Warsaw City Council Tuesday approved a resolution declaring areas in the city as deer nuisance zones. Council member Charlie Smith moved to vote on the resolution, seconded by Cindy Dobbins, council woman. The Warsaw Deer Task Force Management Committee still needs to identify and approve reduction zones where trained archers will be allowed to hunt. The committee has identified eight nuisance zones for the 2014-2015 hunting season that include Kosciusko Community Hospital and Springhill Addition, Country Club Road, Rozella Road and Logan Street, the former Madison Elementary School area and Boggs Industrial Park, northwest and northest and east-central parts of the city, Warsaw Municipal Airport area and Hire Park. During the 2013-2014 season, 29 private properties were approved and monitored as reduction zones as well as two public areas near KCH and Springhill Addition. This will be the ninth year for the reduction effort if reduction zones are approved. There have been 357 deer taken over the past eight years, according to Jeff Grose, city councilman and deer task force chair. “This is less property damage and less car-deer accidents,” Grose said. “A lot of people in Indianapolis are watching and all around the country, and a lot of the language and steps we have taken are being used.” Grose thanked Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer, former mayor Ernie Wiggins, Warsaw Police Department, the management committee and archers for their efforts and support. Archers who have participated in previous hunts will only be allowed to participate in the reduction efforts. There are just under 40 archers qualified to participate. “With the information Jeff has given us there is obviously improvement and the numbers are going down. Not to say it’s completely problem-free, but the idea here is to maintain safety and maintain the herd,” Thallemer said. Diane Quance, council president, informed the council the city will have a trash pickup day Oct. 13 to 17 when the street department can pick up larger items; and neighborhood clean-up days Oct. 12 to 18. “Neighborhood associations are encouraged to get in contact with the public works department if they would like to have dumpsters in their neighborhood for the clean-up day,” Quance said. Couches and lawn furniture will be accepted, but electronics and items containing Freon will not. Service clubs also can volunteer time to clean up and Warsaw Community High School students will clean up Oct. 15 for community projects. “We would especially like neighborhood associations to look around their neighborhoods and see what projects they can do together or to partner with a homeowner who needs help who cannot take care of things themselves,” Quance said. The first reading of the 2015 budget will be Sept. 15 at 7 p.m. at city hall. The council approved advertising for a public hearing for a $74,000 additional appropriation for the street department to purchase salt boxes for snow plows. Jeff Beehler, street superintendent, said the salt boxes will help the city keep track of how much salt is being used and how many pounds of salt comes out of the boxes at a time. Mike Brubaker, Warsaw-Wayne Township fire chief, said Family Safety Day is Sept. 13 in Central Park and at Center Lake Pavilion. New this year will be information on homeowner’s and renter’s insurance and attendees can learn how to use fire extinguishers. Brubaker also informed the council he is researching a plan to make sure the city is adequately covered with tornado sirens. Thallemer told the council a city marquee has been ordered that will exclusively advertise city and park functions. Also Tuesday, council: • Approved transferring $50,000 from street repairs and maintenance into street repairs and maintenance for the repairs needed on leaf collection equipment, sign making and storage needs for several trucks and plows and for the purchase of salt and brine material needed for winter. • Approved transferring $170,000 from street salaries to three different funds: $25,000 to street operating supplies for fuel expenses for current projects and fall clean-up due to the heavy snow accumulations; $30,000 to street repairs and maintenance for the purchase of salt and snow clearing material and supply and updates to buildings including storage hanging racks for brine tanks and leaf boxes; and $115,000 for salt boxes and control equipment. • Approved a conflict of interest statement for Rob Barker, Warsaw-Wayne Township battalion chief. He will be working as a salesman for Sentinel Emergency Solutions selling fire equipment.
