The Independent-News, Volume 115, Number 9, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 27 July 1989 — Page 8

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- THE INDEPENDENT NEWS - JULY 27, 1989

WALKERTON TOWN BOARD MINUTES The Walkerton Town Board met at 7:00 p.m. on July 17, 1989 with the following members present: Cheryl Rizek. Maggie Gaddis. Greg Williams. Walt Heil and Len Jaske. Attorney David Holmes and clerk-treasurer Judy Hiler were also present. The minutes were approved as read. CITIZEN'S INPUT A resident asked if there is away that the Board can advise new residents of the building codes, and also of the need to get a building permit. A notice is to be put in the paper reminding everyone that a permit is required for new construction and for any alterations to existing structures when the cost is over one thousand dollars ($1,000.00). The question of who is supposed to enforce the law that prohibits old cars sitting in yards was also raised. President Williams said that we do have an ordinance that deals with unlicensed vehicles, and that our attorney will have to review it to see if it pertains to those vehicles on private property. Ambulance personnel informed the board of a new EMTD course they would like to take, and would like included in 1990's budget. Larry Dygulski. an EMS Coordinator from St. Joseph’s Medical Center, said that the purpose of the program is that it allows the am-

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bulance service to perform early defibrilation when a pateint goes into cardiac arrest, it is a fortyfive hour program, which also teaches advanced airway management how to recognize cardiac rhythms and how to use the machine for the shock. A patient who is in cardiac arrest needs to be defibrilated in eight minutes or less. Two defibrilators, the training class and books would cost approximately $18,000.00. The hospital would be able to make minor adjustments to the equipment, when needed, and w'ould also replace any used supplies. Ambulance personnel have checked to see if our liability insurance premiums would go up. and were told that they would not because they would be better trained personnel. Mr. Dygulski said that they would like to standardize all the equipment in St. Joseph County, and would like to see everyone in the area use the same type of defibrilation equipment. Numerous studies have proven that the save rate has almost double with the new EMTD program. Ray and Marian Chapman both support the idea and feel that the defibrilation equipment would be very advantageous to the community. Mrs. Chapman congratulated the new EMTs for their training and a job well done. OLD BUSINESS The Board reviewed Trash-A-Way’s contract and discussed its provisions with John Hopkins. Mr. Hopkins said that landfill prices have gone up four times in the last two years. Holmes stated that if there is any impos-

sibility or hardship a contract can be renegotiated and amended. He also said that the Board wonders about Trash-A-Way’s ability to perform. because over the last month there have been problems with the service. According to Mr. Hopkins they've had a lot of tire and equipment problems during the last six weeks. Discussion included a seven percent increase now and again next March, and a two day trash pick up instead of one. If it is decided to have a two day pick up. there will be a notice in the paper to tell residents the pick up day for their street. Trash-A-Way would prefer to have the garbage put into plastic bags set out at the curb. Containers are not necessary. Fifty-five gallon drums and homemade boxes with lids are very difficult to handle, and the garbage at the bottom of these containers gets rancid in this type of weather. Cheryl Rizek made the motion to give Trash-A-Way a seven percent increase this year and another seven percent increase next year. Seconded by Maggie Gaddis. Carried. Review of our current customer rate of $2.75 per month showed that there was a deficit in 1988's collections, and also in this year's collections. Cheryl Rizek made the motion to increase the charge to the customer to $3.15 per month. Seconded by Maggie Gaddis. Carried. The increase to customers will begin on August 1. 1989 billing. The increase to Trash-W-Way will begin with their September 1989 check. Attorney Holmes said that the interpretation from our employees handbook is that the Town is required to pay military reserve pay. Holmes also said that the law doesn’t require that we pay it, and he can redraft this provision in our handbook. Walt Heil made the motion to exclude paying an individual’s salary to him while he is away on Reserve duty. Seconded by Cheryl Rizek. Carried. Attorney Holmes had researched the procedure for issuing house numbers, and found that the Plan Commission adopts the guidelines and the Building Inspector assigns the numbers. The clerk is to contact precinct committeemen to see if they have any old voter registration sheets that can be used to check various addresses. Jollie Back. Town superintendent, had looked into the request the Board had received for a "no parking" sign by a resident's fence, and speed bumps on Park Drive. He reported that there was no damage to the fence in question, and suggested putting up "no parking signs" on each side of the driveway. There are no speed limit signs on Park Drive and Jollie suggested having a posted speed limit rather than putting in speed bumps. Attorney Holmes told the Board that there is the liability factor to consider, if a car would be damaged by a speed bump. Cheryl Rizek made the motion to put up 10 MPH speed signs on Park Drive going into the Little League Park. Seconded by Maggie Gaddis. Carried. President Williams had received a request for more speed bumps on Ohio Street, but it was decided to increase enforcement of the 10 MPH speed limits already set for the individual streets in West York. Maggie Gaddis and the clerk had complaints concerning the mail boxes which obstruct the view, at the 1000 block and the 1400 block of Ohio Street. The clerk is to send a letter to the Post Office asking them to review the location of those mail boxes. We had solicited three quotes for wallpapering the upstairs apartment, but only received one quote. This quote was from Nancy Malstaff, Route 2, Walkerton, in the amount of seven hundred dollars ($700.00) for labor. The wallpaper she suggested we purchase would cost approximately four hundred dollars ($400.00). Cheryl Rizek made the motion to accept Nancy Malstafrs quote of $700.00. Seconded by Walt Heil. Carried. It

was decided that neutral shades and patterns should be used to paper the apartment, and Mrs. Malstaff can choose what she thinks is best. The next budget meeting will be on Monday. July 24, 1989. Cheryl Rizek said that in defense of the ambulance budget. Richard Miller has said that Polk Township will be able to pay for 48 percent of the cost of the defibrilation equipment and EMTD training. NEW BUSINESS The Board received an information packet from Indiana University of South Bend. They are trying to establish a foundation which will help combat the use of illegal drugs and alcohol. They would like our help in their application for grant money by drafting a resolution supporting their efforts. Cheryl Rizek made the motion to allow drafting this resolution. Seconded by Maggie Gaddis. Carried. President Williams told the Board that according to an article in the paper, Walkerton E9ll terminal has been pushed to the back burner mainly because of our inadequacy to reach some of the surrounding areas. Most of our equipment is outdated and Greg asked for the Board's permission to research the cost of a new dispatch system, and also look into our chances of obtaining a grant. As it stands now, our calls will be dispatched by County E9II and transferred to us. Greg said that we have a good dispatch center, and one way to get off the back burner is to upgrade our equipment. The Board was in agreement that it would be a good idea to look into the cost of updating our equipment. President Williams had had an inquiry from the trustee as to whether the Town can add a penalty charge to a customer’s account if the trustee voucher is in the office before the 15th of the month. Attorney Holmes said that receiving a voucher is a long way from receiving actual money, and it mainly serves to keep from shutting off electric service. Attorney Holmes is going to check into the matter for us. The clerk told the Board that when the Town cleared away the weeds and fallen trees from the lots on the corner of Michigan and Jackson Streets, the owner had been billed $2,000.00. This still has not been paid. Attorney Holmes instructed the clerk to file a lien against the property. Williams had a call from a resident in to a sewer tap-in fee. The property in question was supposed to have been hooked up to the sewer line in 1982, but they

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did not hook up. Now that the property is changing ownership, the buyer wants to know if the $500.00 fee has to be paid. According to Ordinance No. 1982-5 this fee is charged to anyone hooking up after the 90 dav grace period in 1982. Ambulance personnel asked for permission to purchase hand held radios at a cost of SBOO.OO and were told that all they have to do is submit a requisition to the clerk. Maggie Gaddis made the motion to put Cheryl Rizek in charge of counter signing the purchase orders for the Ambulance Service. Seconded by Walt Heil. Carried. Claims 695 through 748 for $139,417.10. and payroll docket dated July 10. 1989 for $17,175.66 were reviewed by the Board. Motion to accept the claims was made by Walt Heil. Seconded by Maggie Gaddis. Carried. The Board reviewed the charges to Lincoln Township for Fire and Ambulance services. An error had been made in computing the Fire Department contract amount. Attorney Holmes is going to write to Lincoln Township informing them of the revised figures and asking them for payment. The demolition of the elevator was discussed. Attorney Holmes advised that if the owner does not see that the rubble and mess arc cleaned up, he can be sued. Maggie Gaddis made the motion to adjourn. Seconded by Walt Heil. Carried.

CARD OF THANKS

We would like to thank the Walkerton Police Department, Walkerton and North Liberty Fire Departments, the EMT’s, Para Planes, Ladies Auxiliary and all others who helped in our search for our mother and grandmother. You help was deeply appreciated. The Family Os Virginia Bradford I want to thank everyone that helped me at my time of need. 1 especially want to thank the firemen who responded so fast and were so quick at finding the cause and taking care of it. This certainly kept my loss from being greater than it was. Mary Kay Clark ANIMAL PROGRAM AT NORTH LIBERTY LIBRARY "Animal Adaptations", a program on how animals learn to live in their environment, will be presented by a naturalist from Potato Creek State Park this Friday at 3:00 p.m. For more information, call the library at 656-3664.