Road closures for Third Fridays and the Shamrock Shimmy were approved by the Warsaw Board of Public Works and Safety on Friday, though there were some questions on the Shamrock Shimmy.
Nora Christiansen, Main Street Warsaw events coordinator, presented all the requests for Third Fridays in 2025. The road closures, generally from 3:30 to 9 p.m., are for Center Street between Lake and Indiana streets, and Buffalo Street between Main and Market streets. Third Fridays are 5 to 8 p.m.
The first Third Friday is in May, but that road closure was previously approved by the board for the Fat + Skinny Tire Festival, which is May 16-18. Dates for the remaining Third Fridays are June 20, July 18, Aug. 15, Sept. 19, Oct. 24 and Dec. 5. There is no Third Friday in November, while the October Third Friday is later for the annual Spooktacular and December’s is earlier for the holiday activities.
Mayor Jeff Grose asked about themes for the Third Fridays this year. Christiansen said they have a few things that they know for sure, but others are still being developed.
“In June, we’re working with Cancer Services. They’re going to put together something. We’re not sure what it’s going to be called yet, but it’ll be in line with them,” she said.
The car show is in August and the Taste of Kosciusko will be in September.
The request for road closure for the Shamrock Shimmy community fun run on March 15 was made by attorney and local businessman Travis McConnell, who was not present at the board meeting.
The road closure was listed as Buffalo Street between Center and Main streets; Lake Street for runners/walkers to cross at Main and Market streets; Lake at Fox Farm Road and Center Street between Buffalo and Indiana. Start time was listed as 3 p.m. with an end time listed as 8 p.m.
Councilwoman Diane Quance questioned if the request was made on behalf of an organization or an individual. Grose recalled that McConnell had made a similar request before and the police department worked with him on the road closures involved in the walk/run.
Public Works Superintendent Dustin Dillon said he can confirm with McConnell as far as what the starting time of the event is, adding, “The street will only be closed on Buffalo from Center to Main Street. The rest of it, the 5K, he’s already contacted the police department, Capt. (Joel) Beam. We’ll set out to provide some cones for the safety, but it’ll just be temporary moving closures with that and reopen right away. So the only road closure itself will be on Buffalo between Center and Main Street.”
Quance also asked about the $5 being charged and who it was going to.
City attorney Scott Reust said that while he didn’t want to speak for McConnell, “They started this Shamrock Shimmy I think maybe last year. I think they close Buffalo Street between Center and Main and they put a tent up, and I think the charge is to get into the tent.”
He said he believed the run was in collaboration with the downtown St. Paddy’s Day event, but he didn’t know if it was the same as in previous years. Reust said he didn’t believe there was a charge for the fun run.
Though there was a moment where tabling the request was considered for more information, the board ended up approving the road closure due to it being just a few weeks away.
Human Resource Director Denny Harlan recognized the service anniversaries of three city employees.
Warsaw Police Department Sgt. Jaime de la Fuente was recognized for 15 years and Aaron Bolinger, Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory, was recognized for 25 years. Neither were able to attend the board meeting. Present was Jeff Krotke, Wastewater treatment utility, who was recognized for 20 years of service.
In other business, the board approved:
• An engagement letter between the city and Baker Tilly for financial services as the city moves through the bond process for the new Public Works building, as requested by Community and Economic Development Director Jeremy Skinner. The Warsaw Redevelopment Commission already approved the letter.
“The reason it’s to both of you: Most of the time these issuance costs are covered as part of the bond process, so you won’t necessarily see something come before you. However, there may be some pre-billing, and if that occurs, it could be paid for through the city’s public funds. In that case, you would need that engagement letter, saying that you contracted with them for those services,” he explained, though he didn’t anticipate that happening.
The first of two public hearings on the building project was Feb. 18, with the second one scheduled for 4:30 p.m. March 3 at the Redevelopment Commission meeting. The project’s costs are not to exceed $14.5 million, though it’s expected to be more in the neighborhood of $13 million.
• The pay application of $16,359 from Lynn Douglas Inc. for Warsaw Chemical groundwater cleanup efforts, as requested by Skinner.
“These funds were part of our redoing of the SRF (State Revolving Fund) that made available over $3 million for water quality cleanup. Part of that went toward the lift station that connected the airport, and the other part of those funds went to the ongoing cleanup for the Warsaw Chemical,” he said.
The pay application will be submitted to the state and paid for out of those funds.
• Signing the agreement with G & G Hauling & Excavating for the Timber Ridge stormwater improvements, phase 1, for $108,968.99, as requested by Utility Superintendent Brian Davison. The bid was awarded to G & G at the Dec. 20 board meeting.
• The final payment of $12,604.21 to G & G Hauling & Excavating for the Park Avenue storm sewer improvement project, as requested by Davison.
• A right-of-way warranty deed between the city and Parkview Health Systems Inc. for $1,000 for additional right-of-way at the Parkview development on East CR 200N, as requested by Assistant City Planner Jackson Longenbaugh.
• The travel requests and new hire/change in payroll report, as presented by Harlan. The new hire report includes two WPD probationary patrol officers, both beginning March 2 at $2,500.83 biweekly. The officers are Andrew Owens and Cory Black.
• An addendum to the 63-month lease agreement between Quadient Leasing USA Inc. and the WPD to add the SMART subscription to the lease for the postage machine for certified mail at an additional cost of $9.95 per month for an annual lease payment of $851.04, as requested by Police Chief Scott Whitaker.
• Warsaw Parks and Recreation Department Recreation Director Stephanie Schaefer’s request to apply for a $4,000 Indiana Arts Commission grant to support the Summer Concert Series.
She also presented, and the board approved, a contract with the Penguinnes to provide four hamster wheels and staff to work at a station for the Aug. 1 Family Carnival for $1,4500; a contract with Laughing Stock Productions to provide three clowns for balloon twisting and entertainment for the Aug. 1 Family Carnival for $1,350; and contracts with Tim Smith, Tad Heflick, Paul Lafferty, Mark Smith, Carrie Heflick and Brian Smith to serve as stage hands at the June 20 rock concert and July 18 country concert. Each stage hand will be paid $200 per concert.