At least one Warsaw resident is tired of fireworks still going off in the city long after the Fourth of July holiday. Matt Shively, Fairlane Drive resident, told the Warsaw Board of Public Works and Safety Friday that through frustrated personal experience he has come to the realization that there is a perceived conflict between the city’s local noise ordinance and state statute that he said generically allows the use of fireworks until 11 p.m. He said the city has had a noise ordinance on its books since 1970 that covers fireworks complaints outside of time periods that are exempted by the state statute. “It’s my understanding in situations like this if the board sees fit they can engage the city attorney to look at and review any potential conflicts with the state fireworks ordinance and the city’s local noise ordinance, and I am here asking the board to do so,” Shively said. Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer said city attorney Mike Valentine will look into the matter. The board also approved an invoice change request from Warsaw Police Dept. from $52,595.52 to $77,132.52 for G&G Hauling and Excavating for phase one of WPD’s site improvement project. The $24,537 increase is due to unforseen condition of the pavement. It has been determined that milling and replacing the existing pavement will not provide a long-lasting parking lot. The project will be modified through a change order to include total removal of the entire existing parking lot area and drive approaches, and the reconstruction of the approximate 1,230-square-yard parking lot to remain. The pavement section of the reconstructed parking lot will consist of 6 inches of processed aggregate. The board approved a $19,308 change order to Beer and Slabaugh Inc. for abandonment of the Huron Sewer. The city performed a video survey of the storm sewer pipe. The survey indicated a failure of a 4-foot section of the 12-inch diameter verified clay pipe at a point directly below the south rail of the tracks. The board also approved a $13,866.18 payment to Beer and Slabaugh Inc. for work completed on Huron Street. The city installed plugs at both ends of the pipe to prevent surface water from entering the pipe in order to minimize additional damage to the pipe and the potential migration of surrounding material outside of the pipe. The city is coordinating with a contractor to permanently seal the pipe with a cement and sand mix. The board approved a contract between the city and Indiana Department of Transportation for road construction on East Market Street from Hickory to Bronson streets. The city will receive $1.7 million from INDOT for the project. The city will submit and receive requests for proposals for the engineering phase in early October, with the hope of starting the engineering phase this year, according to Jeremy Skinner, city planner. The board also: • Approved utility contracts for the Warsaw Technology Park including NIPSCO for $27,501 to install a 6-inch gas main, and Indiana American Water at $119,862.62 to install an 8-inch water main. • Approved a $561 contract with Kosciusko County Convention and Visitors Bureau for an ad for the city in the 2015 visitor’s guide. • Approved a $1,833 bi-weekly salary for Jaime de la Fuente, WPD corporal. • Approved closing Canal Street on Sept. 13 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for Family Safety Day. • Approved closing the intersection of Buffalo and Market streets, and Market Street from Lake to Indiana streets, and South Buffalo Street from Center Street to north of Jefferson Street on Sept. 14 from 9 a.m. to noon for fire department ladder truck training. • Approved closing Canal Street between the parking lot entrances from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Sept. 11 for the 9/11 ceremony. • Approved a service agreement not to exceed $1,000 per year for training for Pastor Layne Sumner, volunteer chaplain for WPD. • Approved closing Buffalo and Lake streets from 1 to 10 p.m. for a Extravabandza Oct. 11 when six bands will play and there will be a beer garden and food. Attendees will be allowed to bring their lawn chairs and come and go during the event, according to Paula Bowman, events coordinator. Thallemer informed the council on paving projects the city is working on to get completed by the end of the year, including paving Ranch and Frontage roads and painting lines on Lake Street.
