Connors Sworn In As WPD Officer
December 4, 2021 at 1:24 a.m.
Connors Sworn In As WPD Officer
By David [email protected]
In the audience to watch the ceremony were Connors’ parents, wife and two children, along with Police Chief Scott Whitaker and members of the WPD.
“This is always an honor for me as we go through the statutory requirement that we swear in the new officer, but it means a whole lot more than just having to do what we’re supposed to do. It’s welcoming Ryan into this organization, this fine group of policemen that has certainly been a great part of a service we try to give to our community. We’re so thankful for you joining, training and stepping up to be a part of this fine organization,” Mayor Joe Thallemer said before giving Connors the oath.
He said he knew Connors’ family well and it was good to see him being sworn in.
The first new business on the Board’s agenda was accepting an Indiana Public Employers’ Plan (IPEP) Safety Grant for $1,650. Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory Chief Mike Wilson said the money will be used for three different trainings – scaffolding, confined space and fall protection.
Warsaw Human Resource Director Jennifer Whitaker then presented the annual take-home vehicle request for 2022. She said there were no changes from last year.
City employees allowed a city-owned work vehicle to be driven to work and back home only include Nick King, airport manager; Hal Heagy, Oakwood Cemetery sexton; Larry Plummer, parks superintendent; Shaun Gardner, parks maintenance director; Dustin Dillon, Damian Pass, Roger Sarber and Joseph Vetor, street department; Brian Davison, Larry Hyden and Thomas Rozelle, wastewater treatment utility; and Thallemer.
“For all departments, with the exception of elected officials, we allow take-home vehicles for emergency purposes only and for quicker response times back and forth. They are taxed per the IRS regulation. The mileage from home to work. No personal miles are allowed, other than home to work and work to home. With the exception of the mayor. He is allowed any personal miles, however, he needs to pay tax on those personal miles, if there are any,” Whitaker explained.
The Board approved the 2022 take-home vehicles, and then the new hire/change in payroll report Whitaker presented. The new hire/change in payroll report included the 2022 wage increases for all city employees. The Common Council approved the wages during its budgeting process, and the Board had to give the final OK on them, Whitaker explained.
City Planner Justin Taylor presented more parcels needed for right-of-way for the Lincoln neighborhood sidewalk project. The right-of-way will be permanently acquired by the city for pedestrian infrastructure. Taylor said this should be the last right-of-way acquisitions for the project except for “lot 20” because of ownership issues. Total cost for the seven parcels presented Friday was $50,520.
WPD Capt. Joel Beam asked the Board to accept the Comprehensive Hoosier Highways Injury Reduction Program (CHIRP) grant, which it did. The Kosciusko County Traffic Safety Partnership was awarded $78,430, with the WPD’s portion being $8,000. The town of Winona Lake applied for the funds on behalf of the Partnership. Beam said the grant amount was lower than in the past.
Brian Davison, wastewater utility superintendent, presented a State Revolving Fund disbursement pay application for $19,274 from Wessler Engineering for the wastewater plant expansion project. The Board approved the payment.
The Board of Works then went through a series of agreements and contracts, including:
• Animal Welfare League, for animal control services, $35,000 for 2022 in 12 monthly payments of $2,916.66.
• City attorney Scott Reust, with the law firm of Rockhill Pinnick LLP, for legal services, in the amount of $100,000, in 12 payments of $8,333.33.
• BIT Computers Inc., for information technology services for 2022, $10,000 per month for a total of $120,000. Of the total, $55,000 will come from 2021 funds and $65,000 will come from 2022 funds.
• Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation, for economic services, $80,000, 12 payments of $6,666.67.
• Warsaw Community Development Corporation 2022 agreement for special events coordinator, $8,000.04, in 12 payments of $666.67, the same as previous years.
Thallemer noted that special events coordination will take place with the WCDC. Paula Bowman served as the special events coordinator in the past. Thallemer said Bowman has done “an outstanding job since we started,” but it was time for WCDC to take over.
• Warsaw Housing Authority, $35,000.
• WCDC Facade Grant for 2022, $25,000.
• The 2022 not-for-profit contracts, as previously approved by the Common Council, including $9,345 for The Beaman Home; $20,000, Cardinal Services; $21,000, City County Athletic Complex; $3,000, Kosciusko County Historical Society; $35,000, Housing for Hope; $4,680, Joe’s Kids; $21,000, Kosciusko Community Senior Services; $20,000, Lilly Center for Lakes and Streams; $5,250, Kosciusko Home Care & Hospice; $5,000, Live Well Kosciusko; $5,000, Warsaw Little League; and $23,875, WCDC.
“The Council set a cap of 1.5% of the previous year’s general fund budget for nonprofit requests,” Thallemer reminded the Board.
The 2022 agreement for the Farmers Market in the amount of $5,000 was tabled to the next Board of Works meeting as Thallemer wants to discuss it with the Common Council on Monday first.
In the audience to watch the ceremony were Connors’ parents, wife and two children, along with Police Chief Scott Whitaker and members of the WPD.
“This is always an honor for me as we go through the statutory requirement that we swear in the new officer, but it means a whole lot more than just having to do what we’re supposed to do. It’s welcoming Ryan into this organization, this fine group of policemen that has certainly been a great part of a service we try to give to our community. We’re so thankful for you joining, training and stepping up to be a part of this fine organization,” Mayor Joe Thallemer said before giving Connors the oath.
He said he knew Connors’ family well and it was good to see him being sworn in.
The first new business on the Board’s agenda was accepting an Indiana Public Employers’ Plan (IPEP) Safety Grant for $1,650. Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory Chief Mike Wilson said the money will be used for three different trainings – scaffolding, confined space and fall protection.
Warsaw Human Resource Director Jennifer Whitaker then presented the annual take-home vehicle request for 2022. She said there were no changes from last year.
City employees allowed a city-owned work vehicle to be driven to work and back home only include Nick King, airport manager; Hal Heagy, Oakwood Cemetery sexton; Larry Plummer, parks superintendent; Shaun Gardner, parks maintenance director; Dustin Dillon, Damian Pass, Roger Sarber and Joseph Vetor, street department; Brian Davison, Larry Hyden and Thomas Rozelle, wastewater treatment utility; and Thallemer.
“For all departments, with the exception of elected officials, we allow take-home vehicles for emergency purposes only and for quicker response times back and forth. They are taxed per the IRS regulation. The mileage from home to work. No personal miles are allowed, other than home to work and work to home. With the exception of the mayor. He is allowed any personal miles, however, he needs to pay tax on those personal miles, if there are any,” Whitaker explained.
The Board approved the 2022 take-home vehicles, and then the new hire/change in payroll report Whitaker presented. The new hire/change in payroll report included the 2022 wage increases for all city employees. The Common Council approved the wages during its budgeting process, and the Board had to give the final OK on them, Whitaker explained.
City Planner Justin Taylor presented more parcels needed for right-of-way for the Lincoln neighborhood sidewalk project. The right-of-way will be permanently acquired by the city for pedestrian infrastructure. Taylor said this should be the last right-of-way acquisitions for the project except for “lot 20” because of ownership issues. Total cost for the seven parcels presented Friday was $50,520.
WPD Capt. Joel Beam asked the Board to accept the Comprehensive Hoosier Highways Injury Reduction Program (CHIRP) grant, which it did. The Kosciusko County Traffic Safety Partnership was awarded $78,430, with the WPD’s portion being $8,000. The town of Winona Lake applied for the funds on behalf of the Partnership. Beam said the grant amount was lower than in the past.
Brian Davison, wastewater utility superintendent, presented a State Revolving Fund disbursement pay application for $19,274 from Wessler Engineering for the wastewater plant expansion project. The Board approved the payment.
The Board of Works then went through a series of agreements and contracts, including:
• Animal Welfare League, for animal control services, $35,000 for 2022 in 12 monthly payments of $2,916.66.
• City attorney Scott Reust, with the law firm of Rockhill Pinnick LLP, for legal services, in the amount of $100,000, in 12 payments of $8,333.33.
• BIT Computers Inc., for information technology services for 2022, $10,000 per month for a total of $120,000. Of the total, $55,000 will come from 2021 funds and $65,000 will come from 2022 funds.
• Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation, for economic services, $80,000, 12 payments of $6,666.67.
• Warsaw Community Development Corporation 2022 agreement for special events coordinator, $8,000.04, in 12 payments of $666.67, the same as previous years.
Thallemer noted that special events coordination will take place with the WCDC. Paula Bowman served as the special events coordinator in the past. Thallemer said Bowman has done “an outstanding job since we started,” but it was time for WCDC to take over.
• Warsaw Housing Authority, $35,000.
• WCDC Facade Grant for 2022, $25,000.
• The 2022 not-for-profit contracts, as previously approved by the Common Council, including $9,345 for The Beaman Home; $20,000, Cardinal Services; $21,000, City County Athletic Complex; $3,000, Kosciusko County Historical Society; $35,000, Housing for Hope; $4,680, Joe’s Kids; $21,000, Kosciusko Community Senior Services; $20,000, Lilly Center for Lakes and Streams; $5,250, Kosciusko Home Care & Hospice; $5,000, Live Well Kosciusko; $5,000, Warsaw Little League; and $23,875, WCDC.
“The Council set a cap of 1.5% of the previous year’s general fund budget for nonprofit requests,” Thallemer reminded the Board.
The 2022 agreement for the Farmers Market in the amount of $5,000 was tabled to the next Board of Works meeting as Thallemer wants to discuss it with the Common Council on Monday first.
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