Ice Rink Possibility Study Approved
WARSAW — Preliminary studies for an ice rink and park offices at Center Lake Park were signed Monday morning, Oct. 10, during the Warsaw Board of Public Works and Safety meeting. The study will cost approximately $15,000.
The contract was signed with MAI Architects, Claypool.
Larry Plummer, parks superintendent, stated this has been in the parks department five-year master plan and was a Kosciusko Youth Leadership Academy project. While initially suggested at Central Park, the board board felt it would be better located at Center Lake Park, where new parks department offices will be relocated as part of the Buffalo Street Project.
Mayor Joe Thallemer stated there is a lot of community support for such a project. A look at Valparaiso’s facility and those at other communities have been done. “This is a prudent way to start out,” he said with the project to include a covered building to be used with other programming and year around use.
The study will include site selection, the conceptual design of a new ice skating rink, park offices, public restrooms, fire pit, warming area at Center Lake Park, with consideration for future park office expansion and support spaces for operational uses for all seasons. The proposed rink size is 80 feet by 180 feet. Construction and operational costs will be included in the preliminary plans.
Additionally the board granted permission for the wastewater collections to write off a $117.33 balance owed by Windgate Properties for the property at 704 W. Market St. The unpaid three months were those months prior to a lien being placed on the property. It was noted the cost for legal recourse would be higher than the amount owed.
During other business the board:
- Approved the annual closing of Buffalo Street, between Main and the alley south of Market Street, and Center and Market streets, between Indiana and Lake streets, from 3 p.m. To 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28. The closure will be for the annual Spooktacular.
- Contracts were approved for Santa and his sleigh ride in the First Friday Twinkle Parade, Dec. 2, at a cost of $200; and for Ice Creations to present a pumpkin carving demonstration, at a cost of $400, at the Fall Family Fun Event, Friday, Oct. 4, at Lucerne Park.
- Approved the payment of $3,400 to A&Z to stake out the new right-of-way on the Husky Trail project, in order to relocate the various utilities in that corridor. Also approved was the payment of $13,144 to A&Z for additional engineering services related to utility relocations and additional crosswalk design requirements due to federal requirements increasing since the initial engineering contract four years ago.
- A contract was approved with NIPSCO to change the one-inch gas line to a two-inch line at the city’s north wastewater plant. The cost of the contract is $6,582.20. Brian Davison, superintendent, reported it was found the plant was not getting enough gas to run the equipment.
- Approved the annual elevator maintenance agreement with American Elevator Inc., Anderson, at a cost of $2,163.
- Approved travel requests for three individuals to attend annual conferences.
The next meeting of the board of works will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Oct. 24.