ETNA GREEN — Town attorney Jay Rigdon made “no dog in this fight” his slogan during Etna Green council’s meeting March 14. While the council had no new business, they saw two questions from town residents.

Carol Hoffer is having a drainage issue at the back of her property, an issue attributed to a broken drainage tile. She has already talked to the town, and to county surveyor Mike Kissinger, both of which, she advised, stated they have no record of the tile being placed.

Insisting she did not place it nor had any knowledge of it being on her property, Hoffer was told it was still her responsibility to deal with it.

“From the town’s perspective, we have no dog in this fight,” said Rigdon. “You can handle it however you see fit. We have no record of placing it, therefore, it is not the town’s responsibility.”

Hoffer was clearly taken aback by the outcome, stating, “I should just live in the country. I thought living in the city this was something I wouldn’t have to deal with.”

Hoffer added, “So I can just plug it up with cement?” Rigdon made it clear that, although the town can not advise her one way or another, plugging a drain at the bottom of a slope was not in her best interest.

Kevin Shepherd with KS & F Properties then came forward with a water use issue in a rental unit. Shepherd was hoping to get a small amount of reimbursement for what was originally believed to be a water leak. Water usage and sewer flow readings were both high, with the water usage reading 223,000 gallons.

After the city shut off and monitored the water usage to the unit, it was determined that the past tenant had left water running.

“Evidently water was left on at some point, whether he did that to gyp you or not,” stated council member Kevin Smith.

“It was through the whole system, including the sewer system, so unfortunately we have to charge for that,” said council vice president Keith Claassen

In other business:

• Fire Chief Randall Byrer announced the fish and chicken fry, 4-7 p.m. Saturday, March 18 in the community building, 338 S. Walnut Street.
• Eric Burch with IMPA made a quick presentation and thanked Etna Green for being clients.
• Ross Hagen of Umbaugh and Associates presented an ordinance to be introduced. The ordinance re-establishes the town’s Cumulative Capital Development Fund.
• The council approved the use of the park for Play It Forward. Clerk-treasurer Laura Baker presented the request on behalf of Mason McIntyre. Play It Forward will run April 10 – May 6 with four practices and four games. Forms are due no later than March 24 at Triton Elementary.
• The AED units that were donated at a previous meeting were used units that need paddle and battery replacements. The subject was tabled until costs can be figured out. As it stands, they are not usable.
• Council approved Remembrance Park for use of the town’s ID number to switch banks. Remembrance has been under the umbrella of the town to receive tax exemption.
• The town’s transition from Frontier to Comcast is almost complete. “We had a bad break-up with Frontier,” said Baker, “we had a rough few days but it’s almost done.”
• The council approved $500 to replace the town building’s security alarm system.