The Independent-News, Volume 119, Number 29, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 2 December 1993 — Page 9

WALKERTON TOWN BOARD MINUTES (continued from Page 1) Simone property. Behr pointed out the various locations for a proposed restroom, trails, a wetlands and a ball diamond. He explained that a lot of the property will be left natural and will not need maintenance. The United Methodist Church is considering building an amphitheater on their property, that will be near one of the walking trails. Gene Reese asked who is to put in the ball field, and will it be used by students and the general public. Behr answered that installing the ball field is down the road, and it has not been decided yet. When installed everyone will have the opportunity to use it. The restroom will be self composting and will not need any utilities. The cost for building the restroom and maintenance facilities will be $35,000.00. Behr said that when it got to the point where there was a need for the restroom, they would start talking to people to raise money to start building. Len Jaske asked what kind of time frame they are looking at for Phase I and Phase II of the plan. Behr answered that Phase I will take about five years, and Phase Il on out from there. Jay Potts added added that it will also depend on how quickly they can find additional corporate and individual support. Behr said that the county recommended that they set up a Park Foundation, and they plan to do this through the School Corporation. Jay Potts said that he has done a study of the Park Department’s budget for the last three years and would be glad to answer any questions or concerns in regard to this project. Gene Reese asked if he ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS KOONTZ LAKE LIBRARY Monday — 7:30 p.m Thursday — 7:00 p.m. WALKERTON COMMUNITY BUILDING Sunday 7.00 p m For Furthor In/ormtOon CALL 586-2000 or 586-2504

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could project the costs for Phase I of the project, and determine how much this would affect the tax rate for the Park Department. Potta answered that, right now, they do not plan to use any Park Department dollars for this project. It is hoped it can be done with corporate and individual dollars. Larry Hiler has already committed to a large donation, Jim New and his company have given a lot of input, and Price Nurseries has been involved by identifying plants and making recommendations as tcrwhich ones to keep. Reese said that what we'd really like to know is how much the Town will be expected to spend for such things as liability, maintenance and other things that won’t be taken care of with donations. He added that he doesn't expect them to come up with these figures tonight, but would like to see some projections for these expense items. Cheryl Rizek said that tonight at the regular Council meeting the Council will be considering the passage of a resolution to loan $2,000.00 to the Park Department from the Electric Department. If this loan is not made, there will be a deficit balance in the Park and Recreation Fund, until we receive our tax settlement at the end of December. She said that when they see the Park running with this kind of a deficit, it makes them really stop and think, and question how much this new project is going to actually cost the Town over the next five years. Jay Potts said that the Park Board realizes that the current facilities aren't being managed efficiently. For an example the cost of maintaining the buildings is not operating at a break even level. He added that, by his projections, approximately 52 percent of their budget is being spent on building maintenance. The Park Board's goal is to get the building on more of a break even basis so that more money can be spent on recreation. Rizek reiterated that the Council really would like to see some projections of costs, on paper, so that they will have something to sit down and discuss. Dave Behr said that Jim New has volunteered to maintain the trials on the south portion of the proposed park. The trails, on the property owned by the school, will be maintained by the School Corporation. Jim New said that it looks like budget concerns will be met by local people for the first five years. New said that as with all great parks, a board has to get together

and decide to set some land aside for a park. He told the Council that Chicago has more parks than Indiana, and this is one of the things that makes Chicago work. He said that parks do not cost you money, they make you money. Surrounding land values will go up. Rizek said that the grant application shows that the Town is to pay a share of the financing, and the Council needs to know how much they will be expected to pay. Dave Behr said that this was basically just a form that needed to be filled out. Dave McKee said that for any development in the park, such as street lighting, the Interlocal Board would have to come to the Council and the School Board for approval. He added that the Interlocal Board is powerless to do any developing on their own. New said that there are grant monies that can be used. Behr pointed out that they had raised $10,000.00 for trees downtown when the new sidewalks were installed, and feels that people will be willing to donate to this project. Attorney Holmes said that the Council is not questioning raising the money to acquire the land and make the improvements. They are concerned with the day to day expenses, and that with our low tax base, there would be an extreme amount of difficulty taking on such additional expenses. He added that what's worrying the Council is, if they acquire the land for the new park, and there’s not enough money to take care of the day to day maintenance along with passive costs such as an increase in insurance costs. Len Jaske said that the Council would like to see if their five year budget for the proposed park will work into the Park Department's normal budget. Jay Potts asked if they could also include projections for fee income that would help to offset any costs. Potts added that the Park Board is committed to offsetting expenses with fee income. He said that they would like to hire a summer activities director who would coordinate little league, softball, soccer and volleyball programs, which would all generate fee income. Jim New said that the park would mainly be used for

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DECEMBER 2, 1993 - THE INDEPENDENT NEWS -

passive recreations, and would not require a lot of maintenance. Rizek asked if they would put all their projections on paper so that the Council can review it, and get back to them if there are any questions. She feels that we haven’t been communicating like we should and thanked everyone for coming in. Gene Reese agreed that one of the problems has been a lack of communications and said the Council needs to know what’s going on and this meeting has helped gain them some inofrmation. The meeting was adjourned. November 15, 1993 The Walkerton Town Council met at 7:20 p.m. on November 15, 1993 with the following members present: Gene Reese, Gordon Hartsell. Cheryl Rizek, Walter Heil and Leonard Jaske. Attorney David Holmes and clerk-treasurer Judy Hiler were also present. The minutes were approved as read. CITIZEN’S INPUT: David Behr said that he is in the process of compiling figures from the income survey. Behr also reported that he still has not heard from Farmers Home on the sewer grant application. A resident voiced several complaints about some residents who live in West York. The Council heard these complaints and assured him that they are considering a new ordinance that might help solve some of the problems. OLD BUSINESS: There was some discussion about the starting dates of the two EMTs who have requested reimburse-

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ment for an advanced class. The clerk told the Council that the minutes had been read all the way back to 1992 and there was no mention of reimbursing them at the end of the class, as was previously thought. Len Jaske made the motion to reimburse the two EMTs as soon as they have been with the service for one year. Seconded by Gordon Hartsell. Carried. The Council is invited to attend an ambulance meeting to be held at 7:00 p.m. on Nvoember 18, 1993. Len Jaske asked what should be done about the rubble from a demolished building behind Kicker’s Drive-In. Attorney Holmes advised that the building commissioner should red tag the building and certify it under Ordinance No. 1993-04, concerning unsafe buildings Attorney Holmes asked if there has been any payment on The Cottage’s bill, before he proceeds with filing suit. There has not been any payment from the insurance company or otherwise. Cheryl Rizek asked if we have received any type of payment from Judy Baker’s bond, to help recover some of our loss. We have not received any payment, and the clerk is to check with our insurance agent as to where we stand. Attorney Holmes asked if there are any additional costs to be added onto the Creech property before he files suit. The clerk answered that the Street Department is supposed to clear the property sometime in November and there would be more charges after that is done. NEW BUSINESS: (continued on Page 12)

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