Nappanee Advance-News, Volume 109, Number 36, Nappanee, Elkhart County, 29 January 1986 — Page 1
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Enter pet photo contest , a
Board awards bid... 4 Approves bus purchase
by Barb Ketser The purchase of four new school buses was approved and a loan bid was accepted by the Wa-Nee Community Schools Board of School Trustees, in its session held Monday evening at the school administration building. Attorney Brian Hoffer assisted board members and Supt. Jerry Lelle in opening bids from American Fletcher National Bank, Salem Bank, First National Bank, Midwest Commerce, First Source of South Bend, and Indiana National, of Indianapolis. The low bid, received from Midwest Commerce Banking Company, quoted an interest rate of 6.375 percent, for loans of $1,000,000 in the General Fund and $150,000 in the Transportation Fund, to be repaid by June 30. After accepting the bid, the board authorized Supt. Lelle and Hoffer to proceed with the necessary legal and paper work involved. Veloris Neff, director of transportation for Wa-Nee, presented bids for the purchase of four new school buses. It was decided to purchase three 9L diesel five-speed regular buses, and one 9L diesel automatic, at a total cost to the corporation of $129,828 (after SI,OOO trade-in allowance for two old buses). The vehicles will be purchased from W.W. Truck Sales in Warsaw (chassis) and from Kerlin Bus Sales, Silver Lake (bodies). There were four bids received on bodies and sfit on chassis, but the two represented the lowest offerings. Two buses will be paid for from the Transportation Fund, and two from the Debt Service Fund. The board members heard a report from Dr. Tanya Magers, Director of the Gifted and Talented Program for Wa-Nee. See (see related story in this week’s Advance-News). Conference leave requests were granted for Faye Litwiller and Carol Heckaman, special education instructors at Wakarusa Middle School, to attend a conference on exceptional children, February 21-22, in Indianapolis. In his report to the board, Supt Lelle stated that the certification of tax rates for 1986 had been received, and was the same rate announced previously. The rate has been established at $4.2804 for Elkhart County, and $4.5239 for Kosciusko County. Lelle also distributed Information outlining the General Fund revenues and expenditures for the calendar year 1985. The report included total revenue in the general fund of $5,715,028. This comes from taxes, state support and student fees, as well as rental fees, refunds, etc. Ex-
NAPPANEL/^ Serving Nappanee for over 100 years NEWS
Remember Gertrude and Heathcliff of Red Skelton fame? They might have been seagulls, but these two mallards seem to fit those names, too. They are discussing the pet photo contest, being co-sponsored by Pet Junction and The Nappanee Advance-News. See this week’s Issue for details, and plan now to enter your favorite photo of your favorite pet. You’ll have to go some to top these two! (AN photo by Sheri Bradway)
penditures totaled $5,681,376, with 33.75 percent of this going out in salaries and benefits totaling $4,757,926. Other expenditures included student tuition to the Horizon Program and Elkhart Career Center, utilities ($504,541) and misc. expenses, including instructional supplies, office supplies, maintenance and custodial supplies, and insurance. Board members approved employment for Ted Lantz, as assistant girls’ track coach at North Wood. Mr. Lantz lives in Nappanee, teaches in Middlebury, and has worked with the team on a voluntary basis for the past two seasons. He also did his student teaching in Nappanee. Members also discussed the need for additional staffing at North Wood, beginning with the 1986-87 school year, in4he areas of math and science, and approved the hiring of one math and one science teacher to relieve the pressure on current staff members. Assistant Supt. John K. Miller stated that he will begin the
New officers elected
At the January 21 session of the Board of Trustees of the Nappanee Public Library, officers for 1986 were appointed. George Homish, vice-president, reported that, since he would be spending large amounts of time out-of-town this year, he would appreciate the board naming a new vice-president, and Dr. Japnes Zimmerman stated that, since his term as trustee would expire in October (he is not eligible for reappointment), a new treasurer should also be appointed. Ron Ringenberg was reappointed as president; Dick Pletcher, vicepresident, and Theresa Smith, treasurer. Director Sandra Greene suggested that procedures be started for the appropriation of the money received from the auction of library furniture and equipment. It was noted that several furniture items are still needed in the new building. Board action was begun, in order to make the funds through the equipment portion of the operating budget. Greene reported that circulation figures for the month of December were up, and, with continued improvements on the computerized circulation system, January figures
Nappanee, Indiana 46550 Wednesday, January 29, 1986
search for qualified personnel. Authorization for the filing of an application for the 1986 Education Consolidation and Improvement Act, Chapter 2 (Block Grant), in the amount of $23,353 was granted. The funds are to be used for media center materials in the various schools, as follows: Harrison-Union, $765 for equipment; Wa-Nee Materials Center, $4500, for software; Middle Schools, $7500, for software, and North Wood High School, $10,588, for equipment and software. A total of $20,596 was received last school year, and used for copy machines for the elementary schools. Other board action included the approval of an increase in North Wood's petty cash fund, from SSO to SIOO, and approval of claims for payment. The next meeting of the school board will be held Monday, February 10, at Bp.m., in the school administration building. The public is invited to attend.
are expected to reflect a more accurate and noticeable increase. She also informed the board members that several of the staff members accompanied her to the ALA Midwinter exhibits in Chicago, Sunday, January 19. Yolanda Crist and Michelle Kline have been hired as student library aides-both girls had previously served as volunteers. Linda Yoder informed board members that, since publishing a photo and information in The Advance-News, a number of calls had been received regarding the house to be moved from 152 N. Elm St. Since the board wanted the house removed as soon as possible, and Don Van Blaricom, Plymouth, was the first caller to give a firm commitment, it was decided to make arrangements with him. Ms. Greene announced her plans to attend the Public Library Association Second National Conference in St. Louis, Missouri, April 2-5. The board voted to extend the price of the non-resident card fee of $56 (with a 25 percent discount previously advertised through December 31, 1985) through another six months. This means the actual price will be Just $42 through June 30. 1986
'Junk' accumulation cited... Legal action planned
by Barb Kelser The City of Nappanee has decided to bring legal action against a property owner who has refused to clean up what the city terms “junk" in the 500 block of South Main Street. The action came as a final item of business before the Board of Public Works and Safety, in its Monday afternoon session, held at the municipal center Mayor Robert Callander reported that the city has made every effort to work out the problem with the property owner, and that he felt, for the “good of the people”, it was necessary to proceed with legal action. City attorney Brian Hoffer was authorized to proceed with the action, and board members approved an additional legal fee for him of $75 per hour, since the action is not a part of his regular duties as city attorney. Mark Downy, representing Commonwealth Engineers, was present to ask approval for payment of sewer construction claims for January, amounting to $370,803. He stated that construction at the wastewater treatment plant was on schedule, and that the claims, to date, represented about 38 percent of the project cost. He reported that construction has reached a point where workers can work inside during inclement weather, and that the job should be completed by November, as targeted. Training for the new equipment will begin about September, with plant employees learning proper use of the new facilities. Downy stated that he had inspected the site on Monday, and found the work to be proceeding favorably. Board members routinely approved a 50 percent grant-50 percent (pan with full interest subsidy on a loan of $7500, for a 1982 Community Development Block Grant, and approved plans and specifications for curb improvements at North Hart-
Restored sleigh The weather cooperated beautifully, In providing a scenic setting for photos of a restored carriage sleigh, which is ready for exhibition- in the Nappanee Public Library Heritage Center. An area buggy shop completed the project, at a cost of S6OO, and Nappaneeans are being encouraged to make donations to help defray the expenses. Mary Ellen Best has stated that the sleigh was purchased at an area auction, and was originally crafted at the Nappanee Carriage Works (present location of Carriage House Complex, E. Lincoln St. at N. Main). If you would like to make a contribution, please contact the library for mom details. (AN photos by Sheri Bradway)
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man and North Madison Streets The .work, which will be primarily con crete work, will be advertised in March, with bids to be received April 14, at the Board of Works meeting. Emergency Medical Services invoices amounting to $643 55. listed as “uncollectibles” by the city (from 1983-84) were approved by the board for write-off. New Police Chief John Elliott was present to request the approval of overtime rates for police officers, to comply with new FLSA guidelines. Approval also included a 14-day work period, to coincide with existing pay periods now in effect for all city employees The work period is to be made up of 86 working hours as prescribed by the secretary of labor, on the basis of the average number of hours worked by employees in law enforcement in a 14-day period Hours worked over the 86 total in a work period will be paid overtime, consisting of time and one-half of that person’s base wage, plus speciality pay. For the budget year 1986, the overtime rates ranged from $13.14 per hour to $12.54 per hour, depending on time of service and specialty pay. The Chief of Police is exempt. The proposal will now be sent to City Council, for approval through an adjustment to the 1986 salary ordinance. As per a recommendation by auditors, the board approved a new accounting procedure for City Fixed Assets, setting the value of a fixed asset as anything over S2OO The previous figure was set at SSO Freeman Borkholder was present at the meeting to request the city’s assistance in paying a fee charged by NIA for extension of a 12" water and sewer line across his property Borkholder reported that as the city develops the area in the future, it ts to its advantage to have the larger line Installed, and. when he was
unable to reach the mayor while facing a deadline for decision in the matter, he agreed to be responsible for the $7900 cost. The city has already paid $5,000 to NIA to cover the water, and Mayor Callander expressed his feelings that it was a “fair amount ” and all the city could do at this time. He stated that if Borkholder were to present plans for a business being established on the property, the city could ask the State Dept, of Commerce for assistance with the sewer costs. “We will make every effort to get assistance”, Callander stated. He also added, however, that at present, Borkholder would have to be responsible for the remaining $2,900 expense In a related report, Callander stated that he has met with city engineer, John Weaver, regarding extension of city services along the north side of US6, between the Dairy Queen and Mallard These services need to be added before the city can annex the properties, and the city officials need to work at ways to provide the services and pay the costs. In reports from city officers, EMS Director Mike Stull reported that four members of his department would begin Advanced Life Support training Monday, and continue the testing on Mondays and Wednesdays, for 10 weeks. Fire Chief Don Abel stated that his department lias added a probationary fireman, Tod Rhodes, as of January 28, but that his department is still "shy" of the needed personnel, Chief Elliot asked permission to add two new reserve officers to his department. Approval was given for the addition of Matthew Newcomer and Donald Truex, both effective January 27. Phil Hochstetler requested permission to check into the possibility of members of his staff attending Please turn to Pg. 2
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