The Independent-News, Volume 118, Number 38, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 4 February 1993 — Page 12

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THE INDEPENDENT NEWS - FEBRUARY 4, 1993

WALKERTON TOWN BOARD MINUTES (continued from Page 1) concerns to those in charge on the ambulance service. She added that their training officer is holding down two jobs and says that he just does not have time to regularly schedule meetings. Holmes advised that the service should select someone to help the training officer, or. if they want to select someelse. all they have to do is present this information to the Council for their approval. After further discussion of ambulance problems and training meetings. Jackson said that she is about to lose her certification. Jackson then turned her equipment in to the Council and said that she would be willing to run again if more training can be provided. Kitty Holland said that she considers the letter that was sent to them to be a nasty letter. She added that she was appalled that the letter removed them from the service unless they called and asked to be reinstated. Attorney Holmes said that he had drafted the letter, and it was not intended to offend anyone. He added that he is sure that in the last two years there have been a lot of people who have put in a lot of hours, got burned out and left the service. There is nothing in the past year's runs to indicate that these three EMTs are not one of those people who are becoming burned out. Originally, it was thought that there would be around ten of these letters to mail out, but a number of those drivers and EMTs with a lot number of hours had already left the service. Holland also complained about a lack of in-service meetings and of possibly losing her certification. Rizek said that she feels that there has been a lack of communication and recommended that they should have a business meeting to discuss some solutions to their problems and possibly select a new training officer. Rizek asked that the serBUDD’S BARGAIN BARN COUNTRY STORE Virginia St., 1V» Mile Open 7 Days A Week 9 00 a m. - 6:00 p.m. VARIETY OF ITEMS Something For Everyone Phone 586-3656

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vice notify Gordon Hartsell when they set a meeting date. Hartsell is the liason between the service and the Council and Rizek said that he can bring any problems or information back to the Council, ten Jaske suggested that the ambulance service submit a monthly report to the Council showing how many in-services they have had. the number of runs, etc. In this way, the Council can have a better idea of how things are going and can intercede if there appears to be a problem. The next meeting for the ambulance service will be at 7:00 p.m. on February 16. Kitty Holland also turned her equipment in. at least until the meeting on the 16th. There was no citizen's input. OLD BUSINESS: A a previous meeting, the Council had accepted a proposal from Terry Baugher to locate and correct problems in the water treatment and distribution system. The Council now signed that proposal. President Rizek said that she would like to have a special meeting in order for the Council to go over the codifications and town policy with attorney Holmes. The meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on February 2, 1993. Chief Gassensmith said that he had checked out the illegal burning complaint that Walt Heil had mentioned at a previous meeting and found no evidence of any recent burning. Previously, Terry Baugher had sent a letter to the Council offering his services as an engineer to assist in specific problems in which engineering experience or knowledge is necessary. Rizek asked the Council to think about his offer and them make a decision at the next meeting. Holmes advised that a lot of towns do have a designated engineer whom they can consult whenever they have problems or questions. Cable franchises were briefly discussed. Holmes explained that Town Councils used to control cable rates, but about ten years ago it was deregulated. Since then, rates have gone way up. A law firm has sent us a questionnaire concerning our cable service. Holmes explained that this firm will lobby, on our behalf, and he will fax them the information they are requesting. Attorney Holmes presented the Council with his 1993 contract for their signature. Gene Reese voiced some concern over some rumors that Jollie Back may be retiring. Rizek said that she had asked Back if he has plans to retire anytime soon and that he had answered that no he does not. should decide that no he does not.

to handle the transition if Back should decide to retire. Attorney Holmes advised that the best way to prepare for it, would be to have somebody in mind to step in. He said that the way to do this would be to approve and implement our job descriptions. There should always be a second in command in case there is illness, vacation, death or retirement so that we are prepared for an orderly transition. Our job classifications call for two assistant superintendents, one for electric and water and another for streets and wastewater. Len Jaske said that he feels like there has been a lack of communication between the Council and the utilities departments. It was decided that all department heads should come to the first meeting of each month. A memo is to be sent to the Jollie Back. Dave Bolze, Jeff Zehner, Elsie Heimer. Jeff Baker, Pat Gassensmith and Dave Behr. If the department head cannot attend the met ting, then they should submit a writ en report. Gene Reese made Ihi notion to approve sending the ni< 1 o. Seconded by Gordon Hartsi' Carried. David Behr reported to the Council that he and the clerk have been working on closing out the downtown redevelopment grant. Behr said that he had had a number of posters in his windows, during sidewalk construction, stating that we are a drug-free workplace, an equal opportunity employer, nondiscriminatory and follow general wage decisions. Attorney Holmes also recommended that the drugfree literature be given to each employee. Behr and Jeff Zehner are to pass this literature out as soon as possible. The Council adopted a nondiscriminatory policy on a motion by Len Jaske. Seconded by Walt Heil. Carried. Chief Gassensmith suggested buying a poster that covers several of these policies and includes ADA, polygraph and OSHA regulations. Walt Heil made the motion to purchase these posters for the Police Department, clerktreasurer's office and the utility bam. Seconded by Gordon Hartsell. Carried.

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President Rizek said that all 1993 boards and commissions will stay the same unless someone notifies the Council that they want to resign. There were no new appointments. Rizek reported that death benefits for volunteer firemen are SI.OO per month per fireman, to be paid downstate. The Township Trustee has to pay half of this expense. The Council, acting as a board of finance, must send invitations to the financial institutions in town asking them to submit proposals for public depositories. These letters must be sent by January 22, 1993, and the public depositions must be designated between February 2nd and February 15th. Len Jaske made the motion to send the invitations. Seconded by Gene Reese. Carried. Rizek asked David Behr to go ahead and do an income survey just in case we might need one in the future. There was some discussion on how the survey should be considered. At Rizek's request, Behr had reviewed a yard waste grant application. He found that they are trying to encourage recycling by offering this grant. Grant money can only be used for equipment that would help to reduce the amount of waste such as: a leaf vacuum, a chipper or a recycling trailer. Behr said that he had checked with Jollie Back and there does not seem to be anything that we need in this type of equipment. Back had also told him about the area where they are composting leaves at the utility barn. Holmes recommended that we keep a record of all leaves we pick up to show what we have been diverting from the landfill. Behr is going to check further on this grant. The clerk said that the 1991 transfer for In Leiu of Taxes in the amount of $3,773.00 from the Water Department to the General Fund, was not done. She asked the Council if they still want to make the transfer for 1991. Walt Heil made the motion to approve. Seconded by Gene Reese. Carried. The clerk asked the Council if they want to continue making these In Lieu of Taxes transfers for the

electric and water departments. Walt Heil made the motion to continue the transfers. Seconded by Gordon Hartsell. Carried. The clerk said that she had gotten a call from Connie Medich concerning the maintence of downtown sidewalks. Medich said that she had received several phone calls from people who have had difficulty getting through the snow, slush and ice. Medich asked if the Town has an ordinance concerning keeping the sidewalks free from debris, but it is practically unenforceable when it comes to snow and ice. He suggested that perhaps something could be done through the Chamber of Commerce. Behr said that the contractor that installed the sidewalks, recommended that merchants not use salt on the walks. Behr said that Jollie Back has told him that the merchants can get sand at the utility bam for the walks. The clerk asked the Council how they would like 1992's earned interest spread to the various funds. Len Jaske made the motion to use the same spread as last year. Seconded by Walt Heil. Carried. Attorney Holmes told the Council that they cost of maintenance for our computer software has tripled. Holmes thinks that we should look into personal computers. He said that our present system is almost eight years old and will probably be needing a good deal of maintenance in the near future. Personal computers are not as costly and are used by many other towns. He recommended that the president and the clerk check into a new computer system and report back to the Council. David Behr said that the Health Department is due to come and check out the old gas station across from the Town Hall. Gaims 20 through 70 for $89,695.55 and Payroll Docket dated 1-20-93 for $18,490.82 were accepted on a motion by Gene Reese. Seconded by Len Jaske. Caried. Gene Reese made the motion to adjourn. Seconded by Len Jaske. Carried. A sharp tongue and a dull mind are usually found in the same head.