Town Council Minutes - 05-28-02
Robert Majdak called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
• Discussion of storm system overflow due to Forest River drainage, which has cause flooding to the property at 101 W. Walnut belonging to Ella Mae Chupp. Ms. Ella Mae Chupp addressed the Council with her problem and concerns about selling her house with the water problem in her yard and basement after it rains. The cause according to Ms. Chupp is water run off from the Forest River parking lot. Cost was a major factor for Forest River after a discussion with council member Greg Baumgartner. The drainage problem has been around for years and lately has gotten worse each time there is a heavy rain. After much discussion the Council asked that Superintendent Ben Eldridge and Maintenance Director Abe Beachy get together and look for a solution. The cost must be justified depending on how many residents the drainage fix would affect according to President Robert Majdak.
A motion was made by Robert Majdak to approve the minutes for May 13th, 2002. The motion was seconded by Greg Baumgartner and carried by a voice vote.
I. Park
• Park Board President Lee Nisley recommended a pay raise for Park Maintenance
Assistant Adam Sherman. The raise suggested was for $6.50 per hour to start
this pay period. The Council approved the recommendation and informed Mr. Nisley
that as long as he had money in the budget he would not need to ask the Council
for permission to give his employees a raise.
• President Nisley asked the Council for advice on whether the Park Board
should be more involved with the Farmers’ Day Festival? After a short
discussion the Council and President Nisley decided that the Park Board would
not as an entity get involved, but individuals could volunteer to work on the
Farmers’ Day Committees.
II. Water Superintendent
• Superintendent Ben Eldridge had a concern about the depth of the water
main in the new Blessing Street addition. After checking the final blueprint
which, shows that the main should be 5’ deep. Superintendent Eldridge
used a 4’ probe to check the depth and did not hit a main. The Council
suggested that Superintendent Eldridge calls engineer Bill Dutton with Wightman
Petrie and gets advice from him. The Council asked that Maintenance Director
Abe Beachy make a 5’ probe from stock in house to check the depth of water
mains, as the Town needs one anyway.
III. Wastewater Superintendent
• Superintendent Ben Eldridge would like to recommend Larry Kiele from
the Goshen WWTP to fill in while Superintendent Eldridge is on vacation. Mr.
Kiele will keep track of his time and invoice the Town for his services. Kurt
Kritzman has agreed to take the water test every day for the water department.
Council approved the recommendations. Superintendent Eldridge would like for
the Council to recommend what to do about any alarms that may go off during
his vacation. The Council suggested that Maintenance Director Abe Beachy could
cover for Superintendent Eldridge. Director Beachy agreed that he would be responsible
for the alarms during Superintendent Eldridges’ vacation.
• Robin Loucks from New Paris
Telephone Co. would like permission to run cable lines along the water lines.
After talking to other communities Superintendent Eldridges’ recommendation
was to not let New Paris Telephone Co. run its cables along the water lines,
as when the cable lines needed fixed water lines could be damaged. Maintenance
Director Abe Beachy informed the Council that there is already cable running
along the overpass and suggested that this may be another alternative. Superintendent
Eldridge is to call Robin Loucks and discuss other alternatives.
• Superintendent Ben Eldridge would like permission to sell the blue 1991
S-10 pickup belonging to the WWTP. Maintenance Director Abe Beachy told the
Council that the Street Department would like to keep the truck. The Council
suggested that the Street department and the Wastewater Department come to some
agreement on price and the truck could be sold to the Street Department.
• Superintendent Ben Eldridge asked the Council if (3) rolls of fencing
and posts back at the WWTP could be gotten rid of? If the Wastewater
Plant does need to be fenced in Superintendent Eldridge would like new fencing,
as the old is pretty rusty. The Council approved for Superintendent Eldridge
to take the fencing to Goshen Iron and Metal.
IV. Maintenance Director
• Maintenance Director Abe Beachy presented a proposal from Beer &
Slabaugh for the storm drain repair on Larimer Street. The proposal was in the
amount of $4,365.00 with (2) alternates: 1. Deduct $640.00 for leaving existing
8” culvert. 2. Add $680.00 to repair grass and put straw in the bottom
of swale. Robert Majdak made the motion to accept the proposal Greg Baumgartner
seconded and motion was carried by a voice vote.
V. Marshal
• Marshal Hathaway informed the Council that M&M
Security will be in on Thursday May 30th, 2002 to start hooking up the new
security system.
• Marshal Hathaway informed the Council that he did research the speed
limit laws for Park entrances and 15 mph would be an expectable speed for the
park. The area would need to be posted with signs. The Marshal said an Ordinance
would need to be drawn up before the speed limit could be enforced. The Marshal
would then have authority to ticket speeders under the State Statue or the Town
Ordinance.
VI. Clerk/Treasurer
• The Clerk/Treasurer request to take a week vacation the week of June
3rd, through June 7th, 2002.
• Excess Levy Ordinance 2002-8
to adopt and sign. The Clerk/Treasurer called and asked the Town attorney Doug
Hayes about Section (3) Investment of funds. Mr.
Hayes informed the Clerk that Section (3) is according to statue, so the
interest earned must be put into the excess levy fund. The Clerk asked the State
Board of Accounts if she could buy a (6) month C.D. or money market? Mr. George
Helton field representative of the State Board of Accounts for Elkhart County
said that a C.D. or money market would be acceptable and the interest would
be easier to follow. Max Miller made the motion to let the Clerk/Treasurer buy
a C.D. Robert Majdak seconded and motion was carried by a voice vote.
VII. New Business
• Discussion on redistricting wards for the Town of Millersburg. The Clerk/Treasurer
informed the Council that the total population must be considered when deciding
the boundary lines for Wards. Voter population is only used to determine precincts.
The Clerk/Treasurer is to get the total population in each existing ward to
see if the boundary lines need to be moved and report back at the next regular
meeting.
Robert Majdak made the motion to pay bills. The motion was seconded by Greg
Baumgartner and was carried by a voice vote.