Meeting minutes - 08-26-02

Town Council Minutes - 08-26-02

Robert Majdak called the regular meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.

• Public hearing for the 2003 budget. Council President asked the public if there was any discussion on the 2003 budget. There was no discussion and the meeting continued with regular business.

A motion was made by Robert Majdak to approve the minutes for August 12th, 2002. The motion was seconded by Max Miller and carried by a voice vote.

I. Park

II. Water Superintendent
• Discuss demolition of the old water tower. A quote from Iseler Demolition, Inc. was presented by the Clerk/Treasurer in the amount of $14,300.00 for demolition, $4,600.00 to remove the concrete and reseed and $800.00 to cap the water main. The total would be $19,700.00. Robert Majdak asked Maintenance Director Abe Beachy if the Street Department could remove the concrete and tap the water main. Director Beachy said “no” our backhoe isn’t big enough to handle the project. Director Beachy suggested that he could call Miller Excavating and see if they could handle the project. The item was tabled until Superintendent Ben Eldridge could get more information.

III. Wastewater Superintendent

IV. Maintenance Director
• Work order update. Tabled
• Monthly report-see attached
• Director Abe Beachy informed the Council that his assistant Jack Lantz would like to take Friday August 30th and Tuesday September 3rd, 2002 off for vacation days. The Council approved.
• Council member Max Miller asked the Town if they might be interested in buying a bucket truck that he has for sale at the cost of $1,000.00. The Council suggested that Director Beachy check the truck out and the sale would be contingent on the outcome of the inspection.
• Council President Robert Majdak commended Maintenance Director Abe Beachy on work well done on the Larimer Street swale project and the Street Department road paving project.
• Residents Doug Sherman and Jim Winkler were present to ask the Town Council when Paul Miller would fix the drainage problem on Larimer and entrance to Blessing Street. Mr. Miller laid bales of straw on the swale which collected the water and prevented the water from going into the culvert. The collected water made a puddle. Area children played in the mud and the mud went into Mr. Winkler’s drive. The puddle is a breading ground for mosquitoes commented Mr. Doug Sherman. Council President Robert Majdak asked Maintenance Director Abe Beachy to call Mr. Paul Miller and ask him once again to finish the project.
• Resident Jim Winkler asked the Council what is the status of water runoff from the Park. After much discussion Maintenance Director Abe Beachy was instructed to look at the problem and work on a solution. A couple of ideas were discussed. One was to put a cement retaining wall at the hill at the entrance of the park and pave the road. Another was to divert the water to State Road 13. Director Beachy suggested that he call Beer & Slabaugh for quotes to do the work and report back to the Council.

V. Marshal

VI. Clerk/Treasurer
• Discuss animal control problem. Tabled
• Review and sign the Agreement with the County to administer the 2003 Election. The cost will be for $600.00. The Clerk/Treasurer called Stevie Burgess Election Administrator for Elkhart County and asked if nobody ran against the present incumbents, do we have to pay for an election? Mrs. Burgess answered “yes” because the filing of incumbents still has to be done by her office and our election is the only reason they would come to Millersburg. Mrs. Burgess suggested that the Council be presented with a proposal to hold the Town elections the same time the County held theirs and then the Town would not have to pay for an election. Discuss options. The Council approved the agreement as is.
• Read and adopt Ordinance 2002-12 Fair Housing Ordinance. The ordinance was tabled last meeting at the request of Council President Robert Majdak. President Majdak asked the Clerk/Treasurer to call the town attorney Doug Hayes and get the statues on discrimination toward veterans. The Clerk/Treasurer was asked to update the ordinance with one change, that the phrase “veteran status” be added where needed. After talking to Doug Hayes the Town attorney the Clerk/Treasurer was informed that the Civil Rights Commission would administer any suits because of the financial burden on the Town and would use the statues in place and those do not include the “veteran status”. Robert Majdak made the motion to adopt Ordinance 2002-12 as is and Max Miller seconded motion was carried by a voice vote.

VII. New Business
• Borden’s sent a letter informing the Town that the trash would be picked up on Wednesday September 4th due to the Labor Day holiday.
• The Clerk/Treasurer called Richard Hill of Baker & Daniel’s to get information on how to start an Economic Development Plan. Mr. Hill informed the Clerk/Treasurer that there is a process and gave a quote of approximately $5,500.00 to $6,000.00 to help the Town through the process. Council President Robert Majdak said he would get a list of names of people to serve on an Economic Development Commission Board, which is one of the first steps. Then the Board would contact Mr. Hill.

Robert Majdak made the motion to pay bills. The motion was seconded by Max Miller and was carried by a voice vote.