The new public boat ramp at Center Lake will be installed on city park property, currently a parking lot leased by Instru-Med.

WARSAW — An additional step forward in the Buffalo Street redevelopment project was taken by the Warsaw Board of Public Works Friday morning, May 20, with the approval of a modified parking lease agreement for the relocation of the public boat ramp at Center Lake.

Jeremy Skinner, city planner, presented the agreement with Instru-Med Technologies, Detroit Street. He noted the city has been working with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources in the relocation of the Buffalo Street boat ramp to property owned by the city’s parks department along SR 15. This is in preparation of the Buffalo Street redevelopment project.

The contract has already been signed with the DNR with the project expected to take place in the summer or fall of 2016, with completion by the summer of 2017.

“It just so happened the agreement (with Instru-Med) was due to expire at the same time. We killed two birds with one stone,” stated Skinner.

Skinner stated the modification reduces the existing lease agreement by about 15 parking spaces and reduces the lease rental rate. The existing lease with the company expires at the end of May. The current agreement is for Instru-Med to lease 52 spaces at $8,500 during five years. The new agreement is for 37 spaces at $6,050 during five years.

Vendor Request Approved

Tabled from the May 6 meeting, board members granted a request by Stephen Saner to have the itinerant merchant fee reduced. Saner, who operates The Snack Shack, has been given approval by Performance Services and Lincoln School to park a lunch trailer at the construction site, offering lunch to construction crews at the new Lincoln School.

Under city code, a $1,000 fee is required for a vendor residing outside the county, to operate inside the city limits. The fee for a vendor residing inside the county is $300.

Sailor, in a letter, stated he does own property in Kosciusko County, even though he does not reside at that location, but resides in Fulton County.

During the discussion, Jeff Grose and George Clemens, board members, noted the fact he owns property in the county and pays taxes, was a factor for them to feel he should be given the county fee rate.

There was some discussion on if the permit, valid for one year, goes from the date issued, or the calendar year. No definitive answer could immediately be given by Skinner or Lynne Christiansen, clerk-treasurer. Board members noted the reduced rate would be a one-time reduction for the duration of the normal permit.

Sailor’s letter noted his intent is to offer the construction crew an opportunity to have lunch at the job site and keep production going steady. He plans to serve simple items such as hamburgers, tenderloins, barbecued pulled pork, chicken, fish and fries. He had noted at the May 6 meeting he will purchase all ingredients locally.