The Independent-News, Volume 122, Number 4, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 6 June 1996 — Page 3

Walkerton Town Council Minutes (Continued from Page 1) would be laying stone in the alleys exactly where the alleys have always been located and no changes would be made. Heil seconded the motion and the motion passed with a 50 vote. Summer help-Zehner announced that he received two applicants for summer help. The two applying are Joe Pletcher and Shawn Brovoid. Reese made a motion to hire both applicants. Hartsell seconded the motion and the motion passed with a 5-0 vote. Concrete Bunker Bids: We have not received any bids on the concrete bunker therefore Zehner was asked to notify all parties that he had sent the original specs to in order for them to know that the quotes will still be accepted by the next council meeting. 1996 Paving: A mileage certification was submitted to the council from the Indiana Department of Transportation. Streets that have not been accepted will need more documentation before acceptance. Spring Clean-up: Council president Williams said that he would like to know the number of hours worked and equipment used and a dollar amount applied to the whole project so that we would know what a project like this costs the town. Sidewalk Program: There was a summary of the resident’s who will have sidewalk work completed this year. One party in the 50/50 program who decided not to have the walk replaced. One party in the 100 percent program who had applied for 150 ft. of replacement, decided to have 50 ft. replaced. Drainage Problem: Mr. and Mrs. Lyle Roush have voiced a complaint about water running off the Glen View Sub-Division onto their property. Ms. Ruth DeSimone explained that because of some new construction going on and a very unusual rainfall in the past two weeks, more than likely the Roushs were having water run off on them. She asked that the Roushs give the homeowners sometime to correct the problem, such as cisterns and sodding. The Roushs wanted the problem solved immediately. The council said that they would investigate the situation and try to get some answers in 30 days. Mr. Nathan Beyler, one of the property owners who is building a house on Friendship Lane said that in about four months time he would probably have his lawn seeded and that would take

care of alot of the problem. Paving: We will advertise for contractors to do the paving in 1996. The bids will be opened the second meeting in June. Water & Electric-Bolze David Bolze turned over electric maps and disks to the council. Williams asked that he update the maps on a regular basis so that they don’t get so outdated. Bolze informed the council that he had met with Richard Tyler from PSE&G. A firm that was interested in our electric contract. PSE&G is an independent power company. Bolze said that the most important thing on his mind was Kenny Eggleston’s incentive pay for passing the NIPSCo school. He commented on Eggleston’s accomplishments. Bolze said that about a year ago he sat down with Walt Heil and Gene Reese and discussed an incentive raise for anyone going to NIPSCo line school and passing the course. Two years ago it was just set up for SBOO just to pay for the schooling and Bolze said he was not in favor of that, for the simple reason, if you had a guy that wasn’t as good as a Kenny Eggleston and gave him a SBOO raise just to go to a school thats not right. It was put to the other two people just go to the school and you’ll get a raise. Williams asked if Tod Brems got $800? Bolze said he didn’t even know what Tod had gotten or Steve Groves for that matter. But to his memory it was SBOO that was decided on. Reese said that there would be some on going talks between Hoover and Bolze and himself to discuss this. Hoover asked if someone could look back on the records and see what the others had gotten. The clerk said that she had noticed that when Russell Burch had gotten his certificate for a Class I Wastewater operator, he received a S2OOO raise. Willfems said that he would hate to see an injustice done here and for that reason he asked how close Hoover and Reese were to a solution to this matter. Reese said that he thought they would be ready to present that to the council for discussion at the next meeting. Bolze said that that decision would be for the 1997 budget and he wanted an approval for incentive pay for Eggleston in 1996. Williams so noted the clarification. Reese made a motion to approve the SBOO, seconded by Heil. Discussion: Hoover said that from the figures that he was looking at a S2OOO raise would put hum up close to what Tod Brems was making. Heil said that Tod Brems was the one doing all the compaining.

Hartsell said that he did not feel that SBOO was enough but he did not remember what was previously approved. Bolze asked if he could make a suggestion and give him $1905 this year. That would make him SSOO under Tod. The clerk asked if she could suggest an alternative, and that would be to postpone this duscussion until the next meeting, giving everyone enough time to do some research on the matter, because you could always make your decision retroactive. Reese recinded his motion and Heil recinded his second to that motion. Reese motioned to table the issue until the next meeting giving Hoover and himself enough time to study the matter. Heil seconded the motion which passed with a 5-0 vote. Bolze asked that the dump truck belonging to the Electric Dept, be let out for surplus. It was noted that Zehner has plans for the dump truck when the milling is done on Georgia Street. Bolze asked that if we do the milling on Georgia Street what would we do if we only had two dump trucks? Zehner said that if we only have two dump trucks to do the milling on Georgia Street we would not be able to do all the hauling because we are talking about have 45 to 50 truck loads in less than eight hours and he would like to have three trucks so that it would take less than a day to do the job. Reese asked if he would have a problem with selling the truck at that time? Zehner said no he wouldn’t but keep in mind that if the dump truck is sold at that time the snow plow would have to go with that truck because it will not fit any of the other trucks. Williams said that anytime a piece of equipment is sold for surplus you never get anything for it which makes it almost better to keep it even if you only use it once a year. Bolze said that the Water Dept, is in need of a new chart graph. Williams asked that Bolze do some research and bring some quotes back to the council for their review. Bolze informed the council that the school has made some inquiries about installing a computer dish on the water tower. Bolze also warned the council that when the inspection was done on the water tower last year it was sited for not having a railing on top. OSHA does require a railing on top so maybe the school would like to help with the investment of the railing. We also need to have the tower repainted inside and outside in the near future. NEW BUSINESS Computer System:Richard

JUNE 6, 1996 — INDEPENDENT NEWS -

Bendure, president of Data Design, Inc. gave a presentation on the Unisys Computer System which highlighted the necessities of the governmental unit and the benefits of the Unisys System. After considerable discussion on the matter the council voted to purchase the system for $38,325 which would include budgetary accounting, comprehensive payroll, ambulance billing and utility billing system. The motion was made by Hartsell and seconded by Reese. Ambulance Bay Improvements: Keith Clark gave a short report on the damages of the ambulance bay due to a leaking roof over the last few years. All the ceiling tile in the kitchen, bathroom and bay area will need replacing plus some of the electrical fixtures. The downstairs sink will need to be plumbed also. The clerk was asked to get some estimates from local constractors. Street Lights In Glen View Sub-Division: Reese asked about the possibility of getting street lights in the Glen View Sub-Division. He asked if Bolze would get together with the council of that sub-division to discuss the matter. Youth Building: Reese asked about the enlargement of buildings such as the Youth Building to accommodate a larger number of people. He thought perhaps Dave Behr would be able to look into a grant for such a project. Resignation Os Building Inspector: It was announced that Chuck Secord submitted his resignation on May Bth as the building inspector. The clerk was instructed to advertise for a building inspector in the Walkerton Independent News. The attorney was also instructed to work on some changes to the building ordinance and application for the next meeting. The motion for advertising arid making changes to the ordinance was made by Reese and seconded by Hartsell. Easement With Miller’s Merry Manor: The attorney informed the council that several meetings had transpired since the last council meeting and that Miller’s Merry Manor was willing to grant a 20 ft. easement as initially requested by the town with some conditions. They are asking that Miller’s Merry Manor attorney fees be submitted and taken care of in the amount of $1,500 and that the language be written to include the restoring of the land pertaining to reseeding. Zehner asked that he be allowed to look into an historic tree on an adjourning property to see if the tree can remain unaffected by the project. The attor-

ney said that he would be contacting Miller’s Merry Manor on the negoiations. Financial Report For April-Chrapliwy: The financial report for April was given to the council. The total funds on hand were $1,925,060.31. Water Depreciation was still showing as a deficit with a certain amount being deposited in that fund every month. St. Patrick’s Students: The clerk informed the council that the third and fourth graders of St. Patrick School participated in Government Week on May 14th. They were given the opportunity to know the makings of town government by viewing the council room and what goes on there and then taken through the clerk-treasurer’s office to see how their parents utility bills were produced and how the claims are prepared for the council. Next the town of the police and control center, being able to see how an ordinance is first established by the council then enforced by the local police department. The final phase of their tour was meeting the town judge in a court room situation. Upon completion each student was given a certificate. CLAIMS Claims 515 to 564 totaling $226,288.87 and payroll docket totaling $21,602.03 were passed on a mtoion by Reese and seconded by Hartsell. The vote was 5-0 in favor. ADJOURNMENT With no further business to come before the council the meeting adjourned on a motion by Reese and seconded by Hoover. IN MEMORY OF AMOS BIERLY You were always “daddy” to us. Last June 12 you were reunited with mom in heaven. We miss you so much, but are comforted by knowing that you are no longer suffering. We benefited from your strength, great courage and wisdom while you were here. We were fortunate to have had you as long as we did. Not one day passes that we don’t think of you. We love you and will miss you for the rest of our lives. Your daughter and son, Carol Whitmer Bill Bierly / Put A Little / Home Into w A Your House, S Subscribe I II To The I M Independent I Iwk News! j Wk 586-3139 /

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