The city of Warsaw’s stormwater utility is contributing funding toward a native re-vegetation project with Zimmer Biomet and The Watershed Foundation (TWF).
During the Board of Public Works and Safety meeting Friday, city engineer Aaron Ott reminded the board the item was brought to them back in April but there were some questions they wanted to clarify and then bring back to the board. The request is for $5,000 for the city to participate in the project by the TWF and Zimmer Biomet, which is on Zimmer Biomet property on Lake Street.
Brad Clayton, watershed conservationist with TWF, explained, “What we’re doing is we’re converting about 15 acres of Zimmer Biomet property that is currently mowed into a prairie wild flower planting. That’s going to help them to reduce their mowing. It’s actually going to help with the stormwater as well by using a lot more native plants and wild flowers to help infiltrate that, get that water infiltrated down into the soil. And then also it will help have some pollinator and some bird wildlife benefit as well.”
The first round of spraying will take place about the first week of October. They’re currently starting to put up pre-construction signs, Clayton said, to introduce the project to the residents in the area and Zimmer Biomet’s staff.
One of the original questions the city had, Ott said, was how much of the project was within the city limits. Clayton said 100% of the project was within the city limits.
The contractor for the project is Stantec.
Along with the stormwater utility’s $5,000, Clayton said the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is contributing about $7,000 toward the project. The total cost of the project is about $59,267, with Zimmer Biomet paying the majority of that cost, Clayton said. TWF is paying for the informational signage.
Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer said it looks like everyone is going to benefit from the project. He asked for a timeline on the project.
Clayton said Stantec will do two sprays to kill the grass - the first the first week in October and the second about two weeks later. Seeding will take place after that. There will be no topography changes, just plant changes.
The board approved the request.
In other business, the board approved:
• The contract between the Warsaw Public Works Department and Phend & Brown for a Community Crossings Matching Grant project, as requested by Public Works Superintendent Dustin Dillon.
Sealed bids were received and opened at the June 2 Board of Works meeting to mill and resurface asphalt in several locations in the city’s road network and include new pavement markings, as well as update ADA ramps and sidewalks where necessary, Dillon said. The bid of $824,729.73 was awarded to Phend & Brown at the June 16 board meeting.
Being a matching grant project, Dillon said the city will receive 50% of the original engineering estimate, or $408,059. The remaining funds - about $416,000 - will come from the motor vehicle highway restricted, repairs and maintenance and wheel tax repairs and maintenance funds.
The road segments that are part of the project include West Center Street from Lake to Indiana streets; North Buffalo from Main to Market streets; Ranch Road from the railroad tracks to Salman Drive; County Farm Road from Salman Drive to CR 200S; Country Club Road from Oak Street to the corporate city limits; and Jefferson Street from Bronson Street to Argonne Road.
Phend & Brown is planning to come in about the second week of August to start doing the ADA ramps and sidewalk work, Dillon said, followed by some patches in areas that need it. Then they will go on to milling and paving. The substantial completion date is tentatively planned for the third week of September.
• Change order No. 1 from Phend & Brown for the Hodges addition Phase II Lindberg Drive reconstruction for a decrease of $47,830.72. The decrease brings the total contract price down to $1,152,329.12, Dillon said.
The board also approved the final payment to Phend & Brown for the reconstruction project in the amount of $115,232.91. Dillon said the project is complete.
• Pay application No. 2 for $202,113.84 to G & G Hauling & Excavating Inc. for the CR 200S sewer expansion, as requested by the wastewater utility.
• Two change orders for the Zimmer Biomet Center Lake Pavilion renovation, as requested by city engineer Aaron Ott. Change order No. 5 was for $6,407 to complete the flooring of the building, with change order No. 6 for $8,038.63 to install the required water and fire suppression service line.
• Pay application No. 9 for $266,775.03 to CME Corp. for work completed June 1-30 on the pavilion renovation, as requested by Ott.
Thallemer noted, “We got to the end of the initial $2 million first payment that Zimmer Biomet (Foundation) had made. That’s completion of about 75% of the building. We’re allowed to ask for the second crunch of $500,000. Zimmer Biomet (Foundation) made a $2.5 million grant to this project.”
He said the city council had approved up to $600,000 for whatever would be over that donation amount. It appears the project will be $300,000 over that donation amount so that’s why there’s a portion of the city’s Economic Development Income Tax (EDIT) funds in Friday’s payment.
Thallemer said the building is looking “fabulous,” and it looks like the grand opening will be moved back “just a little bit” to accommodate some schedules. The work on the pavilion will be done the second or third week of August.
“I’m really excited to unveil it,” Thallemer said, adding that he’s taken Zimmer Biomet folks through and they were “extremely happy.”
Ott said CME Corp. has been a good contractor on the project, too.
• The closure of East Clark Street between North Lincoln Street and North Lindberg Drive from 4 to 11:59 p.m. Sept. 30 for an annual neighborhood block party, as requested by Patrick Loebs. Heidi Loebs said this was the eighth year for the event.
• The new hire/change in payroll report, as presented by the city’s human resource department. Along with some stipends and promotions, there was one new hire for the police department and four new hires for the fire department.
Dalis Owens is a new full-time hire for the police as the parking control officer. His start date is July 31 and he will earn $21.49 per hour.
Tanya Jackson is a new full-time CARES responder/navigator for the fire department. She will begin Aug. 14 and make $24.04 per hour. The other three new hires for the fire department are probationary firefighters and all started Friday at $2,216.73 biweekly. They are Brandon Schmitt, Cody Metzger and Nick Cole. K21 Health Foundation Announces New Developments in Partnership with KVC Cycling Club
• The next Board of Works meeting will be at 9:30 a.m. Aug. 4, instead of its normal 10:30 a.m. time.