Jim Gast, a member of the Warsaw Plan Commission, took the oath of office for that board, Friday during the Warsaw Board of Public Works meeting. Mayor Joe Thallemer administered the oath of office. (Photo by Deb Patterson)

WARSAW — A property owner who has owned property for eight years, recently was told the city had not billed them for sewer services. They received a bill for $2,347.20 due within 90 days. An appeal was requested and the property owner’s past amount was wiped clean and the slate started fresh, following a Warsaw Board of Works meeting Friday morning, Jan. 15.

The recent smoke testing of sewer lines discovered the building owned by James and Mary Marsillett, 711 S. Buffalo St., Warsaw, was hooked to the city sewer. Everyone, including the Marsilletts, was not aware it was hooked to the city sewer. The city is required by the Indiana State Board of Accounts to calculate the unbilled charges for the past six years. The charges, with no interest or late fees added, came to $391.20 a year or $32.60 per month.

Mary Marsillett stated when the property was purchased in 2008, they were told they had a well and septic tank. Because the only water used at the business is that with the restroom, there has been no septic issues. “I didn’t know I was responsible to know if I was on sewer. I was told we were on septic. What about all the times before (they purchased the property)? Why am I being penalized for something I knew nothing about?

Discussion swayed between forgiving all but one year, $391.20, to wiping the slate clean with billing to begin in January.

Questions were raised, but could not be answered, why it was not known the property was on city sewer. Mary Lou Plummer, Warsaw Wastewater Payment Office manager, stated a check with the planning department found no permit for connection. Even the city maps did not show sewer service to the property. Had it not been for the smoke test, it would have gone unfounded. Neighboring properties do have sewer, but no flags were raised.

During other business board of works members approved three street closings for events.

The closing of Market Street, west of Argonne Road, approximately one-half block was approved to be closed for no longer than 45 minutes at 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 25. This will be for a brief ribbon cutting and celebration of the completion of phase 1 of the East Market Street Project.

Approval was given to Alan and Jennifer Lucht for the closing of Center Street, between the alley just west of High Street to Lake Street; Indiana Street, between the alleys south of Main Street and North of Market Street, and Buffalo Street, between Main and Market streets. Those streets will be closed between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday, May 15. The closing will be for the Seventh Annual Warsaw Breakfast Optimist Club’s City of Lakes Cruise In.

The final street closing approved was for First Friday events, February through December, along with Friday, Sept. 30. Those closing will encompass Center Street from Indiana to Lake Streets, and Buffalo Street from Main to Market streets. A request to additionally close Market Street, between Indiana and Lake streets; and Buffalo to the railroad tracks on Aug. 5 for the First Friday BYC car show was also approved.

An additional item of business was the oath of office to Jim Gast, a member of the Warsaw Plan Commission, who was not present at the meeting last week. Gast has served on that board for a number of years. “He has agreed to anti up again and brings a great perspective to the plan commission,” said Mayor Joe Thallemer. “It’s not an easy job … brings critical experience.”