City of Warsaw Utility Manager Brian Davison presents several requests to the Board of Public Works and Safety during an Oct. 7 meeting. InkFreeNews photo by Liz Shepherd.

By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — Warsaw’s Board of Public Works and Safety approved two memorandums of understanding for the county’s new emergency radio system during an Oct. 7 meeting.

In the last year, various entities within Kosciusko County have been working to implement a new county-wide 700 MHz simulcast P-25 Phase 2 radio system, which includes three new tower sites.

The first MOU approved Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory and the City of Warsaw’s understanding with the direction, guidance and plan set forth by the Kosciusko County Commissioners for the radio system’s usage. This agreement was approved during the WWFT’s Oct. 4 meeting.

The second agreement is between the city and county regarding a radio tower at WWFT Station One. County officials are needing assistance in creating a data link between the courthouse and a new tower site at the county highway garage. Through the MOU, the city will allow the county to place equipment on the tower for public safety communication purposes for 50 years.

WWFT Chief Garrett Holderman said the equipment on the tower would act as a back-up for the new county system.

“They currently have a fiber connection link from dispatch in the justice building to the center tower that is located at the county highway (department),” said Holderman. “If for some reason the fiber were to get cut, the equipment installed would be used as a back-up.”

In other business, the board approved the Warsaw Police Department entering a contract with police chaplain Layne Sumner, in the amount of $15,000. The contract is from Oct. 1 of this year through Dec. 31, 2023.

Pastor Sumner has worked with WPD for the last decade.

“He’s been there through multiple funerals, he’s provided numerous counseling sessions and has become part of our department,” said WPD Chief Scott Whitaker. “We’re comfortable with this amount to comp him for his time and his vehicle’s personal use.”

The board also:

• Approved a road closure request of Lindenwood Avenue for a block party for Park Ridge residents. The closure will be from 4-9:30 p.m. Oct. 22.
• Approved an agreement with Orange Marketing Group for the city’s social media management. 212 Media Studios, the organization the city formerly worked with, has been rebranded and reformed to Orange Marketing Group.
• Approved Street Superintendent Dustin Dillon soliciting sealed bids for installation of decorative light poles in downtown Warsaw and for the purchase of two pickup trucks for the street department.

The Board’s next meeting is at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 21, in Warsaw City Hall.