Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
While others contemplate fall harvests and activities, street superintendent Lacy Francis has turned his attention a little further ahead - to winter and snow and snow removal.
With a mind to keep the city streets safe with a generous application of salt during icy times, Francis received quite a shock when he discovered the salt vendors will not honor the price per ton they've quoted the state.
Francis usually contacts the Indiana Department of Transportation about this time of year to figure his salt price.
The state gets its salt through a bidding process, with the award going to the lowest bidder(s). The counties and municipalities purchase their stockpile at the same rate.
This year all the salt vendors checked "no" on the line asking whether or not they wanted to include county and municipal tonnages.
Dennis Belter, program support manager, for the Indiana Department of Transportation said the vendors always had the option about including outside orders.
"There was no change on the form, except they all decided not to include anyone but the state," he said.
This means the city can be expected to pay upwards of $47.42 per ton of salt instead of the state rate, which was $29.96 last year.
Francis advised the Warsaw Board of Works of the situation Friday, saying he had quotes from Morton Salt, Detroit Salt and Cargill Salt.
Mayor Ernie Wiggins advised Francis the city would have to advertise for the rates.
The city orders about 1,300 tons of salt each year. There is a stockpile for the coming winter, Francis said.
Warsaw attorney Bill Dalton approached the board regarding installation of U.S. flags on light poles throughout the city. Dalton said he first thought of the idea while traveling through Wisconsin recently.
"I thought of it long before the current tragedy," he said of the events on Sept. 11, which destroyed the World Trade Center in New York City and a portion of the Pentagon building in Washington, D.C. "It is a fine patriotic gesture in light of what happened last week."
Dalton said he would be talking to the local American Legion Post to sponsor the 18-inch flags and monies were available through an anonymous foundation for their purchase.
Wiggins advised Dalton to get permission from NIPSCO and to get costs on the hardware to hang the flags.
In other business the board:
• Approved a grant application from the police department to the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute for a DUI Task Force.
Chief Steve Foster said he didn't know how much would be available for the task force. It would pay for officer's overtime in apprehending detection and apprehension of intoxicated or impaired drivers.
• Approved the travel requests of Kip Shuter and David Beall.
• Approved for Janet Essig automatic payroll deposit services. Essig has worked for the city 26 years as a crossing guard. She is a part-time employee. Part-timers usually do not receive direct deposit services. In Essig's case, in light of her longevity, the request was approved.
Board of works members are Wiggins, Jerry Patterson and Charlie Smith. The board meets the first and third Friday of each month at 10:30 a.m. in city hall.
