The Independent-News, Volume 121, Number 51, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 2 May 1996 — Page 8

INDEPENDENT NEWS — MAY 2, 1996

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Walkerton Town Council Minutes CALL TO ORDER The Walkerton Town Council met in regular session on Monday, April 15, at 7:00 p.m. ROLL CALL The following Council members were present: Gene Reese, Walter Heil, Randy Hoover, Gordon Hartsell and Gregory Williams. Kathryn Chrapliwy, clerk-treasurer and Fred Jones, town attorney were also present. MINUTES The minutes of the April Ist meeting were approved by general consent. OLD BUSINESS Ms. Sandy Hartsell and her group of children from the Hartsell Home Day Care presented the Police Department with a check for SSO as a donation to the police dog named “Storm.” She informed the Council that a bake sale was held about a month ago to raise money for the dog. SIDEWALK APPLICATIONS Supt. Zehner informed the Council that ten applications for sidewalks with seven applicants requesting 100 percent funding and three requesting 50/50 funding. Using the 1995 cost per linear foot, the cost to install these 10 properties would total $6,088.00. Request for quotes were sent to three contractors on April 11 and will be returned by the May 6th meeting. A decision on which sidewalks will be installed will be determined after the low bid is determined. Weist/Holston Controversy: Ms. Weist has called the clerk-treasurer’s office and has voiced concerns over nothing being done to solve the problems that apparently exist between the two property owners. The matter has been turned over to the attorney for further investigation of the problem. Dairy Queen Claim: A claim has been filed by Robert Throm against the Town concerning some damaged light poles. The town attorney is handling the matter. Triax Cable: The clerktreasurer asked that comparable rates were given to the Town and Triax responded by sending the rates of Knox, Lakeville and Culver. After studing the rates the Council asked that North Liberty’s rates be requested also. Electric Negotiation Meeting Report: President Williams announced that a meeting was held on April 10th with the Towns and Sawvel and Associates concerning negotiations with NIPSCo. Everything went

smoothly and we are looking forward to the next meeting. Sawvel and Associates are gathering information on behalf of the Towns. Alleys In The Little League Park Area: Supt. Zehner said that because certain property owners could not attend tonight’s meeting he would rather postpone the discussion on the alleys until the next meeting. Further information will be gathered before the next Council meeting. Adams Street Brick: The paving bricks removed from Adams Street last summer are being stored at the city garage. The estimated number of bricks is over 116,000 bricks. Amybelle Wardman and Branson Hiatt, from the Historical Society, were present with some very good suggestions on what to do with the brick. Wardman thought that they should be used for a town project if it could be determined what project would be the best use of the bricks. NEW BUSINESS Insurance Policy: Three quotes were presented from Bliss-McKnight on a blanket policy for property. Council member Reese made a motion to accept a SSOO deductible/blanket for a $8,789 annual premium. At the present time the town is paying $10,830 for stated values. Council member Hoover seconded the motion and the motion passed with a 5-0 vote. Spring Clean-Up: Supt. Zehner announced the spring clean-up dates for Walkerton will be on May 6,7 and Bth. Roof Over Ambulance Bay: Council member Hoover asked about the roof over the ambulance bay and was told that Snyder Roofing had been contacted but had not responded. The clerk was told to write a letter to Snyder Roofing. Jeff Zehner’s Monthly Report: Spring CleanUp—is scheduled for May 6,7 and Bth. Council member Reese made a motion to accept those dates for spring clean up. The collection will be on the street curbs, with no alley pick-up. Council member Hoover seconded the motion and the motion passed with a 5-0 vote. If there is rain any of those days the time will be extended. Signs On Poles: It will never be acceptable to put signs on utility poles because of the dangers encountered in climbing the poles. Zehner was instructed to tell the two churches that were asking about putting signs on poles to contact the State Highway and see if they could place their signs on state poles.

Solid Waste Bunkers: A location has been picked for the solid waste bunkers at the south of Triax Cablevision area, outside the fence. This would allow the public to use the bunkers when the city garage is closed. Council member Heil made a motion to accept the planned location for the solid waste bunkers with Hartsell seconding the motion which passed with a 5-0 vote. Street Sweeping: Council member Heil made a motion to rent a street sweeper on April 17 and 18. Council member Hartsell seconded the motion and the motion passed on a 5-0 vote. Dave Bolze’s Monthly Report: Electric System Changed Over-Supt. Bolze announced that in another week he will have the whole system changed over from 4K to 12.5 K. New Services: Polygon will be getting a new service by the end of the week and P & H will be getting a new service in a week or so. Kenny Eggleston/Schooling—Supt. Bolze announced that Kenny Eggleston has been doing very well in his NIPSCo schooling, scoring a 93 and 95 on the two most recent exams that he has taken. Well Cleaning: Layne Northern has finished with the well cleaning and there were three items that were questioned on the bill with regards to the original quotation. Supt. Bolze said that he would question Layne Northern on the items in question. The total bill came to $21,698.10. Flushing Hydrants: Supt. Bolze said that some time in the month of April they will begin flushing hydrants, beginning at midnight and working straight through for seven hours. Adams Street Project: Bolze announced that the Adams Street project was complete and he is requesting that Underground Services be paid the remaining amount that is due to them. Council member Reese made a motion to pay Underground Services and Hartsell seconded, with the motion passing by a 5-0 vote. Ambulance Report/ Chrapliwy: The clerktreasurer reported that the Ambulance has been meeting regularly on the second Tuesday of the month. The minutes of those meetings has been supplied to the Council members. The clerk-treasurer also said that she had been looking into the ambulance’s insurance policy and has a new proposal to present to the Council. The policy covers comprehensive general liability and comprehensive automobile insurance for an annual premium of $3,245. Coun-

cil member Hoover made a motion to accept the new policy for the ambulance, seconded by Hartsell and the motion passed with a 50 vote. Financial Report/ Chrapliwy: The clerktreasurer presented the monthly financial report to the Council. She noted to the Council that the Water Depreciation Fund was still in the red. The fund was used solely to pay Underground Services for the Adams Street Project. The beginning balance in that fund was $163,220.37. On February 6th a check was written to Underground Services for $185,176.90. Since that time the town has been transferring $1,626.74 from Water Operating Fund to Water Depreciating Fund pursuant to past practices of the Council on a monthly basis. The clerk asked if the Council would like to increase that amount. Council member Reese made a motion to increase the amount of the monthly transfer to $2,000 which was seconded by Heil and the motion carried by a 5-0 vote. Earned Interest: The Council president asked if it would be too difficult to disburse the earned interest on a quarterly basis rather than at the end of the year. The clerk responded that she would disburse the interest into the proper funds any way the Council would like to have it. Reese made a mtoion to disburse the earned interest on a quarterly basis, seconded by Heil, the motion passed with a 5-0 vote. Escrow Adams St. Storm Sewer: The clerk-treasurer also pointed out that one other fund had a negative balance and that fund was Escrow Adams St. Storm Sewer. The beginning balance was $4,291.89. On February 6th a check was written to Underground Services for $10,459.68. Right now the fund has a negative balance of $6,167.79. The clerk asked for permission to pass claim number 404 to transfer $6,167.79 from Sewage Works Construction Fund to Escrow Adams St. Storm Sewer Fund. Zehner explained that both of these negative funds are the result of the fact that no one took into consideration the 15” sewer line that was in existence on Adams Street when a 30” was to be installed, therefore, there was alot more expense in the total project. There was also an additional 120 feet of sewer line that was the town’s responsibility. The school contributed $152,000 toward this fund to take care of lowering the sewer line and the question is whether the school should be contributing more to take care of the overrun.

Zehner was asked to look into the matter further and report back to the Council. CLAIMS Claims 373 to 432 totaling $92,272.02. Payroll claims 1-96 totaling $23,029.61. A motion to pay the claim dockets totaling $92,272.02 and $23,272.02 was made by Reese, seconded by Hoover.

CARD OF THANKS

The family of Knight Wennerstrom wish to thank the many people who sent flowers, cards, donations and prayed for our son during his time of recovery. Everything was gratefully appreciated. We would like to especially thank Frank, Bill and Bruce for making our home handicap accessible. We would like to thank our family and friends for all of the cards, prayers and acts of kindness shown to us during the illness and loss of our wife, mother, grandmother and greatgrandmother, Evelyne Rose Heil. Thank you very much Amybelle Wardman and the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary for the dinner, the Masonic Lodge, Miller’s Merry Manor of Walkerton, Dr. Donald Lacy for your visits, Leßoy Hahn, Dr. Cynthia Heckman-Davis, Bill and Pam Elkin and special thanks to Reverend William C. Babb for returning to Walkerton to officiate the service and share memories of Evelyne. Walter ‘L.’ Heil Charles & Orie Snodgrass and Family Diane & Norm Stahly & Family Wally & Tiffany Heil & Family FALCON FREESTYLE WRESTLING RESULTS The John Glenn Falcon Freestyle Wrestling group on April 20 were in New Castle for a meet. The following placed in their respective weight classes. Andy Stevens, second; John Stevens, fifth; Jeff Aldrich, second and also attending were Chad Carrico and Lucas Garrett. The group attended the meet held at Wawasee High School on Sat., April 27 with the following placing: Josh Rizek, third; Chris Adkins, fourth; Lucas Garrett, third; John Stevens, third; Andy Stevens, sixth; Chad Carrico, fourth; Rick Curtis, first and Joe Curtis, fifth in their respective weight classes. Also in attendance were Jason Lowry and Brandon Adkins. Good manners are good form, even on the highways - Put a little home into your house, subscribe to the Independent News.