WARSAW — Projects to resolve various water issues were approved by members of Warsaw’s Board of Public Works and Safety Friday morning, Sept. 18.

Contracts were signed with Christopher Burke Engineering for the Eisenhower Basin Design and a downstream drainage report and with Wessler Engineering Inc., for smoke testing to locate sewer line problems. Additionally the rental the Pike Lake Level Gage from the U.S. Geological Survey was approved.

Brian Davison, utility manger, presented the agreement with Christopher B. Burke Engineering that totaled $112,100. He stated this contract is a continuation of the south side drainage improvement project. The contract will investigate infiltration and storage feasibility in the Eisenhower/Pheasant Ridge/Tigers Retreat area as well as the downstream basin. Based on information in the preliminary engineering reports and space in the development areas, a construction design will be done to improve drainage in that area. The project is intended to be bid and constructed during the 2016 construction season.

The Wessler Engineering contract, totaling $81,500, includes the smoke testing of 163,000 linear feet of sewer line. The testing is expected to begin Sept. 28, and take seven weeks to complete, weather permitting. Once the information is compiled, options on ways to proceed will be available. The smoke testing is a continuation of an inflow/infiltration study of ground water entering the town’s sewer system and being treated at the plant. There will also be video taken of these lines.

Davison stated a lot of the problems were determined to be in the downtown area. (To view a map of the areas being tested click here.)

One other matter relating to water was approval of a $4,000 payment to the U.S. Geological Survey to keep the Pike Lake Level Gage for one year.

Davison and James Emans, city engineer, explained USGS, due to budget cuts, will be removing the gage. If the city rents the gage, USGS will maintain the equipment but the city would have access to data currently not available to them.

Emans stated the data collected is important for any design and improvement in that area and the watershed. “The data is critical for any type of construction,” he said. He added without this gage records will be lost.

During other business approvals were given for:

• The closing of Laurelwood Drive in the Park Ridge Community for a tailgate neighborhood event, Oct. 10
• The closing of Center Street between Lake and Indiana streets; Buffalo Street between Main and half way to Jefferson streets; and Market Street between Lake and Indiana streets Friday, Oct. 23, for Spooktacular. Only Buffalo Street will close at 3 p.m., the remaining streets will close at 4 p.m.
• A contract for Santa Claus (Harold Keiser Jr.,) at a cost of $200 for the Twinkle Parade and meet and greet on Dec. 4.
• A request for grant payment from the Kosciusko County Community Foundation in the amount of $1,275.75 for advertising costs for the Central Park Concert Series.
• Signed a one-year agreement between the Warsaw Parks Department and Lake City Media to combine resources to build quality concerts in Central Park in 2016.
• Payment of $2,520 for right-of-way acquisition services and $9,665.20 for engineering services on the Husky Trail Project to A&Z Engineering, LLC.