From left, Warsaw Clerk-Treasurer Lynne Christiansen and Board of Public Works and Safety member Jeff Grose at work during Friday’s meeting. InkFreeNews photo by Lasca Randels

By Lasca Randels
InkFreeNews

WARSAW —  Walmart will be receiving a credit of more than $15,000 to their city wastewater account.

City of Warsaw Utility Payment Supervisor Rebecca Jenkins told members of the Warsaw Board of Public Works and Safety on Friday, Nov. 5,  that the wastewater payment office has been billing Walmart for their irrigation water erroneously.

Upon being contacted by a Walmart representative on Oct. 4 to discuss the account, it was determined that the account is an irrigation-only account set up by Indiana American Water to bill Walmart for their irrigation water. At some point, the account was coded to be sent to the wastewater payment office. 

Jenkins said she is unsure who opened the account or when it was opened because the payment history only goes back as far as 2011. She added that it’s possible the account was opened under the assumption that Walmart had two meters since many large companies have more than one.

The payments made since 2011 total $15,373.25.

A  Walmart representative requested that the refund be credited to their wastewater account.

The Board approved a $15,373.25 credit to Walmart’s wastewater account. 

In other news:

• Warsaw Street Superintendent Dustin Dillon presented a change order for the traffic signal modernization project at Center and Lake streets and Center and Indiana streets. The change order, involving a decrease of $8,905.03, with Hawk Enterprises Inc., was approved.
• A contract between the city of Warsaw and VS Engineering was approved. The contract involves design engineering for alley improvements south of Gateway Grove.
• A contract with Michiana Area Council of Governments (MACOG) was renewed for three years at a cost of $15,000. This is for an active transportation program and planner commitment.
• A contract between the Warsaw Parks and Recreation Department and Laughing Stock Productions in the amount of $330 was approved for the Light Up the Night event in December.
• An annual contract between Warsaw Police Department, Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory and Pro Air Inc. was renewed for maintenance on air tanks for the dive team. 

The next Board of Works meeting is 2 p.m. Nov. 19.