The Independent-News, Volume 116, Number 14, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 30 August 1990 — Page 4

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- the INDEPENDENT NEWS - AUGUST 30, 1990

xwxx’XL”-”' •• •■* • • END OF SUMMER SEASON The Labor Day holiday weekend each year marks the end of the summer season. This of course doesn’t necessarily mean the end of summer, but of the summer season. In fact very often some very summer weather is with us well into September. However, lifestyles take that summer vacation time to fall and wintertime lifestyles. The big change, of course, being schools back in session. The schools and colleges for most parts have been in session now for a week or so, bringing about the change in many schedules to fit this factor into the everyday life of families with kids. Also noticed are those who are gone to the many colleges and universities of our country to continue their education. The scene changes considerably for any family with children from college age on down to toddlers. Os course one of the main differences to be noticed is the operating of school buses once again. The big yellow buses that gather and disperse children each morning and afternoon, put an added dimension on our roads and highways for one to be aware of. School bus safety is something that takes the combined efforts of all. Not only on the road, but probably more particularly, the picking up and letting off of students is the most dangerous. Statistics show that more children are killed each year either wailing for a bus or just after departing. These accidents can occur at any time as a young one’s moves are often very unpredictable. It takes the more trained and disciplined adult to help look out for these children and to do everything within their power to keep them safe. As the summer season passes, we are ready for the schedule that includes not only school and the many school activities, but also the activities of many various clubs and organizations that also take a “vacation” during the summer. This with the many school activities, makes September through May a very busy time. It is true that more and more people are vacationing in the winter months now than ever before, but the real vacation season, summertime, ends with this holiday weekend. We hope each and everyone is ready to make the necessary adjustments once again for the next nine months.

“20 Acre Law” Although this problem has been with the fourteen townships in St. Joseph County for several years, last week two seperate incidents have brought it to the forefront in Lincoln and Liberty Townships. We have a ven- archaic and discriminative law called the 20 acre law in St. Joseph County which states that a home may not be built outside the city limits unless it is built on a 20 acre or larger plot of ground. Only one home may be built on each 20 acres. A variance may be granted by the Board of Zoning Appeals to build on a smaller area if the acreage is made into a sub-division first, which is very costly and may require up to two years to obtain approval. The 20 acre law was enacted several years ago by a now defunct committee and its purpose was to save the land zoned as "agriculture” for farming. At the time it seemed logical by the adopters of the law but in retrospect it has proven to be just the opposite from what the committee had planned. The 20 acre law was first set up as a I 0 acre law and later expanded to 20 acres. Consequently on Walnut Road and the adjoining Leeper Road in Lincoln Townships, there are ten 10 acre plots with a home built in the center and the rest of the land is grass and weeds. One hundred acres was removed from agriculture use. There was an excellent article in the South Bend Tribune by Dave Behr, who is the Chairman of the Walkenon Industrial Committee. He stated that Walkerton has an exceptional amount of industry for such a small town but the community does not seem to be growing in population. The 20 acre law does not allow our community to grow thereby discriminating against the township populace. It is much easier to build a home in Marshall. Starke or LaPorte Counties which have either

no stipulated area requirements or two acre requirements than to go through the lenghty and costly appeals procedure in St. Joseph County. The John Glenn has stated that we are in dire need of a new middle school, the cost of which will be between $11,000,000 to $15,000,000. That is the current estimate. The large majority of the monies for our school is derived from our Real Estate and Personal Property taxes. Therefor, the taxpayers in our townships can look forward to sharply escalating taxes in the very near future. If we can get the existing 20 acre law required for a home site changed to a two acre law. the amount of assessed valuation will increase 10 times the present amount thereby allowing II families to help pay for our new schools, our welfare, our police, and fire, and various other county departments and still have 80 acres left for farming. For example: 100 acres of agricultural ground assessed at $475 (which is the medium-high assessment figure) would equal $47,500 assessed valuation, all from one family. Take 10 two acre plots with homes assessed valuations of $40,000 each and that would equal $400,000 of assessed valuation — PLUS the remaining 80 acres of farm ground at $475 or $38,000. The result is $438,000 or assessed valuation being paid by 11 families instead of $475,500 assessed valuation being paid by one family. Only 20 acres of land would be removed from farm land and 80 acres left for agricultural purposes. This at a time when the Federal Government is paying farmers to let large amounts of acreage and in some cases whole farms, lay idle. h is time to repeal the 20 acre law in St. Joseph County. At one time it mav have served a purpose, but when an entity has proven to be a detriment rather than a remedy, it is time to change. There is a difference between the adage of "we cannot afford more taxes and we cannot pay more taxes”. We are fast approaching the time when we will have to say “we cannot pay more taxes”. We

should not have to be forced into such a decision when a simple outdated law can be changed. Write or call your councilman. We must have the tax relief we could obtain from a new and more equitable home site law now. Joan Schmchz Lincoln Township & Walkerton Deputy Personal Propertv Assessor Past John Glenn Schoo! Board Member THE LAST HURRAH Labor Day weekend, the last hurrah of summer! I know what I’ll be doing. There’s a flea market planned at Koontz Lake starting Sept. Ist. this will be located at the Keepsake Mall. There will be plenty off goodies to check out and maybe buy. Carole Powers has a great place there. This Mall has been her dream ever since she opened Keepsake Kottage. I like to sec people with new ideas to help improve the area. When people take a chance and start up a new business, it means that they have confidence in the community. We wish them every success. So if you have some time this weekend, come on out and check it over. There are two good restuarants. Al’s and G’s Dockside at the lake, maybe you can get your spouse or significant other to take you out to lunch. I’m sure going to try and get Roy to take me out to dinner. The last few weeks. I have been home canning, so of course I’ve been fixing him his supper. He hasn’t had to cook soup for quite awhile. This is the weekend that we go to the Steam Show at Hesston. Grandson Adam becomes one year old on Thursday, so it’s time for a train ride. Granddaughter. Catherine. has entered kindergarten this fall and I know she likes the trains. So if you like heat, dust and noise. Hesston is the place for you! With all of the traffic accidents and deaths lately, it is time to slow down a little and live. I travel a lot on the roads in my employment, and you would be shocked at the rudeness of people. Many times. I have been passed on double no passing lanes. People pull off of the sideroads without stopping or even looking for traffic. Common sence and courtesy should be uppermost in our minds at all times when we get into the car or truck. Use your seat belts, drive safely and have a pleasant weekend. This is the week of tomato canning. I've got to get busy. Josephine Smith, a neighbor, has been canning tomatoes and she will be hard to catch. I’m ahead of her in corn, about 35 quarts. I hope that all of you are getting your canning done. I went into Kabelins to buy a new canner but they had just sold them all. Burket’s still have a lot of good produce to buy. Orville Klinedinst, did you plant any cantelope this year? I hope so. Well its back to the canner for me. Sincerely Nedra Williams WALKERTON TOWN BOARD MINUTES The Walkerton Town Council me’ at 7:00 p.m. on August 20. with the following members present: Cheryl Rizek. Maggie Gaddis. Gregory Williams. Walter Hei! and Leonard Jaske. Attorney Jim Haves and Cerk-Treasurer Judy Hiler were also present. The minutes were approved as read. There was no citizen's input. OLD BUSINESS: Jeff Zehner. Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator, reported that the Ivy Tech course he was planning to take has been cancelled. Zehner asked if. in place of that course, he can register for a teleconference series of twelve training sessions at a cost of $55.00. He has also gotten prices from several places for video taping

our sewer lines. Lcn Jaske made the motion to go ahead with the video taping. Seconded by Walt Heil. Carried. Lcn Jaske made the motion to allow Zehner to take the training sessions. Seconded bv Maggie Gaddis. Carried. Marsha Sobieralski. Clean 'n Things, submitted a quote of $60.00 a week for cleaning and maintenance of the Town Hall and Police Station. This quote was accepted on a motion bv Walt Heil. Seconded bv Maggie Gaddis. Carried. Williams did the first reading of Ordinance No. 1990-06, An Ordinance Amending Rates - Off Peak Electric. Cheryl Rizek made the motion to accept the first reading. Seconded bv Maggie Gaddis. Carried. The Clerk reported that she had received a complaint concerning ’he appearance of the "Sale Barn.” and had explained that it is out of our jurisdiction since it is not in the ci’v limits. One of our EMTs also works for Union North Ambulance Service, and has a radio for each service. Our ambulance service wants to know if they can have a crystal, for our service, put in her Union North radio. The cost for a crystal and the labor for installing it. would be $60.00. Bv doing this the Walkerton. Polk. Lincoln radio, she's currently using, can be turned in and used bv someone else. Union North is agreeable to this arrangement. Chervl Rizek made the motion to allow . Seconded bv Len Jaske. Carried. Two bids were received for street paving. Asphalt Engineers. $29. 7 5 per ton to furnish and lav 1.000 tons of #ll limestone mix. includes the necessary tack coat. Walsh & Kelly. Inc.. $30.75 per ton to applv a tack coat and resurface using 1-1/4 inches of hot asphaltic concrete #ll limestone surface. Chervl Rizek made the motion to accept Asphalt Engineers quote. Seconded by Walt Heil. Carried. Attorney Hayes told the Council that we've gotten a letter from the Indiana Dept, of Highways concerning the Adams Street Railroad Crossing. The letter stated that this crossing is on the list for possible funding in 1991. Haves also told the Council that the paperwork is ready to file suit to ge’ the ambulance radio back from the former EMT. And a letter has been sent to the resident who has dirt and grass covering his sidewalk. giving him until August 31. to comply. NEW BUSINESS: Williams read Ordinance No. 1990-07. Ordinance for Appropria’ions and Tax Rates. Walt Heil made the motion to accept the second reading. Seconded by Len Jaske. Carried. Cheryl Rizek made the motion to accept the third reading. Seconded by Walt Heil. Carried. Len Jaske made the motion to accept the minutes from the August 13 Public Hearing for the 1991 budget. Seconded bv Chervl Rizek. Carried. We received a notice from Ist Source Bank that said our 91 day Certificate of Deposit is due for redemption or renewal on August 22. 1990. Len Jaske made the motion to renew the CD with whichever bank quotes the highest interest rate. Seconded by Walt Heil. Carried. An amendment to the Chamber of Commerce’s by-laws was accepted on a motion by Cheryl Rizek. Seconded by Maggie Gaddis. Carried. The Indiana Association of Cities & Towns Convention is being held in September, in South Bend this vear. Mayor Bob Beutter. Mishawaka. sent a request for raffle prizes for the convention. Chervl Rizek made the motion to purchase two $50.00 raffle prizes, using the Outside Services employed catagory in the Electric Operating Fund. Seconded by Walt Heil. Carried. The Council reviewed a letter •hat Police Chief Gassensmith is sending to the Indiana State High-

wav Commission in regard to the school crossing at SR 23 and Washington Street. Gassensmith is asking them to change the overhead flashing light to a fourwav stop flasher when the crossing guard activates it. while helping ’he children to cross. The Fire Department has turned in a request to purchase ten dress shir’s and badges, from their budgeted funds. After checking to sec if there is enough in the appropriation for Operating Supplies. a motion was made bv Lcn Jaske to allow the purchases. Seconded bv Maggie Gaddis. Carried. len Jaske made the motion to allow the Clerk-Treasurer and Council members to attend a day of ’he IACT Convention. Seconded bv Maggie Gaddis. Carried. An earthquake hazard seminar is being given bv the Indiana State Emergence Management Agencv. The seminar is going to be held in Wes'ficld. and is free to utility opera'ors. Lcn Jaske made the mo'ion to allow Jollic Back to a"cnd the seminar. Seconded bv Maggie Gaddis. Carried. Recen' claims to Butler. Fairman and Seufer'. Inc. for our water s'udv were discussed. Claim #BOI for $8,000.00 and Claim #BB6 for S^OO.OO were paid out of the Wa’er Opera'ing Fund. The Clerk was ins'ruc'ed to back them out of Wa'cr Opera'ing and charge Water Depreciation instead. An increase in wa'cr ra'es is indicated in the near fir tire. Claims #855 thru #903 for $149,517.11. and Payroll Docket da-ed B'2o 90 for $17,333.54 were reviewed. Len Jaske made the mo'jon to accept the claims. Seconded bv Chervl Rizek. Carried. len Jaske made the motion to adjourn. Seconded bv Maggie Gaddis. Carried. BUREAU OF MOTOR VEHICLES ANNOUNCES BMVC HOLIDAY HOURS Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles Commissioner Gilbert L. Holmes today announced holiday business hours for all license branch offices statewide. To allow all our branch personnel to enjoy a three day holiday weekend, all license branches will be closed Saturday. Sunday and Monday. September 1. 2. and 3. Those branches normally open on Saturday will reschedule the Saturday hours during the week prior to the holiday weekend. Customers should consult their local license branch for the schedule of additional hours they will be open to serve the public. All Bureau of Motor Vehicle Commission License Branches, including AAA Motor Cub license branches located in Marion County. will be closed in observation of Labor Day. All license branches will resume normal hours on Tuesday. September 4th. MAJOR RECORDING ARTIST TO APPEAR AT POTATO CREEK PARK The Indiana Department of Na'ural Resources’ Cultural Arts Program is proud to host a special musical performance of “Rebirth Blues Band” on Saturday. September 1 at Potato Creek State Park. The performance, which is free of charge and open to the public, will begin a’ 7:00 p.m. and will be held a' the beach lawn. This performance is part of a scries sponsored jointly bv the DNR and the Madame Walker Urban Life Center in Indianapolis. The series features outstanding local performing artists from 'hroughout Indiana. The Cultural Arts Program encourages you to bring the entire familv out to enjoy this entertaining concer'. Admission is free of charge, although the standard admission fee of $2.00 per car will be charged at the gate. You arc encouraged to bring your lawn chairs along to ensure adequate sca'ing.