Town Council Minutes - 09-09-02
Greg Baumgartner called the regular meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
• Public hearing for the adoption of the 2003 budget. Council member
Greg Baumgartner opened the floor for discussion on the 2003
budget. There were no comments from the public. Greg Baumgartner made the
motion to adopt the budget for 2003 as advertised and Max Miller seconded and
was carried by a voice vote.
• Discuss P.U.D. for the property at 323 N. Jefferson Street belonging
to John & Etta Miller. Resident Etta Miller presented her P.U.D. and explained
that the County didn’t agree with the right of way she gave and asked
that she have a survey done. Mrs. Miller had the survey done by Wightman Petrie
Inc. Mrs. Miller was told by the County that she had to reapply for a corrected
variance. What Mrs. Miller was asking of the Council is a letter stating that
the Town has no problem with Mrs. Miller going forward with her remodeling project
while she waits on the new variance. After some discussion and reviewing the
P.U.D. Council member Greg Baumgartner recommended that the Council approves
for Mrs. Miller to continue and Max Miller seconded and recommendation was carried
by a voice vote. A letter was drawn up for Mrs. Miller and signed by the Council.
A motion was made by Greg Baumgartner to approve the minutes for August 26th, 2002. The motion was seconded by Max Miller and carried by a voice vote.
I. Park
• Doug Sherman a Park Board member was present to ask the Council if the
Street Department could mark or flag the water and sewer utility lines at the
Park. The Park is ready to put in a basketball court and needs to do some digging
and needs to know where not to dig. Maintenance Director Abe Beachy said that
he could flag the utility lines for the Park.
II. Water Superintendent
• Discuss demolition of the old water tower. Superintendent Ben Eldridge
gave the Clerk/Treasurer a report to present to the Council as he was not present.
Superintendent Eldridge recommends that Iseler Demolition be awarded the project.
The report states that Superintendent Eldridge checked on Millers Excavating
for removing the concrete, but was told that they did not have the proper equipment.
Council member Greg Baumgartner suggested that Superintendent Eldridge call
Quality Cablevision and give
them 30 days to take down their satellite disk. Max Miller made the motion to
use Iseler Demolition to take down the old tower and Greg Baumgartner seconded
and the motion was carried by a voice vote contingent on contacting Quality
Cablevision.
• Superintendent Eldridge in his report asked the Council if he could
purchase a new set of scales as his has broken and cannot be repaired. Superintendent
Eldridge is traveling to New Paris every day to do his testing. The item was
tabled due to lack of information.
• Superintendent Eldridge asked the Council if he could take a day of
vacation on Thursday September 19th, 2002. Council approved.
• Discuss increasing monies going into improvement fund. Tabled
III. Wastewater Superintendent
• Discuss increasing monies going into improvement fund. Tabled
IV. Maintenance Director
• Monthly report-see attached
V. Marshal
• Monthly Stats: see attached report
• The Marshal told the Council that he was checking on having the employee
Christmas Party on December 14th, 2002 in Middlebury at an Amish home. Everyone
agreed that it was a good idea, so Marshal Hathaway will continue with the planning.
VI. Clerk/Treasurer
• Discuss animal control problem. The Marshal informed the Council that
Critter Control has not gotten back with the Town, so they must not be interested.
Marshal Hathaway is looking into another option in LaGrange County and will
report later on his findings. The Council is not ready to sign the contract
with the Elkhart Humane Society.
VII. New Business
VIII. Old Business
• Council member Greg Baumgartner asked Maintenance Director Abe Beachy
if he had any new information on the bucket truck that Max Miller offered to
sale the Town. Director Beachy answered that the truck is at the maintenance
building and he has not had time to inspect it as of yet, but will do so as
soon as he could.
• Council member Greg Baumgartner asked Maintenance Director Abe Beachy
if everything was running ok, such as the police cars and equipment. Director
Beachy answered that everything was running ok.
• Council member Greg Baumgartner asked Maintenance Director Abe Beachy
about the run-off problem on Larimer Drive had he heard from Beer & Slabaugh?
Director Beachy answered that he had talked to Beer & Slabaugh and they
would be here sometime soon to look over the problem and make some suggestions
on how to fix it.
Greg Baumgartner made the motion to pay bills. The motion was seconded Max
Miller by and was carried by a voice vote.