The Independent-News, Volume 121, Number 15, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 24 August 1995 — Page 7

WALKERTON TOWN COUNCIL , MINUTES The Walkerton Town Council met at 7:00 p.m., on August 7, with the following members present: Cheryl Rizek, Leonard Jaske, Walter Heil ande Gordon Hartsell. Attorney David Holmes and clerktreasurer, Judy Hiler, were also present. The minutes were approved as read. Larry Dill gave his monthly fire report. The specifications for the new fire truck were discussed. Attorney Holmes advised that when we advertise bidders, the ad ’should also say that if bidders are unable to meet the specifications they are invited to submit a bid anyway, but specify how they deviate from the specs. Gordon Hartsell made the motion to advertise for bids. Seconded by Walt Heil. Carried. Terry Baugher spoke to the Council about the water extension for the Urey Middle School. Baugher said that Dave Bolze has been in contact with the school, and they have said they will need water for the new addition around the first of the year. Baugher asked the Council to approve putting this project out for bid. Walt Heil made the motion to allow and was seconded by Hartsell. Carried. Herrman & Goetz, Inc.’s quote of $149,179.69 was the low bid for the Adams Street Sewer Project. Terry Baugher reviewed that bid with the Council. He said that here were some irregularities to Form 96, such as they did not submit a plan or list equipment to be supplied and several other items. Baugher recommended the Herrman & Goetz bid, if the Council vishes to waive the irregularities to Form 96. Walt Heil made the motion to accept the Herrman & Goetz bid and waive the irregularities to Form 96. Seconded by Hartsell. Carried. Monthly Reports: Chief SobierJski submitted his monthly police eport, and asked the Council’s lermission to put the Dodge police ar up for sale. Len Jaske made the notion to allow. Seconded by Gorlon Hartsell. Carried. Hartsell oiced some concern about biycles being ridden on the downown sidewalks. Mary Rollings gave the ambulmce report. In the report, the co>rdinators had a question about the procedure for terminating personid from the service. Attorney folmes advised that all hirings nd terminations should come beore the Council for their approval. Pollings is going to submit a listing hf all personnel for the Council to formally approve. There is a

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shortage of personnel this month due to some people changing shifts on their jobs, and of others having moved. President Rizek reminded Rollings to be sure and contact Community Ambulance, in good time, to cover any hours that we cannot cover. Walt Heil asked why we don’t do transfer Ambulance runs. Since we are an emergency service, there was some discussion of whether we should do transfer runs. Mary Rollings is going to review the various types of transfers and bring a recommendation back to the Council as to which ones she thinks our service should do. The public hearing, to review the status of the Park Board, was held. No member of the public commented. A notice was published and a letter was sent to each Park Board member. Scott Hostetler was the only member to respond, and in a letter he stated that he is still interested in serving on the Park Board. There have been no Park Board meetings in the last six months, and no minutes have been filed in the Clerk’s office for 1994 or 1995. Attorney Holmes advised that if they have not been attending meetings for the last six months, the Council can declare those positions vacant and appoint replacements. It is a four member board and one seat already vacant because a member moved out of town and resigned. Len Jaske made the motion to declare two seats vacant and keep Scott Hostetler on the Park Board. Seconded by Heil. Carried. The board must be made up of two Democrats and two Republicans and president Rizek said that she will contact some people about serving. She will bring those names back to the Council for their approval. President Rizek said that earlier in the year it had been reported that we would be getting $37,000. in 1996 from the new Cedit tax. When putting the budget together, the clerk called the St. Joseph Auditor’s office and found that we are only getting $14,793.00. David Behr reported on the Housing Rehabilitation Grant. Behr said that our grant match for the first year can be a soft match or in other words, made with services. President Rizek asked Behr to talk this over with Dave Bolze and Jeff Zehner to see if they will have any time to do any of this work since we have so many projects going this year. They may not have any time to contribute toward the soft match. Behr said that he would check with Bolze and Zehner and look into a lesser grant amount and have some answers within the next two weeks. Behr also reported on the Library Grant. He said that one room of the new building will be for the Historical Society’s use. The Lib-

rary Board is preparing an agreement between the Library and Historical Society. Although they are offering the room as rent free, there are other details to be worked out. That includes who will pay for the utilities in that room, who’s responsible for locking up, etc. The Historical Society has also asked about fond raising. Behr asked if they have the legal ability to raise funds and have their own account, since they are a committee of the Town. Attorney Holmes advised that they can raise funds, but an account would have to be set up in the Gerk’s office for those funds. Len Jaske made the motion to set up an Historical Society Donation Fund. Seconded by Hartsell. Carried. There was no Citizen’s Input. Old Business: Attorney Holmes explained that the only street to be vacated under Ordinance No. 199512 is Adams Street from the alley behind the school, southward into the school parking lot. Gordon Hartsell made the motion to do the second and third readings of Ordinance No. 1995-12 in short form. Seconded by Jaske. Carried. The second reading was accepted on a motion by Jaske, seconded by Hartsell and carried. The third reading was accepted on a motion by Heil and seconded by Hartsell. Carried. Holmes also explained that Resolution No. 1995-B is accepting the ten foot (10’) addition to the alley that’s on the north side of the school. This resolution accepts the dedication of the alley. Len Jaske made the motion to accept Resolution No. 1995-B. Seconded by Heil. Carried. President Rizek asked Dave McKee what they are planning to do with Kentucky Street. McKee answered that they are planning to maintain that alley and dedicate it as an easement, to the town for utility and emergency vehicle purposes. They plan to gate it at each end. They also intend to tear out some of the asphalted area, and then pave or gravel 12 foot of it as a drivable surface. McKee added that they are dedicating 10 foot of easement, but will provide a 12 foot wide gravel base to drive a truck on. Walt Heil made the motion to accept their easement. Seconded by Jaske. Carried. Hartsell asked McKee if the construction company or their engineers could put up some traffic signs warning people to go slow because of school children and the construction going on. Gordon Hartsell made the motion to do the second and third readings of Ordinance No. 199513, an ordinance amending weed Ordinance No. 1995-02, in short form. Seconded by Jaske, carried. Jaske made the motion to accept the second reading, seconded by Hartsell, carried. Hartsell made the motion to accept the third reading, seconded by Len Jaske, carried. Attorney Holmes reported that he attended the last session of Town Court and they convicted six people of violating the loitering ordinance. Two dog cases were also found guilty, and the judge assessed fines in all the cases. Jeff Zehner reported on the progress of the sewer project and said that they hope to have all the sewer pipe in the ground by August 31st. The grass seed has not taken in some of the areas that have been restored and the contractor is planning to go back to and work on those areas. Zehner said that Russell Burch would like to attend a Plant Operation I course that starts on Thursday evening. Hartsell made the motion to allow, seconded by Heil, carried. President Rizek asked that we check with Dave Bolze to see if he has any plans for expansion at the old water sub-station site, as the American Legion would like an easement on that property. New Business: Attorney Holmes reported that the electric meeting in Winamac was very positive.

Holmes and Dave Bolze authorized, on the Council’s behalf, J.S. Sawvel to go ahead and explore the possibility of purchasing wholesale electricity from other suppliers. NIPSCo has filed a wheeling rate with FERC. Holmes said that they also authorized Sawvel to file an - objection to the rate if it is significantly higher than that of neighboring communities. The pre-adoption budget hearing is scheduled for Monday, August 14th and an insurance review will follow. President Rizek asked attorney what happens after a house has been condemned. Holmes replied that if the Health Department puts a sign on the house that it’s unfit for human habitation, it only means that no one can occupy the house. He said that if a town has a building code, the Health Department expects the town to pursue the problem. After a condemnation sign has been posted then our Building Commissioner needs to provide a list of specifications and how the house is sub-standard and how it deviates from the code. We would then send a notice to the owner to bring the house up to code within thirty (30) days, or provide plans to bring it up to code. If they don’t, then we can start our own legal action. Rizek asked that Chuck Secord, Building Commissioner, to check the house at 702 Jackson Street. An hourly wage was not set for summer help during budget meetings. After some discussion, it was decided to pay summer help at a rate of $7.00 per hour. The Gerk told the Council that Bruce Wharton would like to have a teen dance at the Youth Building on Sunday, August 20th. The Council agreed that there would be no charge for the use of the building. Gaims 868 through 947 for $146,063.12, payroll docket dated 7-19-95 for $22,221.37, payroll docket dated 8-2-95 for $22,633.07 and a manual claim to Ice Miller Donadio & Ryan for $12,379.10

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AUGUST 24, 1995 - THE INDEPENDENT NEWS -

were approved on a motion by Jaske, seconded by Heil, carried. Walt Heil made the motion to adjourn, seconded by Hartsell, carried. AUGUST 14,1995 The Walkerton Town Council met at 7:00 p.m., on August 14, with the following members present: Cheryl Rizek, Gene Reese, Len Jaske, Walt Heil and Gordon Hartsell. Gerk-Treasurer Judy Hiler was also present. The pre-adoption budget hearing was held, with no member of the public present. Reese made the motion to do the first reading of Ordinance No. 1995-14, an ordinance for Appropriations and Tax Rates, in short form, seconded by Hartsell, carried Heil made the motion to accept the first reading, seconded by Hartsell, carried. Ed Walz reviewed the Town’s vehicle insurance coverage and cost with the Council along with Chief Sobieralski, Dave Bolze, Jeff Zehner, Larry Dill and Roger Orcutt. Walz explained that the premiums are based on the cost new, size, weight, liability and how the vehicle is used. The cost new for some of the vehicles didn’t appear to be correct and the department heads are going to try to verify the cost for those vehicles. There was also some discussion of changing our deductible from $250.00 to $500.00. Jaske asked to see what the premium costs would be after some of the cost new figures are corrected, and if we went to a $500.00 deductible. Fire vehicles are insured for replacement cost and Walz recommended that any equipment that is required to be on the vehicle be included in the replacement cost. Reese made the motion to adjourn, seconded by Hartsell, carried. It’s surprising how much time one thinks he will have tomorrow.

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