Town Council Minutes - 03-25-02
Robert Majdak called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
A motion was made by Robert Majdak to approve the minutes for March 11th, 2002. Max Miller seconded the motion and motion was carried by a voice vote.
• Discussion of medical insurance by R.J. Reese Insurance Company. Robert
Reese presented the Council with a spreadsheet of three (3) other quotes and
the renewal premium from John Alden Insurance. See attached. It was suggested
by Clerk/Treasurer Wanda Chupp to take a higher deductible and self-insure the
difference. The amount for the Town of Millersburg to self-insure would be $750.00
per person as of now the Town of Millersburg insures four (4) employees and
five (5) dependents. After much discussion due to the fact the self-insurance
wasn’t budgeted this year the Council agreed to budget for it next year
and start the program next year. Greg Baumgartner made the motion to budget
the $750.00 deductible self-insurance for the year 2003 Robert Majdak seconded
and motion was carried by a voice vote. After much discussion Robert Reese recommended
that the Town stay with John Alden for the next year. The Council approved.
• Mike Stump was present to answer questions about the Forest
River Project. The question was who is responsible for the cost of electricity
being hooked up at the lift station? Council member Greg Baumgartner informed
the Council that he understood the Town of Millersburg owns the infrastructure
and therefore was responsible for the cost of hooking up the electric to the
lift station. Mike Stump reiterated that Forest
River was not involved with the specifications or bidding of the new lift
station and felt that it was the Town of Millersburgs’ responsibility
to get electric hooked up to the lift station. All agreed that once a cost is
obtained from NIPSCO the Town
of Millersburg and Forest River
will negotiate who will pay what. Mr. Stump informed the Council that he understood
that NIPSCO offered to hook up
the electricity for free if the station had a single-phase pump. There would
be a cost if the pump were a three-phase. President Majdak asked Superintendent
Ben Eldridge if he had made any progress in getting NIPSCO
contacted to start the project of hooking up the lift station? Superintendent
Eldridge informed the Council that he had made contact with Mr. Rick Edger a
NIPSCO representative for our
area. Mr. Edger told Superintendent Eldridge that at the earliest it would be
(3) to (4) weeks before NIPSCO
could start the project and (5) to (6) weeks at the latest. Mr. Stump suggested
that the Town of Millersburg pursue a refundable deposit, which is an immediate
reimbursement by NIPSCO at the
time of connection. The question was asked should the electric lines be run
underground? Council member Greg Baumgartner suggested that the electric lines
be run underground. Superintendent Eldridge informed the Council that NIPSCO
would need a site plan. Mr. Stump gave Superintendent Eldridge the project managers’
name so a site plan could be obtained. President Majdak asked that the Clerk/Treasurer
check the funds for money if there would be a cost from NIPSCO.
I. Park
II. Water Superintendent
• Monthly report-See attached
• Superintendent Chupp informed the Council that he stated the date for
the wellhead protection plan deadline was wrong it is March 28th not March 22nd
as previously stated. Superintendent Chupp informed the Council that the wellhead
protection plan is complete and Wightman
Petrie, Inc. will be sending out the report to IDEM
and the State and (3) copies will be sent to the Town. The report may not be
accepted by the State, as most of them are not on the first try.
• Superintendent Chupp informed the Council that the two test wells have
been terminated. The fence around the wells has been started, the posts are
cemented into the ground, and the fence will be up when weather permits.
• Superintendent Chupp informed the Council that he would like to flush
the hydrants as soon as the weather breaks as they did not get flushed as planned
last month due to bad weather.
• Superintendent Chupp informed the Council that he talked to the couple
who is interested in buying the Laundromat about putting in the proper backflow
device when they buy the Laundromat. The couple was very receptive to the request.
• Superintendent Chupp gave the Council his resignation. The Council was
regretful that Mr. Chupp was quitting and asked him to reconsider but thanked
him for his service to the Town of Millersburg. Superintendent Chupp told the
Council that he needed to take advantage of another opportunity and consider
his family first. Superintendent Chupp’s last day will be April 5th, 2002.
President Majdak asked Superintendent Eldridge how felt about taking over the
water plant? Superintendent Eldridge answered that he was confident that he
could handle the water plant as he has been learning about the water plant since
the day he started. Superintendent Chupp said he would still help Superintendent
Eldridge when he needed help.
III. Wastewater Superintendent
• Ben Eldridge- Discussion of pay raise. The Council had discussed Superintendent
Eldridges’ advancement. Council member Greg Baumgartner recommended a
.64 cent raise which would put Superintendent Eldridges’ pay at $13.00
per hour. Robert Majdak made the motion to accept the raise of .64 cents and
Greg Baumgartner seconded and motion was carried by a voice vote.
• Beer & Slabaugh quote discussion. After checking with IDEM
Superintendent Eldridge found out that the Town is not allowed on our land application
to compost sludge, but we could put it on our drying beds. At this time (1)
dump truck and an excavator would be all Superintendent Eldridge would need
to clean the reed-beds. The quote by Beer & Slabaugh wasn’t consider
high, but Council member Max Miller said he knew a company called Kline Excavating
who only charges $50.00 per hour instead of $125.00 per hour for excavating.
The Council suggested Mr. Miller get a quote from Kline Excavating and report
back to the Council next meeting.
• Monthly reports-See attached.
• Ordinance 2002-5 adoption for Revenue Bonds for TIF district. Tabled.
• The TIF loan was discussed and after a short discussion the motion was
made by Robert Majdak to borrow $30,000.00 from the Farm
Bureau Credit Union. Max Miller seconded the motion and motion was carried
by a voice vote.
IV. Maintenance Director
• Abe Beachy asked the Council if his tractor organization could have
a tune-up tractor pull on Cripe Street on Saturday April 27th, 2002 if weather
permitting. If weather is bad Mr. Beachy will have the pull on Wabash Street
by the Fire Department. The Council approved and asked that Mr. Beachy supply
the Town with proof of insurance. Mr. Beachy will get a copy of proof of insurance
to the Clerk’s office.
V. Marshal
• Update on security system. Due to a death in the family Marshal Hathaway
will have a report at the next Council meeting.
• Discussion of the personal policy-Comp-time for the Marshal. Discuss
Drug policy. Tabled until the Marshal has time to look at Goshens’ Comp-time
policy. Marshal Hathaway will have a draft for the Council in about one week.
The Marshal asked for approval for Angie King and himself to attend a (2) day
grant writing class on April 10th and 11th, 2002. Council approved.
• The Marshal asked for approval to attend classes for Accident Investigation
on April 1st through April 5th, 2002. Council approved.
• The Marshal thanked the American Legion for the new flag for the Town
Hall. Marshal Hathaway took the old flag to the Legion and it will be properly
disposed of. The Marshal would like to thank Vada Stoner and Nancy Rink for
donating toward the projector for the Marshal’s Program.
VI. Clerk/Treasurer
• Discussion of fixed assets-Use of tags and a resolution to increase
fixed asset amount. Adopt Resolution 2002-6,
which raises the fix asset from $100.00 to $1,000.00. Robert Majdak made the
motion to accept Resolution 2002-6 and Greg Baumgartner seconded and motion
was carried by a voice vote.
• Write-off of water and sewer bill for a resident who is homeless in
the amount of $35.91. Council approved.
• The Clerk/Treasurer Wanda Chupp requested that the Council give her
permission to host the IACT roundtable
for May 2002. The event would be held at the new American Legion Hall. A letter
has been sent to request quotes for the use of the hall and a meal to be served.
Council approved.
VII. New Business
Greg Baumgartner made the motion to pay bills. The motion was seconded by Robert Majdak and was carried by a voice vote.