Even though the North Webster town council had reiterated its attorney Jack Birch’s opinion that the removal of the stump in a town right-of-way was no conern of the council’s one way or the other, the issue returned to the table. Adjacent property owner Worth Packer came to have the issue clarified about the property on Center Street extension that has two small tree stumps.

Birch explained all over again that the town did not own the property but had a roadway and utility right of way to it. The property owners on either side of the right of way actually own the land on their side to the center of the right of way. So stump ownership would fall to whoever’s side of the property the stumps are on.

Council president Jon Sroufe commented at the end of the discussion, “Surely there are a lot more important issues we can be spending time on than these stumps.”

The town of North Webster is looking for a new farmer for its approximately 20 acres on the north side of town. Clerk-treasurer Betsy Luce and utility manager Mike Noe will come up with a proposal to advertise the property since the town has some unique requirements.

The council will vote on the proposal at the November meeting and, hopefully, be able to lease the land at the December meeting. Larry Mock, who has held the lease for several years, is retiring from farming.

The council was informed by Noe that the property at 653 N. Center St. Extension is in foreclosure and the town will have to clean up the yard. Per North Webster Town Ordinance 2009-02, the town needed to decided on the clean-up rates.

It was suggested by Luce and Noe and then approved by the council that the rates be $30 per hour for labor, $30 per hour for equipment use and $75 administrative fee. A lien from the town will be placed on the property.

Council member Tim Hine and Noe were named the North Webster co-ordinators for the American Disability Act. They were both approved to attend a meeting on the topic held by the Michiana Area Council of Governments in Goshen on Nov. 27.

During the utility department report, Noe said, “The paving is progressing well and the stripes will soon be added. It’s been a big month for paving. The town council awarded the paving contract to Phend and Brown, Milford, at a special meeting last month.

North Webster Police Chief Greg Church noted, “Halloween hours are from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 31.”

He reported 232 calls of service during September. The majority of those were traffic related at 45, citizen assists at 44 and agency assists at 41. Officer hours were 594.25. Miles driven were 2, 992 using 278.1 gallons of fuel.

Council members in attendance were Sroufe, Hine and Lisa Strombeck along with town officials Birch, Noe, Luce and Church. The next regular meeting of the council will be 6 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 20, at the North Webster Community Center, 301 N. Main St.