March 10, 2004

The regular monthly meeting of the Millersburg Town Council was held on Wednesday March 10, 2004 at 6:30 P.M. at the Millersburg Town Hall.

James Winkler called the regular meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.

A motion was made by James Winkler to approve the minutes for February 24th, 2004.   The motion was seconded by Abe Beachy and carried by unanimous voice vote.

Park

Water Superintendent

• Monthly report-See attached
• Superintendent Ben Eldridge informed the Council that he was concerned about the new meters calculating by 10th’s and the old meters calculating by 100th’s which would cause a large difference in unaccounted water. The Clerk/Treasurer said she would check with Banyon our software company on how to convert the difference. President Winkler asked how many meters had Superintendent Eldridge installed at this time. Superintendent Eldridge replied 11 or 12 meters.
• Superintendent Eldridge presented the Council with a recommendation of hiring Kelly Hutchison to do water testing on the weekends. Mrs. Hutchison already works for the Town as the janitor.  The proposed rate of pay to start is $10.00 per test day as it usually takes from 30 to 45 minutes. The Council approved the recommendation by a unanimous voice vote.

Wastewater Superintendent

• Monthly report-See attached
• Superintendent Eldridge informed the Council that his monthly IDEM report was not done as he has been off sick, but he will have it done and ready to sign before the end of the month when the report is due.
• Superintendent Eldridge informed the Council that he talked to Jim Frazell from TRIAD Associates and was able to get the wastewater grant cost down from $500,000.00 to $250,000.00 with a $50,000.00 match. The Indiana Chamber of Commerce suggested that Superintendent Eldridge talked to the area business to see they could help with money to match or to lower the grant amount. Superintendent Eldridge visited Forest River and talked to Pete Liegl who said that Forest River would help if other businesses in town would help also. President Winkler commented that the new council wants to be good neighbors and appreciates the offer to help. Council Member Dean Hawkins suggested that Superintendent Eldridge write a letter to the other businesses in town and request financial help then follow up with a courtesy phone call. President Winkler suggested that Superintendent Eldridge write the letter and run it by the Council before he mails it out.
• Council President James Winkler signed the Semi-Annual Report for the Planning Grant, which will close out the planning grant.
• A public notice will be published for a public hearing on March 24th, 2004 for public input on the next phase of the WWTP Grant.  

Maintenance Director

• Monthly report-See attached
• Director Matt King informed the Council that he has found a used leaf-vac at Brown Equipment for $8,000.00. Brown Equipment agreed that the town could pay ½ of cost at time of pick up and the other half in 60 days. The leaf-vac is a 1998 model with 375 hours of use, can be pulled in both directions and Brown Equipment would put a warranty on the equipment when leaf season started. Director King informed the Council that Brown Equipment specialized in restoration of equipment and would service the leaf-vac with all parts needed in the future. Director King asked permission for him and his assistant Jack Lantz to go to the Construction Equipment show in Fort Wayne and stop by Brown Equipment and pick up the leaf-vac, as it is close to the show. The Council approved.
• Director Matt King asked the Council if he could attend OSHA training in Indianapolis on April the 28th and 29th 2004. President Winkler suggested that Director King call and see if he could find a class closer to home. President Winkler suggested that Director King check with D.J. Construction as they have classes from time to time and they are located in Goshen.
• Council President Winkler asked Director King and Superintendent Eldridge to check and see what manuals they might have that give instructions on preventative maintenance. President Winkler would like to see a plan of action for preventative maintenance that includes logs for all town equipment. Both department heads agreed to search out information and start a plan.
• Director King informed the Council that he would like to purchase new town maps. Director King said he has talked to the County and they have copies for $144.00 per set. The Council approved the purchase of town maps. Director King also said he was looking into software for GIS Service as he could update the maps in house if he had the software. Director King will report back to the Council when he knows what the cost will be.
• Director King asked the Council if he could sell the old bucket truck that was bought last year, as the only thing the town uses if for is to put up the Christmas lights. Director King informed the Council that the town of Shipshewana may be interested in the old grader tractor, which was used to grade alleys, but most of the towns’ alleys are paved and the grader isn’t needed.  These two items are costly to keep liability insurance on for no more use than they get. It was suggested that Director King check with the Lumber Company to see if they would loan their equipment to put up lights. Items where held for the next meeting until Director King could talk to the Lumber Company and the Town of Shipshewana.

Marshal

• Monthly Stats-See attached
• As Marshal Hathaway was not present Council Member Dean Hawkins informed the Council that the new Squad car would go into production on 3/22/04 and will be ready soon. A fleet account will need to be set up with Max Myers in Middlebury. A discount will apply of approximately $4,000.00 and the car will sold to the Town of Millersburg at cost.

Clerk/Treasurer

• The Clerk/Treasurer informed the Council that Mr. Mark Grady from Quality Cablevision will have a contract to propose at the next regular Council meeting on Wednesday March 24 th, 2004.
• The Clerk/Treasurer received the 2004 maximum levy worksheet from the State. The towns’ maximum levy will be $229,391.00. The town budgeted a levy for $250,249.00 a $20,858.00 decrease in what was asked for. The funds are from property taxes received from the County and are distributed to three funds General, Park and Cumulative Capital Development Funds.
• The Clerk/Treasurer did on March 10th, 2004 meet with Elko Title and Mr. Lee Rediger to sign for the deed for the property at the site of the old Wilson Feed Mill. The Town of Millersburg bought two lots, #15 & 16 for $23,000.00 plus title cost of $ 806.50. The question was asked if we should put liability insurance on the building as it is going to be torn down this year. Maintenance Director Matt King informed the Council that the Clinton Township Fire Department would like to do some smoke training in the old mill before the town demolishes it. After a short discussion Dean Hawkins made the motion to allow the Fire Department to use the old mill for training Abe Beachy seconded and motion was carried by a unanimous voice vote.   Council President Winkler suggested that Director King check the building out for possible bad spots and informed the Fire Department. The Clerk/Treasurer will check with F.M. Teal about liability insurance.
• Carriage has filed for a variance to build an addition to the paint building. The hearing will be on March 17 th, 2004 at 9:00 a.m. at the County building on 4230 Elkhart Road Goshen. At that time anyone can petition if they have any reason Carriage shouldn’t build on the site.

New Business

• The Clerk/Treasurer received a complaint from Bordens’ Waste Away about residents calling in too much. President Winkler suggested that the Clerk/Treasurer take calls from residents until the new contract is negotiated. At that time the Council will look at the problem.
• The Clerk/Treasurer received a request from Karen Fairfield a agent from F.M. Teal to buy the light on the old water company building. The Council suggested that the Clerk/Treasurer ask her to present a proposal of what she would want to pay for the light and bring it to the next regular council meeting.
• The Clerk/Treasurer asked to put two outstanding checks back into the Fund Accounting as they have been outstanding for two (2) or more years.

Check #          Date                       Customer                               Amount

4741                3/12/01                   Charles Lintemuth              $      1.29

6787                2/23/01                   Robert Majdak                    $163.61

Dean Hawkins made the motion to put the amounts back into the towns funds. Abe Beachy seconded the motion and was carried by an unanimous voice vote.

• Council Member Abe Beachy asked permission to have a tractor tune-up event on Cripe Street again this year on April 17th, 2004 from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. The Council approved.
• Council Member Dean Hawkins informed the Council that he had talked to the Benton Township Trustee Dick Longcor about donating to the park. Mr. Longcor suggested that a letter from the Park Board President requesting a donation was all that was needed. Council Member Hawkins informed Park Board President Lee Nisley and he will write a request letter and send it out.
• Council Member Dean Hawkins talked to Park Board President Lee Nisley and he asked if Cripe Street could be paved up to the recycle bins as they are very muddy from all the snow melting and rain. Director King was instructed by the Council to put out more gravel on the street for the time being.
• Council President asked that a copy of the invoice from Barden Plumbing & Heating, which is the company that fixed the furnace at the wastewater plant be put into his mail box as he would like to do a comparison of cost.

James Winkler made the motion to pay bills. The motion was seconded by Dean Hawkins and was carried by a unanimous voice vote.

Adjourn: 7:45 p.m.              James Winkler made the motion Abe Beachy seconded and motion carried by a voice vote.