Staci Young, the assistant to the mayor, presents three agreements with MetroNet to Warsaw’s Board of Public Works and Safety for approval. InkFreeNews photo by Liz Shepherd.

By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — Two road closure requests for downtown events in Warsaw were approved during a Board of Public Works and Safety meeting on Friday, March 4.

One Ten Craft Meatery Owner Jason Brown submitted a request for Buffalo Street, between Center and Main Streets, to be closed for the restaurant’s annual St. Patrick’s Day street party.

The road will be closed from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday, March 17, with the party being from 4-10 p.m. During the meeting, Brown said several vendors and businesses are involved with this year’s event. Three live bands will also be performing.

Greg Demopoulos and Nick Hauck from the Kosciusko County Velo Cycling Club were also in attendance to request road closures for the Fat and Skinny Tire Festival in May.

The event has been on a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19.

“We always kick that off with a community bike ride from Winona Lake to Warsaw,” said Demopoulos. “And then we’ll have a BMX stunt show, kids’ activities, a beer tent and live music.”

KCV Cycling Club requested the following roads be closed from 2 p.m. to midnight May 20: Center Street from Lake Street to Indiana Street; Buffalo Street from Main Street to Market Street; and Indiana Street from Main Street to Market Street.

In other business, the board opened two sealed bids for a shoreline restoration project at Center Lake.

G&G Hauling & Excavating, Warsaw, submitted a base bid for $118,916.50; Stanger Group Inc., Goshen, submitted a bid of $133,421.25.

The board voted to postpone awarding the project until their March 18 meeting.

Also during the meeting, the board approved an on-call engineering services contract between the City of Warsaw and Emans Engineering. According to a memo from City Planner Justin Taylor, James Emans, who is retiring from his position as city engineer, has offered this service as a way to create a smooth transition period while Aaron Ott takes over. The contract will help Ott be brought up to speed on the projects Emans is currently engaged in.

The contract allows for 129 hours of consulting services from Emans for the remainder of the year.

Staci Young, assistant to Mayor Joe Thallemer, presented three agreements with MetroNet for board approval.

Two of the agreements are related to the third floor of Warsaw’s city hall. Phone service will be added to the third floor, which includes six personal phones and two conference phones. Fiber service will also be built out to the third floor, with all of MetroNet’s fiber equipment being relocated to the city’s secured server room. Young said this will provide better environmental protection and physical security for the equipment.

MetroNet will also be replacing all phones city-wide with newer models. Young said the city has experienced supply issues and delays due to MetroNet no longer using the city’s existing phone model. MetroNet has agreed to replace all phones at no additional cost to the city to resolve this issue.

The board also:

• Gave Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory permission to renew a maintenance agreement with Cummins Sales and Service for planned generator equipment maintenance. The agreement includes all three WWFT stations, as well as the Warsaw Police Department.
• Gave WPD Chief Scott Whitaker permission to pursue sealed quotes for the purchase of three Dodge Durango Pursuit vehicles. These bids will be opened at the board’s March 18 meeting.

The board’s next meeting is at 10:30 a.m. Friday, March 18, at Warsaw City Hall.