Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
A host of contracts, equipment and personnel for the Boggs Industrial Park wastewater treatment plant were approved by the Warsaw Board of Works Friday.
Interim plant manager J.D. Brookhart requested a mobile office remain at the facility, leased for $271 per month with Jobsite Leasing Co., Rochester.
A contract with Keifer Consulting, Bremen, also was approved. The company is to contract all farmers permitted to receive bio-solids, create maps of the fields, collect soil samples and conduct soil analysis. Charges are $5 per acre and the city's current permitted acreage is 1,947 acres ($9,735). Laboratory fees are $10.75 per sample.
Robert Miller, hired as a maintenance employee in January, was promoted to shift operator at $11 per hour. Also hired at the wastewater treatment plant were Robert Waikel and David Webb, both shift operators working for $11 per hour and Kevin Smith II as general maintenance technician at $10.25 per hour.
A remanufactured bare blower assembly for $14,350, was approved with a $5,000 warranty option.
Richard Huyck's contract was modified for him to continue on-site training at the plant at a rate of $75 per hour and 36 cents per mile.
In other business the board:
• Approved easement agreements with Floyd and Angie Horn and Lucinda Holloway to install interceptor lines.
The interceptor project, which begins in Winona Lake, should be complete in late August, according to public works superintendent Lacy Francis. When the job is finished, the second treatment plant on CR 150W, will begin operations.
• Approved a contract with Larry Polk to rent a parking lot for $6,400 per year.
• Approved the use of unsafe building funds for cleanup and mowing at 1216 N. Park Ave. in the amount of $375, as requested by Building Commissioner Todd Slabaugh. The property is abandoned and scheduled for sheriff's sale Tuesday.
• Approved contracts with Pro Sound Rental Inc. for $4,300, to provide sound equipment and production for the classic rock concert June 20; with GBC Media/WRSW, in the amount of $1,800, for radio advertisements and a live remote June 20; and with Weed Patrol Inc. for herbicide treatment to control weeds at the Pike Lake campground beach and lake frontage at Center Lake and Bixler Park in the amount of $2,900.
• Approved a change order requested by Woodruff & Sons Inc. in the amount of $2,100 for three sewer taps along Springhill Road.
• Approved a change order requested by QEPI in the amount of $1,983 for additional asbestos removal and disposal at the Gatke property.
• Approved an unpaid leave requested by Charles Hartman beginning Monday through June 20.
• Approved a vehicle trade as requested by the Warsaw Police Department.
A grant application to the Kosciusko County Tobacco Control Alliance, 800 N. Park Ave., Warsaw, in the amount of $5,000 also was approved for the police department's DARE program.
• Approved a rental agreement with Phend and Brown for equipment rental.
• Discussed establishing a clothing allowance for departments other than police and fire who already have allowances. Several special claims items - shoes, clothing and equipment for bicycle park patrollers and T-shirts with reflective stripes for the street department - were approved. If an allowance was established, special claims would not have to be made.
• Approved, pending the clerk's confirmation of the donation's account balance, a contract with Phend & Brown to prepare a base and pour asphalt along the Beyer Farm section of the Lake City Greenway.
City planner Jeff Noffsinger said the account holds $81,000 and the price for the asphalt work is $60,235. Noffsinger said a July 12 grand opening is planned.
• Approved travel requests by Dave Morales, Mike Cox and Steve Adang.
• Approved hiring of Meghann Faas and Jay Ross for the parks department.
Board of works members are Mayor Ernie Wiggins, Jerry Patterson and Charlie Smith.
