Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Councilman Bill Rhoades Monday protested the establishment of yet another change order to provide NIPSCO electrical service to the newly installed flower beds downtown.
Originally, specifications did not indicate electrical sources in the streetscape design. On March 19, Warsaw Board of Works members (Mayor Ernie Wiggins, Jerry Patterson and Charlie Smith) approved a change order for Clounie Landscaping Inc., in the amount of $5,000, to install ground wires, outlets and junction boxes in the Center Street "streetscape."
The council approved one meter and now plans call for a second meter. The electrical outlets will be used intermittently, during downtown events and during the holiday season when the trees will be decorated with lights.
Rhoades said there seems to be a continuous stream of change orders, not just on this project but on others.
"Maybe we should have someone read the specifications," the District 5 councilman said. "I worked for a private company 27 years; if we made a mistake, we paid for it. There are a lot of change orders, a lot of add-ons. We have too many."
Councilman Jerry Patterson said additional costs were to be expected during large projects.
"It doesn't happen at DePuy, Jerry," Rhoades said, indicating Patterson's employer, "or at a big company. We are a big company."
Wiggins said more change orders could be expected, including a very substantial one on the interceptor project.
"The engineers did soil borings, but we have 300 feet of line to replace behind Applebee's restaurant."
Rhoades said companies should give the city the worst-case scenario up front. "There are too many change orders, too many."
Wiggins said he thought the town could use the services of a full-time engineer.
City planner Jeff Noffsinger said the streetscape project was still $50,000 under budget. The work was to be complete May 15.
Rhodes cast a nay vote for the second electrical meter.
The council gave a first reading to traffic control ordinance 2004-05-01, which adds a one-way stop at the intersection of Airport Road and CR 300N and establishes two no-parking zones.
The first zone does not allow parking on the south side of Arthur Street between Park Avenue and Cook Street. A second no-parking zone is recommended on the west side of Washington Street between Porter and Pike streets.
Fire chief Matt Warren's request to enter into a lease/purchase program for a ladder truck was approved. Warren said the department's current 1977 ladder truck needs $69,000 worth of repairs and upgrades.
The board also:
• Reviewed a statement of benefits from Little Crow Milling Co. Inc. for tax abatements showing 46 employees, an additional 11 since improvement plans were made in 1997.
The company added $2.4 million in new equipment with a current assessed value of $641,398.
• Reviewed a letter from Wayne Township trustee Daniel Slone advising the council to expect a 25 percent reduction in funds for fiscal 2005.
The correspondence indicates the township will not be able to raise the needed property taxes agreed upon for 2004 because of Senate Bill 1.
• Heard the K21 Foundation has awarded a $50,000 grant application toward the construction of phase 2 of the Beyer Farm Trail for the Lake City Greenway project. This segment will connect the Kosciusko Community Hospital "campus" with the Hodges and Meadowbrook housing additions.
Total costs for this segment of the greenway have been given as $143,000.
Noffsinger said John Camden received the contract to make repairs to the Chinworth and Nash bridges spanning the Lake City Greenway at the Tippecanoe River and on R.R. Donnelley & Sons property.
The bridge work must be done before the asphalt path is laid, Noffsinger said.
City council members are: George Clemens, Jeff Grose, Bob Morrison, Jerry Patterson, Bill Rhoades, Charlie Smith and Joe Thallemer. Grose was absent.
