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During Warsaw's Board of Public Works and Safety meeting Friday, Perry Hunter, captain of the Warsaw Police Department, requested an allowance for the department to purchase a 2006 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor totaling $21,200.
Hunter explained the requested purchase would replace a police car involved in a collision Aug. 12. Damage reports from an insurance agent regarded the vehicle to be a total loss.
Perry reported the incident took place while officer Brandon Zartman was driving home from work. The car reportedly hydroplaned uncontrollably into a telephone pole beside the road. Zartman was not hurt.
Members of the board approved Hunter's request, and also approved a motion to allow the department to collect all salvageable materials from the damaged vehicle to be kept in storage for maintenance on other vehicles within the department.
The board approved two memorandums of understanding for the police department, involving interaction procedures with the Beaman Home and the Victims Services Center.
Hunter's request to submit paperwork for a recent grant awarded to the police department was approved by the board as well. The grant, through the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, totals $28,743.
In parks department matters, activities director Janelle Wilson was approved for contracts for an upcoming Celebracion Latina festival scheduled Sept. 9 and 10 in Central Park. Also approved were contracts with Talking Stick Communications for radio advertisements for two additional events.
Board members unanimously approved a request from the plan commission to submit a grant application to the Pfleiderer Charitable Trust for monies to help construct the Lake City Greenway Project.
Also in planning commission business, Joe Hamilton was approved for an encroachment agreement with the city at his property, 1127 Country Club Lane.
Hamilton's approval will allow for a variance from encroachment standards beyond his property line, and is an addition to the approval Hamilton received from the Board of Zoning Appeals for an agreement on a variance from setback standards within his property line.
The board also:
• Approved a Parks Department contract agreement with Phend and Brown for the re-paving and repair to the Pete Thorn Youth Center parking lot. The total operation is totaled at $5,930.
• Approved a sewage treatment agreement with the Town of Winona Lake, allowing Warsaw to treat Winona Lake's sewage works at a rate of $2.08 per 1,000 gallons treated.
• Approved two new hirings inside city departments. Steven Underwood will become a plant officer for the wastewater treatment plant and Arden McFarland will be hired into the street department as an eq operator.
Members present for the meeting were Mayor Ernie Wiggins, Jerry Patterson and Charlie Smith.
