Pictured, from left, are Clerk-Treasuer Pat Warner and Town Attorney Travis Neff.

CLAYPOOL — During its meeting on Tuesday, June 18, the Claypool Town Council announced that Travis Neff has been hired as the town’s new attorney.

Neff, an attorney with Turner Valentine LLP in Warsaw, is replacing John Barrett. Barrett resigned from the town attorney position.

As Neff was present at the meeting, council members and Town Marshal Ben Sanders brought up a discussion held at previous meetings regarding unpaid ordinance fines.

“I think we’re sitting on about $13,000 in fines,” said Sanders. “It would be huge for the town to recoup that money.”

Sanders said he has talked to the Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s Office about the matter as well. Council members agreed to let Neff get adjusted to his new position before seeking legal action on unpaid ordinance fines.

In other business, Ken Archer, Someplace Else Saloon, was present at the meeting regarding the closure of a section of South Main Street for a tractor show. The tractor show will take place this Saturday, June 22. The show will start at 11 a.m. and judging will take place at 2 p.m. Tractors will meet at Claypool Elementary School and travel together to Main Street.

“We would like the road to be closed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.,” said Archer. “We’ll have a vendor with hot dogs and hamburgers, and there will also be a bouncy house for the kids.”

The council approved the road closure but recommended that Archer either contact the fire department or a porta potty rental company in order for some type of restroom facility to be available to the public at the event.

Council also scheduled a meeting with Lori Shipman of Lori Shipman Consulting LLC in Columbia City regarding potential grants the town can seek for police and utility vehicles.

For the month of May, the Claypool Police Department responded to 166 calls for service. Council President Niki Miller commended Sanders and Officer Randy Bays for helping perform CPR on a male subject at Par-Kan in Silver Lake.

“It really was a team effort,” said Sanders. “Claypool Fire Department and Parkview EMS were there as well. I’m just glad we all came together so quickly to help save a life.”

Council also approved purchasing a 60-inch mower from Bobcat for the town, as well as a new office printer for Clerk-Treasurer Pat Warner.

The council’s next meeting will take place at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 16.