WPD Gains Two New Officers In BOW Swearing-In Ceremony
Posted
Teresa Carrano-
Mason J. Metzinger and Paige E. Wood took the oath of office administered by Mayor Joe Thallemer to join the Warsaw police department at the start of the Friday, May 21 board of works meeting.
Chief Whitaker presented a firearms proficiency award from the state police academy to Metzinger.
Board members Thallemer, George Clemens, Jeff Grose and clerk-treasurer Lynne Christiansen welcomed the new officers to the city, with Thallemer saying it is an honor to welcome them to the community.
Citizens are reminded the works board meetings will return to 10:30 a.m. starting June 4.
The Zimmer-Biomet Veterans Resource Group, represented by Jim Waldrop, requested a road closure on Main Street at Zimmer-Biomet corporate headquarters, 345 E. Main St., for a wreath laying ceremony on Thursday, May 27 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. The closure was approved.
Christiansen noted the wastewater utility pays the city $425,686 every year instead of paying taxes. She said Baker Tilly accountants indicated that amount could be increased to $700,000 because of the plant expansion. The increased payment will begin June 2022. Utility rates will not be increased.
The board approved a three year maintenance agreement for $4,675, with CORE Mechanical Services, Etna Green, to service the HVAC systems at city hall, as presented by Jennifer Whitaker, human resources director.
Whitaker also introduced an updated safety manual used for training and to establish safe practices and expectations for departments and employees.
She said a new feature is a hearing conservation program. The manuals will be available next week.
Lucas VanderHart’s travel to Jacksonville, Fla., for a Drug Evaluation and Classification certification completion class was approved. The trip is funded with grant funds with the only expense being the officer’s meals. This is the first city employee to travel out of state since the pandemic started in March 2020.
The following new hires, payroll changes were approved:
Charles Hodges, street department equipment operator, an increase to $17.75; Jesse Shelton, street department equipment operator, new hire at $18 per hour; Conner Sherwin, street department laborer, $17 per hour; Zachary Hewitt, street department laborer, $15 per hour for the summer;
Joseph Renz, street department mechanic, $22.96 per hour; Tyler Shepherd, street department refuse driver, $18.93 per hour; Terry Roberts, street department mechanic, $21.75 per hour; and Robert Craig, street department equipment operator, $20.46 per hour.
Robert Coffelt, board of zoning appeals member, $30 per meeting; Whitney Shilling, recording secretary for the plan and BZA commissions, $30 per meeting.
The following police department bi-weekly salaries were okayed, pending final approval of the salary ordinance by the city council:
Lt. Gordon Allen, $2,772.97; Capt. Joel Beam, $3,040.95; Megan Bortner, patrol officer, $2,288.67; Kelly Bradley, patrol officer, $2,266.667; Christopher Brown, patrol officer, $2,372.71;
Lt. Ryan Coble, 42,720.83; Rayan Connors, probationary patrol officer, $2,200.64; Cpl. Justin Curtis, $2,656,92; Cpl. Jaime de le Fuente, $2,582.78; Tyler Denniston, probationary patrol officer, $2,354.70; Sgt. Lewis Fuller, $2,664.81; Sgt. Phillip Hawks, $2,576.77; Lt. Paul Heaton, $2,844.86; Det. Sgt. Bradley Kellar, $2774. 98; Cpt. Clay Layne, $3,040.95;
Justin Lewis, patrol officer, $2,266.67; Mason Metzinger, $2,266.67; Ryan Moore, Det. Sgt. $2,744.86; Cpl. Rogelio Navarro, $2,494.74; Det. Sgt. Ronald Nethaway, $2,722.85; Sgt. Ryan Petty, $2,730.83; Sgt. Phillip Reed, $2,686.82; Cpl. Clayton Reider, $2,516.74; Jordan Roberts, patrol officer, $2,310.69;
Chief Scott Whitaker, $3,321.03; Wayne Wilkie, patrol officer, $2,72086; Paige Wood, patrol officer, $2,266.66; and Cpl. Brandon Zartman, $2,780.87.
Larry Plummer, parks superintendent, received permission to apply for a K21 Health Foundation grant in the amount of $53,000 to be used to widen Bixler Park tennis courts and add four pickleball courts and fencing. The total project cost is $82,540 and remaining fees would come from budgeted funds.
The board accepted a $29,000 grant from the Kosciusko County Convention, Recreation and Visitor Commission.
Parks superintendent Larry Plummer said the money will be used for Rent. fun kayak kiosks at Pike and Center lakes. The $29,000 grant will pay for lockers, kayaks, life jackets and paddles. There will be six kayaks at each beach.
The Rent.fun app is used to schedule the units, pay for kayak time and unlock the units. When they arrive, estimated within the next 90 days, the kayak kiosks will be at Pike Lake canoe launch and on the Kiddle Land side of Center Lake.
Scott Whitaker, police chief, requested permission to apply for a Department of Justice grant to cover half the cost of a bullet proof vest purchase. Whitaker said the department needs 11 vests at a cost of about $12,800. The vests have a five-year replacement rotation. The grant application was approved.
Brian Davison, wastewater treatment plant supervisor, presented a change order to the Pike Lake Shoreline Restoration Project in the amount of $13,500. Davidson said G&G Hauling workers initially planned to reuse the removed topsoil, but the operations manager noticed it included a lot of glass. The change order removed the unsuitable top soil and replaces it with good dirt.
Also approved was an invoice from G&G Hauling for the Pike Lake work in the amount of $91,386.28, which was approved, with a retainer of $9,138.63.
The board also:
• Approved a claim from NV Grant Services for $1,170 for payroll accounting on the wastewater treatment expansion project.
• Approved a substantial completion certificate from Wessler Engineering for Kokosing Industrial’s work at the wastewater treatment plant dated February 10. The certificate starts the equipment warranty period.
Davidson said a few more projects will be completed in the next few weeks.
• Approved a $500,700 change order from Kokosing Industrial for additional work at the wastewater treatment plant.
• Approved claims of $2,866,572.76.
• Approved the addition of street department employee Roger Zarber to the take-home vehicle list.
The next board of works meeting is Friday, June 4 at 10:30 a.m.
