Downtown Crosswalk Work Could Be Done Next Week

Work on the downtown crosswalks in Warsaw may be done as early as next Tuesday if the weather cooperates, public works superintendent Kim Leake said at the Board of Public Works & Safety meeting Friday.

The brick crosswalks on the block of Center Street between Lake and Buffalo streets are expected to be done today, Leake said. The new pavement will be laid Monday and the road striping should be done Tuesday, he said.

He hopes to open that portion of Center Street by Tuesday afternoon "if everything works out right."

Weather is a factor in the road work since temperatures should be no colder than 55 degrees for best results when asphalt is laid, Leake said.

Leake said alleys in the area also will be paved, and street striping in downtown Warsaw that was not finished last fall will be done.

The city plans to close the next block of Center Street - between Buffalo and Indiana streets - on Thursday, with milling scheduled for Thursday and excavation for Friday.

The board also assessed a $300 bond against landlord William Bowers, of Silver Lake, for housing violations on rental property at 621 E. Fort Wayne St. If Bowers completes required repairs within 45 days, the $300 will be returned to him.

Warsaw building inspector Pam Kennedy said Bowers' two-family dwelling had electrical violations, deteriorating windows with missing panes, and mechanical problems with the water heater in the basement. The violations were identified in November, she said, and full repairs still are not done.

Bowers said he was working on the repairs, but that with his full-time job, it took somewhat longer than expected. That argument didn't sit well with board member Jerry Patterson.

"When safety matters are involved, I think four months is plenty of time to get this taken care of," he said.

Bowers agreed to post $300 bond today and to complete repairs in 45 days.

A second housing hearing, involving landlord Wade Frauhiger, was continued to the second Board of Works meeting in May at the request of Frauhiger's attorney.

The board also:

• Set an executive session for 6:30 p.m. Monday to discuss the city's bargaining position in a mediation case;

• Tabled a decision on removing underground fuel storage tanks at the street department. The board will reconsider the issue in May, when board member Mac Silveus is present.

The Board of Works meets at 8:30 a.m. the first and third Fridays of each month in the city council chambers.