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With the Warsaw Board of Public Works and Safety’s approval Friday of a change order and two pay applications, paperwork for Fellowship Missions’ Jomac building demolition is near completion for the city.
Next, the state has to approve them and send out the checks from a grant so the city can distribute the funds.
City Planner Justin Taylor said, “As we conclude that contract and that grant, we’re just kind of wrapping everything up.”
Change order 1 was for a credit of $5,300. Taylor said Fellowship Missions wanted to keep a portion of the asphalt that was initially intended to be demolished. “They saw a value in retaining that portion of the site, so G & G (Hauling & Excavating) was asked to not demolish that section and actually preserve it,” he said.
The original award of the bid to G & G for the demolition was in the amount of $322,896.
Pay application 3 was for $68,487.97. The funds will come from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) the city received on behalf of Fellowship Missions from the Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA).
The other pay application, for $15,879.80, was for the remainder of the retainage for the Jomac demolition project. Taylor said the site is finished and the work there is completed. It’s been inspected and grass seed has been laid.
“G & G has, again, done an excellent job of finishing that project, remediating that brownfield. I really appreciate working with them,” Taylor said, adding that he was happy to have that building down. “At some point in the future, that parcel will be able to be a productive part of the community again.”
Taylor said once they approve the change order and pay applications locally, they all have to be sent to OCRA for approval, which will take several weeks. OCRA will then send the city the funds, and then the city distributes that funding.
Street Superintendent Joe Vetor, on behalf of the Public Works Department, requested permission to move forward with a contract with A & Z Engineering for the design, permit and bid package for East Fort Wayne Street, from Detroit Street to Scott Street.
The total amount of the contract is $190,960. Vetor said the funds are available in the street department’s main budget under professional services and from the stormwater utility’s cumulative capital development fund under professional services.
When asked what were some of the changes involved in that by Board member George Clemens, Vetor responded, “We ran into some issues with the brick road underneath Fort Wayne so we had to shorten that up a little bit just due to funds. We’re wanting to get this ready and everything to present for CCMG (Community Crossings Matching Grant) for next year.”
The engineering contract was approved.
In another matter, three bids were received and opened Friday for two 2026 Ford F-550 4x4 cab and chassis for the Warsaw Public Works Department.
Model 1 Ford, Warsaw, offered a sale price of $59,384 per unit, or a total of $118,768. Kerlin Motor Co., Silver Lake, offered a sale price of $58,900 per unit, or a total of $117,800. City Ford, Columbia City, offered a sale price of $58,786.80 per unit, or a total of $117,573.60.
After reviewing the bids during the meeting, Vetor recommended the Board of Works accept the City Ford, which they did.
Vetor also presented a six-month agreement with Superior Excavating Soils & Services to haul the city’s brush, leaves and lawn bags for $5,000 per month for a total of $30,000 to finish off 2026. He said it’s worked out very well for the city. The agreement was approved.
Wastewater Treatment Assistant Utility Manager Larry Hyden presented State Revolving Fund pay application 5 for $17,738 from Wessler Engineer for the wastewater plant drying beds. He said they’ll help the department cut costs. The payment was approved.
Hyden also presented a contract with AECOM for $171,200 for engineering services on ongoing drainage work out at Timber Ridge and Deer Ridge. The ultimate goal is to be able to drain it out there with pipes.
Oakwood Cemetery Sexton Hal Heagy reminded everyone of the Heritage Walk on June 27, from 1 to 4 p.m., with the last walk starting at 3:30 p.m. A walk takes approximately 30 to 45 minutes, he estimated. There are 11 veterans being portrayed, along with Virgil and Blanche Brock, who were recommended for the first walk. This is the second Heritage Walk the cemetery has done. It’s free.
The chapel will be set up with memorabilia from the Kosciusko County Historical Society. There also will be a memorial wall for people to send in information on veterans.
The next meeting of the Board of Works is Thursday, July 2 at 10:30 a.m. at the Warsaw Police Department Training Center.
