Warsaw Police Department will apply for a grant for the acquisition and training of a police K-9.
Warsaw Board of Public Works and Safety approved the department applying for a grant from the Kosciusko County Community Foundation during its meeting Friday.
The grant will cover the $12,000 fee for acquiring the K-9 and an additional $3,000 for six weeks of dual purpose training at Vohne Liche Kennels.
WPD currently has two 8-year-old police K-9s. The average service life of a police K-9 is 9 to 10 years before serious health issues develop.
Adding a third K-9 temporarily would reduce the amount of overtime for the handler since K-9s are called out often while the handler is off duty.
WPD plans to purchase approximately $6,360 in K-9 equipment, handler uniforms and vehicle equipment.
In other business, Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer swore in Warsaw Fire Department firefighter Brian Zehring.
The board approved street closures for Lake and Indiana and Market and Main streets from 5 to 8 p.m. for Spooktacular on Oct. 26.
The board also approved street closures on Center Street between Lake and Buffalo Street for the first annual Kosciusko County Farmers Market Chili Cook Off. The cook off is Oct. 13 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The cook off is between Kosciusko County firehouses. A winner will be announced at 1:30 p.m.
Keagan Burns, farmers market president, provided an update on the market.
He said he has been pleased with the market and received postive feedback from vendors and customers.
“We have high hopes of growth in the future and we’ve been pleased with our working relationship with the city,” Burns said.
There have been six to eight new vendors in addition to former vendors. Currently there are approximately 25 vendors.
Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer said the city hopes to grow the farmers market even larger next year and with the new city hall plaza will have room to do so.
Other street closures approved were the Kemrad crossing at Market and Main Street on Oct. 26 from 4 to 9 p.m.
The board approved a quote totalling $23,703 to demolish two Buffalo Street properties the city has acquired including a house at 308 S. Buffalo St. and an apartment at 302 S. Buffalo St. G & G Hauling will do the demolition work.
The board also approved a quote for $4,350 from Gawthrop Excavation for demolition of a home at 415 N. Cook St.
Warsaw Redevelopment previously approved the quotes at its Sept. 3 meeting.
The board approved a new city hall change order for $5,983.
The change order is for a drain pipe that will reroute drainage into a new storm line that is being installed in the parking lot, work on the HVAC system and for new hardware for the door exiting onto Center Street.
The change orders are 5.7 percent of the total contract.
A $185,990.78 payment to Harold McComb & Son for work on the new city hall was approved.
The board also approved NIPSCO agreements for the new city hall at 102 S. Buffalo St. and for the third floor of the building.
The board approved a $362,763 payment to Grand River Construction Company for work done on the Center Street pump station.
The board approved hiring a Warsaw Police Department officer who will start Oct. 8 pending pension approval.
The board approved $1,392.40 in funding from the Kosciusko County Community Foundation for 10 bicycle racks. The racks will be placed at area schools and parks.
