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Although they're just a few years out of kindergarten, Harrison Elementary School third graders want to ensure their future employment.
This year, Mrs. Ringle's and Mr. Polston's third graders made an EdCom project of asking Guidant Corp., a Johnson and Johnson Co., to move to Warsaw.
They wrote to the company (and have yet to hear back), to Johnson and Johnson and to Gov. Mitch Daniels; they wrote a letter to the Times-Union editor, asking the company to move here.
Dressed in bright yellow t-shirts, the students gave their presentation before the Warsaw City Council Monday, each student speaking in turn. The project included posters of "the orthopedic capital of the world." Photos of the parks, lakes, schools, industries and businesses were laid before the council members. A "movie" featuring interviews with Zimmer, Biomet and Medtronics representatives, with Mayor Ernie Wiggins and parks superintendent Jon Garber, stressed why Warsaw is a great place to locate a company like Guidant.
The children also made books and read them to the councilmen.
Principal Randy Polston said the students plan to give their presentation before Gov. Daniels and Guidant representatives. State Rep. David Wolkins is arranging the meeting, Polston said." And if we get word before June 2, we'll have these kids on a bus to Indianapolis."
The council approved a $36,000 payment to Tom Farms, as recommended by the Board of Aviation Commissioners.
For the last several years, Tom Farms has farmed more than 200 acres on the airport property, said airport manager David Beall. Because of pilots' concerns about wildlife on the runway or in the air during takeoffs and landings, agricultural operations, which attract the animals and birds, will end immediately.
The funds reimburse Tom Farms for cash rent, crop insurance and time spent preparing the acreage.
Beall said he will ask for additional monies this fall to seed the former crop areas with grass. He estimated mowing costs to be about $17,500 per year.
Warsaw Fire Chief Matt Warren gave an update regarding the number of fire alarms at the Courts of Colfax. Councilman Jeff Grose, who lives near the facility, has commented in the past about the number of fire calls to the facility.
Warren has explained the detectors are too close to the kitchens. "They are not false alarms," Warren said. "We're responding to alarms set off because of burnt food."
The way the system is set up, though, the alarm for the entire building goes off instead of the alarm for just one apartment.
Warren said 12 detectors have been moved to the apartment bedrooms instead of in the kitchens. Residents who habitually burn food have been asked to leave. The chief said paramedics do not have keys to the outside doors either, and the fire department also lets them in the building if they are called.
"It's been going on for years," said councilman Charlie Smith. "If they would get the right management in there, they would get it to stop."
Councilman Joe Thallemer presented a list of recommended changes to the city's solid waste ordinance, developed by the curbside recycling task force. The committee is comprised of citizens from each political district. They have been meeting since November.
Among the recommendations is eliminating the curbside pickup of construction debris; prohibiting the pickup of rubbish from an unoccupied residence; and collection of brush or debris from an undeveloped lot.
The board also:
• Reviewed a letter from Mayor Ernie Wiggins to Wolford Dry Cleaners thanking the company for donating the cleaning of more than 40 "lamppost" American flags .
• Reviewed a letter from Philip Harris to Comcast Cable.
• Reviewed a letter from Mary Weaver, a registered nurse employed by the Bowen Center, thanking the Warsaw Police Department officers for their professional and courteous responses to calls.
