Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Not everyone will be able to attend the dedication of a long-anticipated World War II memorial in Washington, D.C., next Memorial Day, Denny Nice of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 49 advised the Warsaw city council Monday.
To honor local World War II military veterans, Nice asked the council to support a planned breakfast, walk-a-thon and celebration May 29. Nice asked that a mayoral proclamation recognize World War II vets and that the council endorse the event with a council representative.
Councilman Bill Rhoades said he'd already agreed to serve on the committee, reminding everyone he was a Korean War veteran, not a World War II vet.
Fire chief Matt Warren presented the fire department's monthly activity report for August, showing 86 runs.
Councilman Jeff Grose asked about the smoke alarm system at Courts of Colfax.
"You seem to be there once a day," said Grose, who lives on Clark Street near the Colfax Street facility.
Warren said the problem is the building's detector is too close to the kitchen, so heat and smoke made by cooking set it off. He said costs to reroute the alarm system are prohibitive.
Grose called the runs a "regular production in the neighborhood."
Councilman Charlie Smith suggested the facility is a for-profit business and they need to take care of the situation causing the fire department to respond to false alarms so frequently.
The council approved, with a second and final reading, two ordinances and one resolution regarding the 2004 budget.
The salary ordinance was approved 4-3, with Trish Brown, George Clemens, Jerry Patterson and Charlie Smith voting for the 3 percent across-the-board increase. Against the proposal were Jeff Grose, Bill Rhoades and Joe Thallemer.
The document establishes compensation levels for department heads, appointive positions and other salaried and non-salaried employees of the city.
Department head salaries are: $58,000 - wastewater treatment plant manager; $53,582 - public works superintendent; $47,992 - police chief and fire chief; $47,909, parks and recreation superintendent; $45,972 - city planner; $44,148 - airport manager; $41,634 - cemetery sexton; $40,560 - human resources administrator; and $39,775 - sewage collection manager.
The city's $18 million 2004 budget was approved along with a $1.1 million "line 1" cuts resolution.
In other business, the board:
• Approved several additional appropriations: $300,000 from the council's general budget for health benefits funding and administration costs; $2,000 from operating supplies into repairs and maintenance for the police department; $1,500 from operating supplies to rentals for the police department; $2,500 from other services and charges to insurance for the aviation department; and $40,000 from various MVH accounts into MVH other supply for the purchase of road and salt and stone by the street department.
• Tabled action regarding several traffic control recommendations provided by the traffic safety commission to give citizens time to respond.
They include:
- Setting the speed limit at 15 miles per hour on Brubaker Street;
- Setting the speed limit on CR 225E within city limits at 35 miles per hour;
- Changing the north/south stops on McKinley Street at the Durbin and Hendricks streets intersections to east/west stops;
- Allowing parking on the east side of Scott Street between Main and Fort Wayne streets;
- Installing a three-way stop sign at the intersection of East Fort Wayne Street and North Park Avenue.
- Making permanent the truck route on Jefferson Street, between Argonne Road and Harrison Street.
