Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Sewer rates and charges have been set for Warsaw, but rates for Winona Lake have yet to be decided.
The city council approved Warsaw rates and charges for city sewage services at its meeting Monday night.
The rates and charges for all dwelling units, including single family, duplexes, apartments, condominiums and mobile home courts will be a minimum of $30.80 per month for each dwelling unit. The sewer rates apply to property owners who tap into the city's sewage system.
Mayor Ernie Wiggins informed the council that he and council members Joe Thallemer and Bill Rhoades will meet with members of the Winona Lake Town Council Friday at 2 p.m. to discuss the proposed sewer rate ordinance for Winona Lake.
The two city council members volunteered at the council's Sept. 5 meeting to meet with the town council to work out a sanitary sewer treatment agreement.
The proposed sewer rate ordinance in Winona Lake could increase sewer rates by as much as 60 percent if the city council decided to approve the ordinance. Winona Lake residents currently pay $35 a month for sewer rates, but that would increase to $56 a month if the proposed sewer rates are approved.
The council also approved a waiver or reduction for sewage service charges for the city. The city council, upon written request of a person desiring to connect to the sanitary sewer system in the city, may waive or reduce the connection charge subject to the following conditions: if the connection replaces an existing connection which will be abandoned and does not increase the amount of sewage for treatment entering the system at the time the connection is being made, if the requested connection is to replace an existing connection and will increase the amount of sewage for treatment entering the system, the connection charge will be determined by the common council and a connection charge for a residential use may be reduced to $150 and for a commercial use be reduced to $250.
The council also approved budgets and tax rates for 2007, including a budget total of $19,412,141.
The council also:
• Approved an August activity report for the Warsaw Fire Department. The department reported 106 runs in July. There were 19 fire calls, 26 rescue and medical assistance, 23 hazardous conditions, 11 service calls, two good intent calls, 24 false alarms and false calls and one call for overpressure.
• Approved a letter to Northern Indiana Public Service Co., Plymouth, from Clerk-Treasurer Elaine Call regarding pole removal and light installation. The poles on the west side of South Indiana Street and between Indiana and Buffalo streets will be replaced with nine tri-globe decor lights and be installed by the Warsaw Street Department.
• Approved a first reading for 2007 salaries for elected officials, including $58,268 for the mayor, $49,496 for the clerk-treasurer, $4,968 for members of the common council, $125 per month for members of the Board of Public Works and Safety and $30 per meeting for plan commission members. A second reading of the salaries will be held at the council's October meeting.
• Discussed an ordinance amending chapter 54 of the Warsaw City Code in reference to offenses involving public safety.
The ordinance is regarding the prohibition of solicitation in streets that endangers the safety or welfare of an occupant on a motor vehicle, impedes the free flow of traffic or obstructs or distracts the view of a driver.
The ordinance states it is unlawful for any person to sit, stand or move within or upon any street or highway or upon any median, guard rail or divider in or between any street or highway for the purpose of soliciting, peddling, selling, advertising, donating or distributing any product or property of service including tickets, handbills, money, flowers and newspapers.
There is an exception for a one-time event during any calendar year for charitable organizations that may conduct street solicitation for two consecutive days provided the organization has applied for and received a permit from the Warsaw Police Department at least 30 days in advance of the first day of the event.
Wiggins also informed the council that national incident management system training begins today for all response organizations and government leaders. All response agencies must complete three hours of the training by Oct. 1 in order to continue to receive state or federal grants.
Council members are Bob Morrison, Joe Thallemer, George Clemens, Jeff Grose, Charles Smith, Jerry Patterson and Bill Rhoades.
