Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Warsaw departments heads will continue to be hired according to their merit and credentials, regardless of whether or not they live within city limits, in line with an Indiana Supreme Court decision handed down recently.
The high court ruled that department heads are not bound by law to live within the limits of the municipalities they serve.
An opposite ruling would have affected more than 40 percent of municipal police chiefs around the state according to a memorandum received by board members Mayor Ernie Wiggins, Jerry Patterson and Charlie Smith Friday and sent from the Indiana Association of Chiefs of Police.
Locally, department heads Lacy Francis, Steve Foster and Jon Garber do not live within the city limits.
Warsaw fire chief Matt Warren brought several matters to the board.
Warren asked permission to proceed with a three-phase refurbishment of a ladder truck purchased in 1979, at a cost of $196,000. A similar truck costs $698,000 today.
The first phase, according to Warren, has been accomplished: to determine if the city needed such a vehicle. It was decided they do and it will be used on particular incidents such as alarms at businesses in the downtown area, at the hospital, for multi-story apartments and factory alarms. Mechanical repairs for certification is the second-phase of refurbishment and Warren asked permission to spend about $28,000 from the accumulative fire fund, which was approved. The work will be done at Stoops Freightliner, Fort Wayne, and will take approximately six weeks. A one-year warranty is given on the work.
Phase three would be bodywork repairs such as a new cab, some new compartments and other items to bring the truck into National Fire Protection Association compliance. Bodywork is estimated to be about $16,000.
Warren and Inspector Wilson were given approval to attend the Tenth Annual Emergency Services Dinner in Indianapolis on Monday.
Warren reminded the board that he attended FDIC Training in Indianapolis last year, assisting the
State Fire Marshals Office of Indiana, Investigation Division, Chief Tom Hinkle and instructors of the investigation class.
Warrens return to Indianapolis for the training again this year on Monday and Tuesday was approved.
Police chief Steve Foster reported that Mike Foster has completed six months of service at the county communications center and asked that he be elevated to the next stage of probationary status, which was approved. A pay increase accompanies the promotion, effective Feb.
23. A contract forwarded by CSX Transportation was approved in which the city agrees to pay a lump sum for right-of-way easements located under the railroad in two locations. The city has been paying $600 for each easement ñforever.î
The one time fee will end annual bills, which are paid until Sept. 30, and total $8,766 for both easements.
Park activities director Andy McCleary approached the board with three entertainment-related contracts which were approved. Dates, bands and costs set were: June 15, The Interns, $400, paid through a grant; June 23, Nostalgia, $650, paid by donation; June 22 and 23, Pro-Sound Systems, $5,500 paid through a donation and July 27, the Blackhawk band appearance, $4,300.
In other business the board:
- Approved trips for Mayor Wiggins, Elaine Call and Linda O'Brien to attend the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns Legislative Days, Feb. 6 and 7; training for patrolman Randy Hart in February; and Jeff Noffsinger and McCleary to attend an Indiana Trails and Greenways
Conference in February.
- City planner Noffsinger presented release of liens on four properties, including: Rick and Jewell Craft, 213 Ra-Mar Dr., $500; Sydney Martin, 612 W. Wilson, $250; Donald and Laura Bixel, 212 S. Union, $500; and Terry and Connie Holzinger, 1410 E. Center St., $1,000.
- Mayor Wiggins announced that Gossnickle Eye Center is offering a corporate rate for laser surgery on eyes to city employees. The procedure is not covered under the city plan and a $200 reduction is offered off the regular price of $1,295 rate. Wiggins said there is no obligation but employees must sign up in 30 days. He said he will give department heads a copy of the package at their next meeting.
- Street department superintendent Lacy Francis was given approval to get quotes for a sewer bucket machine which would clean pipe of 18-inch or larger diameter. He expects estimates to be in the $72,000 to $80,000 range.
- Heard from Foster regarding a contract with Verizon representing a 20-percent savings on cellular phone usage and new cellular digital analog phones for the department. Noffsinger said his department's understanding with Verizon cut the staff's cellular phone costs in half. McCleary asked why the whole city couldn't approach the company or another carrier all together. The chief's contract was approved pending final written version.
The next board of works meeting is Feb. 16 at 10:30 p.m.
