Warsaw Board of Public Works and Safety approved Friday an agreement between the city and Grace College and Kosciusko Lakes and Streams for water quality education. The $5,500 contract will allow Warsaw to engage KLAS student interns at Grace College to perform field screening on approximately 180 of the 250 stormwater outfalls in Warsaw. The contract also will allow for a Lakes In the Classroom education program in Warsaw schools. Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer said the stormwater outfall screening is mandated by the state, and Grace College assisting in the efforts will be an asset to the city. The program includes installation and maintenance of an aquarium in the classroom, supply of native plants and fish, a library of water-related books and in-class presentations on protecting local water resources for the entire school year. KLAS will conduct the program and incorporate additional stormwater curriculum not currently in the program to meet the city’s goals. A potential example of the effort will be having five aquariums and associated curriculum in classrooms at Lincoln, Eisenhower, Washington, Harrison and Madison elementary schools for a $3,000 fee paid by Warsaw. KLAS will develop new stormwater curriculum and educational programs in Warsaw schools and with adults in the community, as well as blend stormwater messages into existing programs that KLAS is already conducting.In other business, the board approved: – A $195,895.80 contract between the city and Grand River Construction for Center Street pump station work. – A $275 contract between the city and Keystone Software Systems for a 2013 disaster recovery plan. – A $9,594.71 agreement between the city and Everest Excavating for sewer line work at Holiday Drive. – A $38,900 agreement between the city and Wastewater Solutions Inc. to process an energy audit and phosphorus evaluation. – A 24-month price agreement with Wildman Uniform & Linen for uniforms, mats and towels for the Wastewater Treatment Utility facility. – An $8,000 agreement between the wastewater utility department and Christopher B. Burke Engineering for reviewing and assessing the city’s rules on a mandated program to approve quality of lakes and streams in Kosciusko County. – A $1,000 contract between the city and Bobcat of Warsaw for an annual exchange of the S130 Bobcat skid steer loader. – A $174,561.66 agreement between the city and All Star Construction to replace the Center Street force main. Brian Davison, Warsaw Wastewater Treatment Utility Facility manager, said the facility was awarded by the Indiana Water Environment Association the Lab Excellence Award and Plant Safety Award. The award was presented during the association’s conference Nov. 16 in Indianapolis. Thallemer congratulated the facility for the award during Friday’s meeting.
