Warsaw Board of Public Works and Safety Friday approved a contract to replace Ash trees in Central Park that have been damaged by Emerald Ash Borer. It is an invasive species highly destructive to ash trees. The board approved a $10,315 contract with Dogwood Hills Tree Farm to replace 21 ash trees in Central Park. The trees will be replaced with Sun Valley and Crimson King Maple trees and a Forest Pansy Redbud or similar trees. Money for the project was appropriated in the parks department’s 2013 budget. In other business, the board approved a $24,408.55 payment to RW Armstrong for work on the city’s bike and pedestrian master plan that has been completed. The board approved a request from Hal Heagy, Oakwood Cemetery sexton, for the cemetery to install swing gate operators on the front gate of the cemetery for $7,600. This will be paid for from the cemetery permanent improvements fund. The board approved the parks department to solicit quotes for the construction of Beyer Park restrooms. This was part of the five-year master plan to bring the restroom facilities up to Americans With Disabilities Act standards. Funds for the project were appropriated in the 2013 buildings budget. Warsaw Street Department was approved to purchase a Bobcat and compact excavator for $26,886 from Bobcat of Warsaw. The money is available for the purchases in its motor vehicle highway street machinery and equipment fund. The board also approved a contract not to exceed $4,625 between the parks department and Apollo Printing and Graphics Center for printing services for the 2013 parks department recreation guide. The board also approved a $125 contract between the parks department and American Red Cross for aquatics training May 18 at 12:30 p.m. at Center Lake Beach. A $200 contract was approved between the city and Harold Keiser for Santa Claus Dec. 6 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in Central Park. The board also approved a $900 annual maintenance agreement with NEW Plumbing Heating and Cooling for semi-annual heating and cooling preventative maintenance for fire stations 1 and 2. The board approved a $592 annual heating ventilation and cooling contract with Warsaw Police Department and Quine Freeman Heating & Air Conditioning. The board approved a request from Scott Whitaker, WPD chief, for travel requests for eight WPD officers to travel to Indianapolis Monday and Tuesday for two-day training. The officers will receive drug investigation training to deal with informants and surveillance during these investigations. Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s Office will pay for the registration and lodging fees for the officers to attend the training.
