The Independent-News, Volume 116, Number 39, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 21 February 1991 — Page 2

- THE INDEPENDENT NEWS - FEBRUARY 21, 1991

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WALKERTON TOWN BOARD MINUTES The Walkerton Town Council met at 7:00 p.m. on Feb 4 with the following members present: Gene Reese. Maggie Gaddis, Cheryl .Rizek. W'alter Heil and Leonard Jaske. Attorney David Holmes and clerk-treasurer Judy Hiler were also present. A moment of silence was observed for all our troops stationed in the gulf. The minutes were approved as read. The Plan Commission at a meeting held previous to this one tabled Russ Jimerson's request to rezone. The Plan Commission will reconsider the rezoning on Feb. 18 after some changes have been made to the plot plan. Gan Anspaugh, who is in the naval resenes, has been called to active duty. Anspaugh told the Council that it will be one to two months before he gets any pay from the Navy. His Navy pay will be about $300.00 a month less than what he currently earns. He asked the Council if the Town could supplement his Navy pay, for two or three months. Anspaugh was also concerned about his health insurance and retirement plan. Attorney Holmes said that the law mandates an unpaid leave of absence. When Anspaugh returns, he will have the same seniority and will still be under the retirement plan. Health insurance will be reinstated upon his return to his job here. Holmes also advised that there are Indiana statutes, one being the so-called ghost employment statute, that makes it illegal to pay a municipal employee for services not rendered. Holmes said that we can pay Anspaugh for

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any accumulated time, vacation days and also for the 15 reserve training days provided for by law. Anspaugh asked if the pay covering these things can be paid to him over a couple of pay periods, rather than all at once. Gene Reese made the motion to pay Anspaugh the 15 military leave days. Seconded by Walt Heil. Carried. Larry Dill, the new Town Court Judge, was unable to attend the Council meeting due to a meeting at the fire department. Attorney Holmes said that he is concerned about the appropriation for Court Cerk. and told the Council that it's important that the judge understand that he doesn't have the authority to spend more than was appropriated. The clerk told the Council that Dill had asked if money allotted to the position of judge can be transferred to the position of Court Clerk. Since Dill w asn't appointed as judge until the last part of Jan., there is approximately one month of his pay that won’t be used. Holmes said that there’s no problem in doing this, but added that it should be dealt with soon. The clerk said that she doesn’t know how to pay hours that Dana Baker has submitted, for time worked as Court Clerk in Jan. Holmes answered that Dill needs to submit a written designation to the clerk-treasurer of who he has chosen as bailiff and court clerk, and also how he wants them paid within the appropriation. Since they are not paid hourly, and are not full time employees, this can be taken care of at the next meeting. Holmes stated that Dill will have to advise the clerk of how he wants to pay Baker. There was no citizen’s input. The Council accepted the monthly police, electric, water and wastewater reports. Jeff Zehner informed the Council

that there’s going to be a public hearing concerning NPDES permit fees. Permits are currently being issued for a five year period with a $50.00 renewal fee being paid every five years. The State is planning to charge all wastewater dischargers a fee based on the amount of strength that they discharge from their treatment plant. At the proposed rates, our NPDES permit will coast approximately $550.00 per year. Rizek urged Council members to call our state legislators to protest these higher fees. Attorney Holmes advised, that should Zehner compose a letter to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, for the Council president and the clerk-treasurer to sign. Copies of this letter will be sent to Betty Lawson and Richard Mangus. Holmes said that the State is trying to avoid raising taxes, to pay for some programs that they want to do, so they are going to charge municipalities higher fees. He said another disturbing part of this plan is that they may require us to get engineering for service lines which go over a designated number of feet. Holmes stated that about the only thing we can do, is to raise objections to these plans. OLD BUSINESS: Bid openings for surplus property. There was one bid on the 1982 Chevrolet police car. Carl Sobieralski bid $352.99. Len Jaske made the motion to accept this bid. Seconded by Walt Heil. Carried. There was one bid on the 1985 Chevrolet truck and the Skyjacker aerial one man bucket. Charles T. Daube bid $7,000.00 on the truck and $1,000.00 on the aerial bucket, for a total of $8,000.00. Jaske said he had done some research on the worth of the truck and the bid of $7,000.00 seems fair. A resident asked why we are getting rid of a truck with just 28,000 miles on it. Superintendent Back answered that they really want to get rid of the bucket that’s attached. We have two other bucket trucks and need another service truck. It would cost around three or four thousand dollars to replace the bucket with a new truck bed. Back said that although the truck doesn’t have many miles, it has a lot of hours on the engine from idle time. Jaske is going to research the cost of replacing the truck bed. Walt Heil made the motion to table the bid until the next meeting. Seconded by Gene Reese. Carried. There were no bids on the 1968 Chevrolet truck. Maggie Gaddis made the motion to read Ordinance No. 1991-2, Junk Vehicles and Appliances in short form. Seconded by Len Jaske. Carried. Walt Heil made the motion to accept Ordinance No. 1991-2. Seconded by Len Jaske. Carried. Superintendent Back asked if he could hire temporary help until Gary Anspaugh returns. Temporary help would be paid $5.00 an hour from money budgeted for summer help. Len Jaske made the motion to allow. Seconded by Walt Heil. Carried. Walt Heil asked Chief Gassensmith if there are many junk cars setting around town. Gassensmith replied that there are not many, the warning letters that we mail are very effective. He added that the new ordinance will be a great help in keeping junk vehicles from being a problem. NEW BUSINESS: Both Fanners State Bank and Ist Source Bank submitted proposals to become designated depositories for the Town's funds. In addition, each bank submitted quotes for interest rates for total monies on deposit. The council reviewed and discussed these quotes with the bank representatives who were present. Ist Source Bank deducts a 12% reserve requirement and also charges account fees, based on monthly volume and activity . It was decided that since Farmers State Bank doesn’t have a reserve requirement or monthly charges,

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they could provide a better return of interest. Attorney Holmes said that he wants to discuss the matter of investing with the Board of Finance, before they make their official decision. The council, acting as a Board of Finance, has until the third Monday in February to designate depositories. The clerk reported that our $500,000.00 Certificate of Deposit matures on February 8, 1991, and asked the council if they want to re-invest the $500,000.00 in another C.D. Len Jaske made the motion to purchase a $500,000.00 31 day C.D. from the bank that quotes the highest rate of interest. Seconded by Walt Heil. Carried. Len Jaske made the motion to accept the humane society's contract to handle animals, within the town limits, for an annual fee of SBOO.OO. Seconded by Maggie Gaddis. Carried. The council reviewed the ambulance specifications and the ad for soliciting quotes for a new ambulance. Quotes for interest rates were tabled on a motion by Len Jaske. Seconded by Maggie Gaddis. Carried. These quotes w ere solicited to see if we can keep pay ments within our budget, and to consider loan terms. Len Jaske made the motion to solicit quotes for a new ambulance. Seconded by Walt Heil. Carried. Cairns 108 through 161 for $54,011.43 were reviewed by the council. Len Jaske made the motion to accept the claims. Seconded by Maggie Gaddis. Carried. Motion to adjourn was made by Maggie Gaddis. Seconded by Gene Reese. Carried. According to Justice Department statistics, crime rates in the U S are falling

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R.E.A.L. SERVICES NUTRITION PROGRAM N.L. United Methodist Church Phone 656-3132 the day prior for reservations. Walkerton Youth Building Phone 586-7600 the day prior for reservations. FEBRUARY 25 - MARCH 1 MONDAY Orange juice Minestrone soup with sal tines Grilled chicken fillet on bun with mayo on side Peaches Milk. tea. coffee TUESDAY Apple juice Breaded veal pattie with mushroom gravy Rice Fresh broccoli salad White bread with margarine Plums Milk, tea. coffee WEDNESDAY Tomato juice Ham and beans Steamed cabbage Cornbread with margarine Mandarin oranges Milk. tea. coffee THURSDAY Peach nectar Turkey manhattan with gravy Mashed potatoes Spinach with vinegar on side Lemon tart Milk, tea, coffee FRIDAY Caterer's Choice juice Bratwurst on bun with ketchup and mustard Tossed salad w/shredded red cabbage, green onions & Ranch dressing Dill pickle spear Applesauce Milk, tea, coffee