Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Warsaw City Council began work on the 1999 budget in earnest Monday, having in-depth discussions with some of the department heads that will management the funds.
Street Superintendent Kim Leake, Police Chief Craig Allebach and Park Superintendent Jon Garber answered the council's questions on their individual department budgets.
The total proposed budget for 1999 is currently $10,960,250. However, Mayor Ernie Wiggins cautioned that the figure could still change before the Aug. 31 deadline for advertising the 1999 request.
Most of the council's questions for the department heads were directed to Allebach, whose departmental budget request of $2.5 million was was questioned by Councilman Paul Siebenmorgen.
"A $2.5-million dollar budget for no bigger than we are seems awfully high," Siebenmorgen said.
Allebach explained the budget request contained only proposed appropriations and didn't take into account the revenue his department generates.
"We've almost met our revenue projection this year of $152,000. It's just August and we already have receipts of $150,000," he said.
In addition, some expenses are fixed and outside his control, he said, but he does keep a close eye on his discretionary spending.
"We have been keeping a tight rein on expenses - the ones we have control over," he said.
Councilman Jerry Patterson asked Garber about the $26,000 for removing weeds from Center Lake using a sonar technique. Garber responded that the method has proven effective, being only required approximately every three years.
The proposed budget for the parks department is $1,085,618 and the proposed street department budget is $2,256,629.
In other business, the council recognized four recent retirees for service to the city. The honorees included Lt. Lance Grubbs and Det. Sgt. Jerry Laurien from the police department, and Pete Gatke and Daniel Rife of the fire department.
The men were commended for their commitment to duty in serving the city and awarded engraved plates.
The council approved a grant request by Greyhound Bus Lines to fund a feasibility study on providing passenger bus service. Under the approval, the city would sponsor the grant request, but all expenses, estimated at $162,000, in matching funds would be paid by Greyhound.
The council also approved the Corridor Drive annexation and the rezoning of the property to I-2, industrial zoning.
