru Spooktakular because of COVID-19 restrictions,” Bowman said. “Any downtown merchants can set up wrapped candies and wrapped gifts.”
Cross traffic on Fort Wayne and Main streets will continue and Bowman has requested crossing guard help from the police and fire departments.
Buffalo Street also will be closed between Center and Main streets for the fifth annual Babes, Bubbles and Brunch at 110 Craft Meatery.
Jason Brown, restaurant owner, said the Oct. 10 event is from noon to 3 p.m. and asked the street be closed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. He expected about 50 ticketed guests. The event is in partnership with Glam Boutique.
A BIT Computers contract to make upgrades to the audio visual system in Council Chambers and the second floor conference room to integrate wireless screen sharing and video conference, costing $18,323.27 was approved.
Warsaw Mayor and BOW member Joe Thallemer explained the upgrades will enhance call-in quality, tying directly into the audio system. The system is reimbursable with CARES Act funds.
Board of Works member and City Councilman Jeff Grose said he appreciated the mayor’s efforts to make virtual meetings better.
“I assume virtual meetings will continue beyond the emergency,” Thallemer aid.
Justin Taylor, senior assistant city planner, talked with the board about the Bessie Ronk’s donation of the north portion of lot 24 in Thrall’s Addition. The property is close to the street department, accessible by an alley.
Planner Jeremy Skinner said he would like to begin the process of accepting the property, starting with a title search, which was approved.
Taylor also presented pay application No. 17, as requested by the Troyer Group, for professional services on the Lincoln neighborhood sidewalk project for $1,845, which was approved
Dustin Dillon, street superintendent, presented pay application No. 4 from Phend & Brown for road work in progress on Lincoln Drive and Johnson Street for $94,579. Dillon said the work should be completed by the end of the month. The road work invoice was approved.
Rebecca Jenkins, utility payment supervisor, recommended the billing dates for the summer watering credit be changed to May through November, covering the March 15 to Oct. 15 service dates, instead of from April to October. She said many citizens complain about the early credit cut off because they continue to water their landscape and gardens well into October.
She also requested the winter average billing dates be changed to January through March, covering the Dec. 15 to March 15 service dates, which would better represent wintertime water usage. Now the average is calculated from September through December.
Now in its third year, Jenkins said she receives several phone calls about the early cut off.
Grose said he agreed with changing the dates as he is still watering his landscape. The dates still cover times when swimming pools are filled.
Thallemer reiterated the purpose of the credit, saying the discount lowers the sewage portion of the water bill. Water not being used in the house is going into the ground and not being treated at the wastewater plant.
Clerk-treasurer Lynn Christiansen noted an ordinance for the new dates will have to be approved before the new billing can be done.
Brian Davison, utility superintendent, presented Cardno Inc.’s invoice for a feasibility study of the Springhill Road ravine and wetlands for $8,500, which was approved. The company will document hydrologic and hydraulic conditions, extent of vegetation and the wetlands and the site soils. Following the initial survey, three project alternatives will be presented.
Davison said stormwater runs into a ravine and then to Pike Lake forming a delta area.
“All the study will do is let us look at possible improvements,” he said. “The area used to be a direct ditch. The homeowner would like some of his shoreline back.”
Davison also presented a $287,634 pay request, No. 77, from Kokosing Industrial for work on the wastewater treatment plant expansion project, which was approved, along with a bill from Wessler Engineering for $64,005 for construction administration and ongoing engineering for the expansion project.
A special claim of $150,000 to Wishbone Medical as an incentive loan was approved along with regular claims of $2,227,228.83.
Grose noted the Deer Task Force has harvested 15 deer in 15 days.
The next Board of Works meeting is Oct. 16.
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