Warsaw Board of Public Works and Safety approved a collaboration agreement for building renovations for the third floor of the new city hall during its meeting Friday. The agreement is between Orthopedics Capital Foundation, Warsaw and OrthoWorx. The three-year agreement will allow the foundation to provide the city a $180,000 grant for the renovations of the third floor of the city hall at 102 S. Buffalo St. to function as office space for OrthoWorx. Warsaw Redevelopment Commission will oversee the third-floor renovations and pay out the funds for the renovations. The foundation will make an initial payment of $90,000 upon receiving a signed copy of the agreement. The foundation will make the final $90,000 payment within 10 days after receiving notice from the city that it has approved bids necessary to begin the project. OrthoWorx will have sole occupancy of the entire third floor of the city hall rent-free for three years beginning on the date of initial occupancy. During the term of the lease agreement, the city will permit OrthoWorx to place signage on the outside of city hall. Following the term of the lease agreement, OrthoWorx will have the right of first refusal to enter into a new lease agreement with the city for continued occupancy of the third floor of city hall on a fair market value rental basis. The board also approved a $20,000 contract with Scearce-Rudisel Architects to provide consultation and design plans for a third-floor plan for the new city hall. Tentatively, the drawings will be completed May 24, the bid process will be May 24 to June 14, contracts will be approved June 21, and construction will begin June 24. In other business, the board opened bids for a city plaza and restroom project west of the new city hall. The project is to repair the plaza wall west of the new city hall where Warsaw Community Development Corp. was located and to install outdoor restrooms to be used by the community during events. Plans also are to create an area for local bands to perform as well as landscaping and benches. The board reviewed four bids from Easterday Construction, Culver, for $168,950; Milestone Construction, Warsaw, for $174,000; McComb & Sons Construction, Fort Wayne, for $176,500; and D.T. Construction, Silver Lake, for $160,716. The bids will be taken under advisement and reviewed at the next board meeting. The board approved an agreement with ACM Environmental to do lead paint testing on the new city hall, not to exceed $700. Also during the meeting, the board approved a $28,472.50 pay application for preliminary engineering to Indiana Department of Transportation for work on the Husky Trail road improvements project. The board approved a $28,472.50 pay application to A & Z Engineering for preliminary engineering work on the Husky Trail project.
