Pictured, from left, are clerk-treasurer Lynne Christiansen, city attorney Mike Valentine, Mayor Joe Thallemer, George Clemens and Jeff Grose.

WARSAW — Mayor Joe Thallemer joked at the start of the Jan. 5, Board Of Public Works and Safety meeting that the meeting should be called the “Parks Department Board of Works meeting” due to the number of contracts the parks department was having approved. The second half of the meeting was heavily focused on contracts for the upcoming sewer project.

Parks and Recreation  Superintendent Larry Plummer presented contracts for Anderson Property Management to care for the flower beds and urns in Central Park, yearly contract and annual agreements with local lake associations to assist in the upkeep off Center, Pike and Winona Lake. All were approved.

Sheila Wieringa presented 17 different contracts for entertainment presented by the parks department over the next 12 months. These included: a contract to secure Tinsley Elis for the Blues and BBQ concert July 6; hiring Kara Schafer for Coffee & Canvas; contracting Our Father’s House for catering and Derek Tenney’s for a DJ for the Daddy’s Little Sweetheart Dance Feb. 9 and 10; contracts for Ice Creations to do pumpkin carving and Incredible Bats for Fall Family Fun Oct. 12; Charles Ray will be going a fly-fishing workshop in the spring and fall; Kruger Doodles was approved to have three face painters for three hours and Mello Productions approved for three balloon artists for three hours for Light Up The Night, the December event; Monster Message Board was approved to supply the screen and licensing for the summer movie nights; and for the family carnival a face painter, balloon artist, two caricature artists and Cheryl Shagena, a comedy hypnosis show, were approved.

New this year will be a princess tea party 10:30-11:30 a.m. May 5. The details are still being worked out, but two princesses will be hired. The event is much like the superhero training camp that occurred last year and was approved again this year for July 23.

Brian Davison was present to have a number of contracts and change orders approved for the sewer rehab project currently underway. The contracts were the final step in getting the project started. Change orders were presented due to the initial bids coming in low with low unit prices, allowing the city to add work to the project within 20 percent of original contract amount. Contracts were signed for Layne Inliner, Selge and Insituform.

In other business:

• Davison is seeking a new logo for the department since stormwater and wastewater have been combined. An agreement with Brittany Taulbee was approved.
• Two training workshops with Christopher Burke, LLC were approved for the stormwater department.
• The board approved pay application number 10, in the amount of $19,046.24, for the Husky Trail Project. City Planner Jeremy Skinner reminded that the city will be reimbursed 80 percent.
• Skinner presented survey rates for the service of John Kimpel and Associates. The board approved.
• An acquisition of right-of-way for the Market Street project was accepted for $500 from Brian and Monica Boyer. There is one parcel left to acquire and it is in foreclosure.
• Scott Whitaker presented an amendment to the interlock agreement with Warsaw Community Schools to reflect the use of three student resource officers instead of four until Warsaw Police Department finds a replacement. It was approved.