Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Warsaw fire marshal Mike Wilson wants another dog. Warsaw Board of Works members, after close questioning, said Friday he could have one.
Wilson doesn't want just any pup - he requested a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms-trained, accelerant detection canine who is able to sniff out traces of ignitable liquid odors to one part in one billion.
"I was approached at a conference by the ATF to have a dog," Wilson said Friday. A former U.S. Army canine trainer, Wilson has obedience-trained three dogs since his military experience.
He said his current family dog, a labrador, would go to his daughter if he is accepted into the program.
Wilson said there are 52-accelerant-trained dogs in the United States, including one in Anderson.
"Their (the ATF's) idea is to put a dog to use in northern Indiana," the fire marshal said of the program.
Wilson said the animal will come in handy during county investigations. He has seen a dog sent to work after a suspicious fire walk up to the home owner, indicating traces of accelerant were on the man's pants.
"We walk into total debris after a fire," he said, "and spend hours searching through the rubble. A dog can can determine the exact origin of a fire, cutting hours of time for an investigation."
Wilson said costs to the city would be his pay during the five-week training session in Virginia.
The dog would become a member of his family and a great public relations and education tool.
Mayor Ernie Wiggins and board member Charlie Smith (Jerry Patterson was delayed for an hour by a downed train on the north-south railroad) wanted to make sure Wilson could continue in his capacity as Warsaw's fire marshal and member of the county fire investigation team and not going around the state.
He assured them he and the dog would be required to respond to ATF or federally investigated scenes "once or twice a year." Any travel or time he spent away from the department would be reimbursed by the ATF.
Upon further recommendation by Warsaw fire chief Matt Warren, the canine program was approved.
Wilson could have the dog sometime next year, as early as February.
In other business, the board:
• Approved five bands for the Celebraci-n Latina in Central Park Sept. 28 as requested by activities director Janelle Wilson: Mariachi Band, $800; Ballet Folk-rio of East Chicago, $500; Roberto Serrato, $1,800; Grupo Campesino, $800; and Banda La Broma, $800.
• Approved a request by parks superintendent Jon Garber to construct a concrete pad lined with paving brick to support an abstract stainless steel sculpture donated by Mr. and Mrs. Milton Holmgrain. The Holmgrains commissioned the artwork and are donating it to the city. Costs for the base was approved at $5,200 with installation to be done by Walls Building Inc., of Pierceton.
• Approved two contracts with Larry R. Long and Associates Inc. One, in the amount of $795, is for a land survey to locate property lines for land application of wastewater sludge on property owned by Eric and Bridgette White, Claypool. The second, for $1,142, is for a land survey for the proposed street department garbage truck garage.
• Approved hiring new employee John Ogden at the street department and a change is status from part- to full-time for cemetery employee Anthony Leadford. Also approved were travel plans of Scott Quillen and Al Dials.
• Approved a contract with Waggoner, Irwin and Scheele for consulting services regarding the hiring of a human resources director. Three "final" interviews have been conducted and background checks are under way pending a decision to hire someone into the position.
Wiggins thanked everyone involved with the service for the late firefighter Jon Evans, whose funeral was Wednesday.
Board of works members are Ernie Wiggins, Charlie Smith and Jerry Patterson.
