“Dirt work” will soon begin on the site of what will be Warsaw Fire Station No. 3, located on CR 200 South, just west of Warsaw Community Church. (Photo by Alyssa Richardson)

An $11,200 contract for engineering services was approved this morning, paving the way for Warsaw Fire Station No. 3 to become a reality.

Warsaw-Wayne Township Fire Territory Chief Mike Brubaker brought the contract to the Board of Public Works and Safety this morning. The contract is with Martin Riley Architects-Engineers of Fort Wayne to begin readying the site for construction. The south side fire station will be located on CR 200 South, just west of Warsaw Community Church.

During today’s B.O.W. meeting, held early due to what would have been a lack of a quorum for Friday’s regularly scheduled meeting, Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer and Brubaker were careful to stress that the engineering work is only “dirt work.” Said Thallemer, “It’s purely for site work, like elevations and compaction, etc. so that we’re ready to move forward with construction.”

Brubaker noted the contract with Martin Riley was recommended by city engineer James Emans. Emans, said Brubaker, noted preparing the site with necessary fill dirt and completing all soil tests and development of the land is necessary for the building process.

The third fire station is being looked at as a priority for Warsaw as response times to some areas are hindered due to two railroad tracks that divide the city both east to west and from downtown to the south. “Our biggest dilemma are the train tracks. Like we saw Saturday [see related], when there is a train, the city is cut off from east to west.” Brubaker added, “If we’re called to Miller’s Merry Manor and there’s a train on County Farm Road, we have to go back north and then way down south to get around it.”

The engineering work at the site is expected to begin shortly, but no time frame for construction on a new fire station has been noted. In fact, according to a letter from Martin Riley to Brubaker, “… it is anticipated the site will sit through one or more winter seasons.”

Martin Riley will also work with the city to develop the bidding documents; preliminary layout and design of the site, floor plans and elevations.

The engineers plan to have complete schematic designs and bidding documents by the first of May.

In other fire department business, a contract with Consolidated Fleet Services was approved to perform the annual inspection of the WWFT’s ladder truck. The inspection includes waterway pressure test and flow tests and a ladder inspection. The total if $895.

Brubaker also noted the WWFT was turned down on a grant request for 2014 EMS training. The grant is issued through the Indiana Department of Homeland Security.