Board Of Public Works Prepares For Summer
WARSAW — The Board of Public Works was preparing for warming at their monthly meeting Feb. 17. Amongst matters approved were road closures for the Fat and Skinny Tire Festival, a notice to proceed for the Husky Trail project, a memorandum with the Rotary Club for a trail head park and a proposal for sidewalk repair in the downtown area.
The board approved the road closures for the 14th annual Fat and Skinny Tire Festival on Friday, May 19. Road closures will be the same as last year: Center Street between Indiana and Lake Streets and Buffalo Street between Main and Market Streets. In addition, Indiana Street between Main and Market Streets will be closed to allow additional room for bike parking.
The Husky Trail project is underway and the board approved a notice to proceed, the final step in the project. The financial agreement was signed last April, this notice merely allows the construction to begin. The project will begin in the spring.
Mayor Thallemer assured the public that they are working to minimize the disruption to businesses, but also suggested that if the public doesn’t have to use the area to avoid it. “I don’t want you to be discouraged to go out and utilize the businesses that are out there. We’re going to do everything that we can to keep that open,” Thallemer commented.
Its the start of the final link in the corridor that connects Winona Lake to the City-County Athletic Complex. The Rotary Club is willing to commit $30,000 toward a trail head project at the corner of McKinley and Market Streets. The Rotary Club wanted a Memorandum of Understanding to be signed and is dedicated to paying off their share by June 2019. The board approved the memorandum.
Continuing the trend of public enjoyment, that board looked at a proposal for side walk repair in the downtown area. Public Works Superintendent Jeff Beeler presented a contract with Precision Concrete Cutting to eliminate side walk hazards. The services have a two-year guarantee and will correct approximately 347 trip hazards. The board approved.
In other business:
- The board approved the annual service agreement for the parking enforcement tracking software.
- Assistant City Planner Justin Taylor was granted permission to apply for the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority Crowd Granting program. The program matches up to $50,000 to be used in Warsaw’s downtown alley activation project.
- The board approved the retention of Beers Mallers Backs and Salin, LLP for legal services for the Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory in 2017.
- Twenty-five travel requests were approved.
- Parks Department Recreation Director Sheila Wieringa received permission to apply to the Indiana Arts Commission Grant for the maximum amount of $5,000 for 2018. This money helps fund the summer concert series.