During Friday morning's Warsaw Board of Public Works and Safety meeting, a new cellular phone contract was approved for all of the city's departments.
Warsaw Police Department's Brett Richardson told the board that he asked both Verizon and AT&T for bids with Verizon being the lower of the two.
Richardson said the current cellular provider doesn't allow for anyone outside of the city limits to have a decent signal.
"Also there is no need to purchase equipment with Verizon," said Richardson.
With the change, the Warsaw Police Department also will be getting rid of pagers that cost the department nearly $3,000 a year.
The agreement with Verizon allows the city to terminate the contract at any point without any penalty because of a federal program.
The estimated monthly cost for cellular phone service for all city departments will be $2,833.10.
The board also approved seven contracts for the Friday Evening Performing Arts Series at Central Park in Warsaw with the following shows running from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
May 28 - Johnny Cash Show
June 4 - Blue River Big Band
June 25 - Flintrock
July 16 - Bel Airs
July 2 - Mike Milligan & Steam Shovel
Aug. 20 - Ivory West
Aug. 27 - Due Process
The board also approved contracts for Moxie to play June 18 and Elwood Sprinters to play July 9 as opening acts.
Contracts with Brian Fravel for sound and audio production as well as an advertising contract also were approved.
The board approved a contract with Ken Herceg and Associates out of South Bend. The firm will conduct studies to determine whether a pipe that connects Center and Pikes lakes has contributed to flooding that has taken place at both lakes over the past couple of years.
The study is a response to concerns raised by homeowners at Center Lake led by homeowner's association president Troy Turley.
Mayor Ernie Wiggins and councilman Joe Thallemer were set to meet with Turley today to discuss the matter further.
During Friday morning's meeting, Wiggins said he would like to see data before making any decisions on what to do with the pipe.
The cost of the study is capped at $3,850.
Warsaw will consolidate its wastewater treatment facilities after the board approved an agreement with Jones & Henry Engineers.
The consolidation still leaves the city with more than a million gallons worth of free space at its newer facility with room for expansion to hold up to 12 million gallons.
The city currently uses 2.5 million gallons a day on average.In other business:
- The board approved an agreement with the American Red Cross that allows the organization to train city employees in first aid and CPR.
- Approved a contract with Signature Tree Co. to spray maple trees at Center Lake, Pike Lake and Central Park.
Wiggins abstained from the vote citing a previous relationship with the company. Board members Charlie Smith and Joe Thallemer approved the contract.
- Approved the purchase of a 2010 Chevrolet Silverado with dump bed for the wastewater utility office.
- Approved the wastewater office's request to rent a booth at the Kosciusko Community Fair for community outreach.
- Approved a matching grant agreement through the Warsaw Community Development Corp.
- Approved the Indiana Department of Transportation's request for the purchase of a 10-foot strip of land along Rozella Road near Warsaw Community High School. The property will be used in conjunction with an INDOT road project slated to begin this year.
- Approved nine travel requests as well as agreements for bloodborne pathogen training and software and tech support used by the city's human resources department.
