Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Don Kollmann had two questions for the city council Monday.
First, he wanted to know when work would be complete in the Lilac and Brubaker streets area. He said fill along the curbs hasn't been complete and residents were told the work would be done in the spring.
The area received curbs and gutters last fall.
Public works superintendent Lacy Francis Jr. said crews would be returning to the area for that work.
Next, Kollmann wanted to know if the city police department was responding to vehicle "lockouts" in the county.
Kollmann operates AAA Vehicle Lock Out, one of several services in Warsaw. He said a recent call was to the Moose Lodge, which is in the county, and when the first car couldn't get the vehicle unlocked, a second officer was sent to the scene.
Mayor Ernie Wiggins said the city does respond to lockouts at the City-County Athletic Complex.
WPD Capt. Perry Hunter said he anticipated Kollmann's appearance and looked up the statistics regarding lockout responses.
"In 2003, there were 17,980 calls; 2,142 were lockouts. In 2004, there were 18,040 calls and 2,141 were lockouts. Twenty-seven were out in the county," Hunter said. When an officer is on Old Road 30, the city and county boundaries constantly change. "We'll respond when it's just across the street from the city."
"The mayor says you're not supposed to do lockouts in the county," Kollman said.
Hunter said an officer on his way to work responded to a lockout in Leesburg because a child was in the car. He said when he was a patrol officer he went to Oswego once also because children were locked in the car. In both cases there were no sheriff's patrol cars in the area.
"Those are extraordinary circumstances, though," Hunter said.
"I sincerely believe it's a benefit to the city. If you're locked out of your car at a mall in Fort Wayne, you get a wrecker service that charges $80 to unlock your car," he said.
Kollman asked about the rash of break-ins two weeks ago along Cook, Arthur and Sunset streets. Hunter said 11 were discovered by officers. He said of the 32 break-ins, only 12 vehicles or garages were forced open; the rest were unlocked.
"We have a pool of seven suspects and there's been another rash of vandalism in that area," Hunter said.
Councilman Jerry Patterson held up a key and said people should be encouraged to carry an extra key in their wallets.
"Responding to lockouts is a community service. As long as it's not interfering with something else, we'll continue it," Hunter said.
Kollman then asked about "Car 54" going to a parking lot and losing the unlocking tool in the vehicle door.
"He then drove the young lady to Leesburg for her extra key and brought her back," Kollman said, implying that the trip was a bit above and beyond the call of duty.
The council also:
• Approved a draft of an ordinance increasing parking fines from $5 to $10 and $20 for the second offense, and leveling the city's parking lot rents to $15 for all spaces.
• Approved Ordinance 2005-03-05 regarding erosion and sedimentation control, effectively routing responsibilities to the city rather than the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and the Soil and Water Conservation District.
• Approved Ordinance 2005-04-01 transferring $25,000 from the Riverboat Fund to other services and charges for the downtown facade program and $11,500 from the Riverboat Fund to equipment toward the purchase of a four-sided clock to be placed in Central Park.
• Approved Ordinance 2005-04-05 transferring $125,000 from cumulative fire to machinery and equipment to refurbish the Warsaw Fire Department's Engine No. 2.
• Approved a tax abatement form as submitted by Whimet Inc., North Detroit Street, for real and personal property.
City planner Jeremy Skinner advised the board the company estimated adding eight jobs and added 20 for a total of 63 employees. He also said improvements to the property as outlined in 2003 are complete.
City councilmen are Jeff Grose, George Clemens, Jerry Patterson, Bill Rhoades and Bob Morrison. Charlie Smith and Joe Thallemer were absent.
