Playground replacement equipment for Richardson Dubois Park on Market Street, and signing of documents regarding the divestiture of the Biblical Gardens were among items of business during the first meeting of the month for Warsaw Board of Public Works and Safety, Friday afternoon, June 5.
Removal and replacement of the oldest set of playground equipment in the Warsaw Parks Departments, at Richardson Dubois Park, was approved by board members. The park board had recommended the purchase at its May meeting. (Related: New Playground At Richard Dubois Park)
It was noted replacement of the equipment was in the department’s five-year master plan, slated for last year. Larry Plummer, parks superintendent, stated the department has chipped away at items in the master plan, with a new plan due for approval next year. Mayor Joe Thallemer noted discussions will need to be held as the plans are looked at to coincide with trails and the Buffalo Street projects.
Documents were presented to the board that finalized the divestiture of the Biblical Gardens from the Warsaw Community Development Corporation. Because the board of public works and safety was a leasing entity in the original agreement, approval is needed before the divestiture moves forward. Once the approval is received Warsaw Biblical Gardens will be a stand-alone entity.
In a letter to the board from Mark Dobson, WCDC executive director, he notes the not-for-profit status of the gardens has been approved and an independent board of directors established. Paul Refior is president of the new board. The Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce was hired in 2012 by the WCDC as its executive director, and with a refocus of WCDC, there were two entities outside the new mission: The Comstock House and the Warsaw Biblical Gardens.
Efforts began in 2013 to form an independent entity to continue operations and support. The Warsaw Biblical Gardens has had a lease with the Warsaw Board of Public Works and Safety since 2008, previously with the board of parks and recreation starting in 1987.
During other business the board:
- Approved the annual music licensing agreement fee of $337.08 for local government entity to utilize copyrighted music for programs, concerts and events.
- Approved the department of public works to subscribe to Mitchell1 for vehicle maintenance software, a cost of $2,220 annual. The cost will be split between public works and wastewater. This will ultimately save the city from paying outside contractors for electrical maintenance work on vehicles.
- Approved payment to the Kosciusko County Community Fair Inc., for a booth for public awareness of waste water and stormwater, a cost of $530.
- Approved two pay applications for the Husky Trail Project: $3,780 for right-of-way acquisition and $4,075.40 for engineering services. Jeremy Skinner, city planner states the project is close to the end of the game, with purchasing right-of-way to take place in the next several months. Bids are expected to be let later this year.
- Approved payroll changes for Aaron Baier, cemetery department and Alaina Donovan, park department.
- Approved a travel request for Jeffrey Ticknor, police department to a seminar on proper investigation of child death scenes.
The next meeting will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, June 19.