The board approved demolition of this house at 502 W Winona Ave., Warsaw

WARSAW — Three demolition requests were approved and a sealed bid was awarded for two new police vehicles during the Warsaw Board of Work meeting held this morning, May 5.

City Planner Jeremy Skinner introduced the three properties slated for demolition. A house at 502 W Winona Ave and a garage at 832 E. Market St. were both on the list. These properties are both owned by Ralph and Joellen Fitch. The house suffered a fire in October 2016 and repairs to broken windows and the roof have not been made. The garage on Market Street suffers from significant deterioration and sagging support.

Both of these properties were given warnings and scheduled for several hearings with the code enforcement officer. The city will order the demolition and a lien will be placed on the properties for the cost. The other demolition order was made for a garage at 117 E Fort Wayne St. This is a city-owned property.

The board approved all three demolition requests.

Kip Shuter, captain at Warsaw Police Department, was present at the meeting to continue the sealed bid process for two new police vehicles. The department sent out notifications of the sealed bid on April 21. Five different bids were opened during the meeting. Two of the quotes from Ford Lincoln, Bloomington, and Oliver Ford, Plymouth, were not taken under advisement because the only offered one vehicle.

The other remaining bids were from City Chevrolet, Columbia City; Kerlin Motors, Warsaw; and Rice Ford, Warsaw. A three percent preference was given to both Kerlin Motors and Rice Ford due to a statue because they reside in the county. Based on this, Kerlin was awarded the bid with a total price of $51,724.32 after trade-in.

The board approved accepting this quote.

In other news:

• The board approved street closings for the farmers market and Rex’s Rendezvous Poker Run. The farmers market will close Center Street between Buffalo and Lake streets from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Saturdays through October. Buffalo Street between Market and Jefferson streets will be closed for all of June 11 for the annual poker run.
• The board approved the Warsaw Parks Department contributing $3,500 for the Warsaw/Winona Lake Independance Day fireworks scheduled for July 1.
• The stormwater department entered a memorandum of understanding with P4C Paddle Club. The club cleans up areas of the Tippecanoe River and the stormwater thanks them by helping purchase equipment. This agreement fulfills requirements for the Best Management Practices set forward by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. The board approved the agreement.
• The wastewater department was approved for an agreement with Core Mechanical for biannually maintenance services for the next three years.
• Two new hires and one pay change for the street department were approved.
• The next meeting will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, May 22.