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Travis Nathan Trump of Claypool would like to set up a hot dog and soda pop stand across from the Justice Building this summer and approached the Warsaw Board of Works for permission to do so Friday.
The operation, he said, would be limited to a single, mobile cart and be operated by one person at a time. Mayor Ernie Wiggins, BOW member, asked where exactly the cart would be set up. If it was on the sidewalk it was city business, if he moved to the courthouse lawn it was under the county commissioner's jurisdiction.
BOW member Jerry Patterson said the issue had been debated before and they preferred no one set up in front of an existing restaurant.
The north-west corner of the courthouse square was thought to be the best place, however, they thought Trump should approach the commissioners, too, regarding their allowances for food vendors.
Hire Park BMX track manager Bob Brigham spoke to the board about donations of money or equipment.
"We are in the process of setting up an organization and filing for Federal 501 (c)(3) non-profit status," he said, adding the process may take a year. Until non-profit status is reached Brigham wishes to set up an account through the parks department to receive donations, which would be tax deductible.
The board approved an account for monetary donations but not for equipment.
Linda O'Brien of the clerks office said clerk Elaine Call prefers not to be in a position to estimate the value of equipment.
Wiggins said an account like the one with the CCAC could be established but they preferred not to deal with donated equipment for the time being.
While reviewing the special claims several items caught the board members' attention: five items listed as replacement of lost/stolen cash.
Parks activity director Andy McCleary explained that cash prizes are given to the queen contestant finalists during the Cinco de Mayo festival. This year the cash, totaling $350, came up missing.
"I take full responsibility for what happened," McCleary said. Police chief Steven Foster said the matter was under investigation and the board reluctantly replaced the money.
"We will no longer allow cash to be distributed," Wiggins said. "We'll pay by check, instead. All departments are to limit their use of currency."
In other business the board:
• Received a request from W.J. Carey Construction, South Whitley, to be considered a bidder on the proposed police station renovation.
• Tabled a proposal by Sprint representative Beth Ann Stratman for the telephone system to be installed in the new police department. Fixed costs were given as $31,000 for the all digital programming and would include voice mail. Several financing options, through GE Capitol, were given.
The item was tabled for the board to consider the maintenance agreements, would represented about 20 percent of the costs.
The mayor said he preferred a system allowing three-digit extension numbers to be used to reach another party, too. Stratman said that would change the estimate.
• Signed a lease agreement with H. Anthony Miller of Instrumed regarding a five year lease for a 69 space parking lot at the facility at a cost of $7,625.
• Approved, pending correction of typographical errors, an encroachment agreement with Symmetry Medical. The company's sign extends into the city's right of way. The document stated it was prepared by city attorney Mike Valentine. Valentine, who was present at the meeting, said he had never seen the paperwork.
Wiggins told city planner Jeff Noffsinger not to put Valentine's name on anything that the attorney had not seen.
• Heard from New Life Church associate pastor Matt Nichols who requested permission to hold outdoor events on certain Friday nights for people aged 15- to 25-years-old. He said music would be part of the program. McCleary said the parks department already provides musical entertainment on Friday evenings and asked Nichols to coordinate any events with him.
• Approved the purchase of a bucket truck from Nesco Sales and Equipment, Bluffton, for the street department, as requested by supervisor Lacy Francis. At a cost of $27,500, with $4,000 trade-in, the 1994 Versalift VST-3600 model diesel already has 268,075 miles. Frances explained the company leases vehicles all over the country and the miles were 'road' miles.
• Approved a request by Fire Chief Matt Warren to remove several outdated, traded or replaced items from the department's asset list.
• Approved a parks department contract with Kevin Roberts Entertainment in the amount of $850 for the Blues Jam Concert July 14.
• Approved travel requests for Mike Rice, Larry Engle, Lacy Francis and David Morales.
• Approved new employees Michael Jenks, Owen Compton, Nicholas Bruick, Jennifer Finch, Michael Thallemer and Sarah Cook all of Warsaw and Jenna Gross, Mentone, for the parks department; and Phillip Boggs and James Brown of Warsaw and Anthony Geib of Etna Green to the street department. Boggs was a former parks department employee and Brown has been rehired.
Board of works members are Mayor Ernie Wiggins, Jerry Patterson and Charlie Smith. They meet at 10:30 a.m. the first and third Friday of each month in council chambers, city hall.
