North Webster town officials posed with a sign from the North Webster-Tippecanoe Township Chamber of Commerce honoring the town as the business or organization for the month of July. The sign is on display at town hall. From left, in front, are councilman Lisa Strombeck, council President Jon Sroufe and Police Chief Greg Church. In back are Utilities Manager Mike Noe, park board President Dave Waliczek and Town Attorney Jack Birch. Secretary-Treasurer Betsy Luce and council member Tim Hine were unable to be in the photo. (Photo by Martha Stoelting)North Webster Town Council authorized the letting of bids for the demolition of the building at 611 N. Main St., after a hearing that began the council meeting Tuesday evening, July 21. Known as the former home of Penguin Point and a drive-in, the property met the criteria outlined in a North Webster ordinance and Indiana state code as being unsafe, vacant, blighted and unable to be used, according to Police Chief Greg Church.

NORTH WEBSTER — North Webster Town Council authorized the letting of bids for the demolition of the building at 611 N. Main St., after a hearing that began the council meeting Tuesday evening, July 21. Known as the former home of Penguin Point and a drive-in, the property met the criteria outlined in a North Webster ordinance and Indiana state code as being unsafe, vacant, blighted and unable to be used, according to Police Chief Greg Church.

Church was the town’s designated inspector, and also found the building to be a fire and  health hazard. There was no response to his findings by those at the meeting, and the council approved demolition.

Bids will be advertised and awarded to the lowest bidder. If the owners, Ara Lee and Daniel Burns, are unable to pay for the teardown, the town will place a lien on the property. Several citizens expressed concern at previous meetings about the property’s condition.

The town was notified that the North Webster-Tippecanoe Township Chamber of Commerce had chosen it as the business or organization of the month for July. A sign designating that fact has been placed at town hall.

During the utilities department report, Severn Trent Utilities Manager Mike Noe said storm drains have been hard at work on the havoc caused by all the recent rain. The lift station on the north shore of Webster Lake had some problems, but they have been rectified. A North Center Street Extension will be added to the list of streets needing repaving.

Citizen J.B. Routh commented that the department had done an excellent job at snow removal during the past winter.

North Webster Park Board President Dave Waliczek commented, “The park looks good and is getting lots of use. The Webster Lake Ski Bees have figured out a way to perform and the pier situation is going well.”

Bob Kennedy asked if the town was considering adding more parks. He was told by President Jon Sroufe, “Not at this time.”

The North Webster Police Department report showed 227 calls of service for June, with traffic-related, citizen assists being the most frequent. Officers worked 638 hours and drove 3,354 miles using 276.5 gallons of fuel.

The next meeting of the town council will be 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 18, at the party room in the North Webster Community Center, 301 N. Main St.