Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Warsaw Board of Works members purchased "poppies" from the American Legion Post 49 Women's Auxiliary Friday to start the organization's yearly Poppy Days campaign.
Jean Bradbury, the poppy committee chairwoman, said proceeds go to the veterans' home in Indianapolis. Auxiliary members will be selling the paper flowers on the sidewalks again this year. Along with Bradbury was Nondus Creakbaum and post commander Don Nichols.
The Kosciusko 21st Century Foundation awarded several grants to city departments, the first in the amount of $2,614 to buy a wheelchair accessible swing for Kiddieland Park. Parks superintendent Jon Garber said Dick Rooker and the Leggo-Robotics Club gave a presentation at the November parks board meeting to request this type of swing. The club is comprised of students from Washington and Madison elementary schools and call themselves the Swashbuckler Robotics Team of Warsaw Community Schools. The platform-like swing allows wheelchair-bound children to board it.
The K21 Foundation also awarded the parks department $50,000 to assist in Mantis Skate Park renovations. The parks department plans to move the park across the street in Boggs Industrial Park and install updated equipment.
Another $50,000 K21 grant was extended until March 2006 for Phase II of the Lake City Greenway's Beyer Trail. This portion of construction has been put on hold pending other funds. Phase II will link the existing trail to the Hodges housing addition.
Parks activities director Janelle Wilson said the Convention, Recreation and Visitors Commission approved a grant of $7,605 toward advertising of the Classic Rock Concert. A contract with Burkhart Advertising for $2,860 and Video and Sound Productions for $700 to promote the concert also were approved.
The board also:
• Released mowing liens at 514 S. Morton St., owned by David Belk, and at 322 E. Winona Ave., owned by Art Gakstatter.
• Reviewed hourly rates presented by Triad Engineering of Milwaukee, Wis., and Plews Shadley Racher and Braun.
• Approved a contract in the amount of $8,300 with McCarty Engineering, Marion, to conduct a street pavement inventory and needs analysis, as requested by public works superintendent Lacy Francis Jr.
• Approved a Wildman Uniform and Linen Service agreement to provide rugs to fire stations #1 and #2 and to both wastewater plants as requested by fire chief Matt Warren and wastewater superintendent David Henderson.
• Also approved Henderson's request for commonwealth Biomonitoring Inc., Indianapolis, to conduct water quality studies for surface water at seven sites for a cost of $5,200. The sites will be at four places on Walnut Creek, on Deed's Creek Eagle Creek and at the inlet to Pike Lake.
N Approved several new hires: Thomas Lowe, Kyle Marose, Jason McClintock, Jacob Revere, Kaitlyn Taylor, Michael Suhany, Stuart Hodge and Steven Lowrance as summer lifeguards; Andy Serovy and Michael Wienhorst as part-time laborers for the street department; Zachary Williams as a part-time laborer for the parks department; Joshua Engler as a full-time firefighter; and Lena Miller as a seasonal recreational leader for the parks department.
• Approved travel requests from Paul Quillen, Joe Hawn, Terry Polston, Shawn Gardner, Ernie Wiggins and Duane Griner.
Board of works members are Ernie Wiggins, Jerry Patterson and Charlie Smith.
