North Webster Police Chief Greg Church was honored by the town council with an award for his 25 years of service to North Webster at the Tuesday, Nov. 12, meeting. Seated from the top are Town Attorney Jack Birch, Clerk-Treasurer Betsy Luce (hidden), President Lisa Strombeck and council members Dan Thystrup and David Waliczek.

NORTH WEBSTER — Police Chief Greg Church was given a major surprise at the Tuesday evening, Nov. 12, meeting of the North Webster Town Council held at the North Webster Community Center. He was presented a glass plaque for his 25 years of service to the community by Council President Lisa Strombeck. “We cannot say enough about your service. We hope you continue for many more years,” she noted.

Church expressed thanks to his staff, who were all in attendance, the council and the town.

During the open to the floor section of the meeting president of the North Webster Community Center Board of Directors Dennis Wagoner voiced support for a proposal to be made by the Milestone Early Education Center, formerly the North Webster Day Care Center. It was echoed by Executive Director Kara Dobbins.

Speaking for Milestone were Heather Coy, board of directors president, and Nicole Rauched, vice president. They are hoping the town will use the K-21 Heath Foundation grant of $200,000 to assist the learning center in relocating to the North Webster Community Center. The current location is not in the best shape and is landlocked with little room for expansion and growth.

“There is a desperate need for affordable childcare in this area. We are one of only six licensed day care centers in the county and the only one in Wawasee Community Schools area that accepts infants. If we moved into the space that the North Webster Community Public Library will be vacating, we can almost triple our size,” explained Coy. The day care would also be utilizing the kitchen space and could rent it out to other groups. “It is a win-win for both organizations,” said Wagoner.

The council also received a request from the North Webster Community Public Library for a total of $10,000 for two programs, one a food and cooking program for tweens and teens and the other for fitness and social wellness for all ages. The board will have a workshop 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5, to discuss options at North Webster Town Hall, 144 S. Main St.

Other meeting dates set were the next regular meeting 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 17, North Webster Community Center, 301 N. Main St., and the end of the year meeting 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 19, at town hall.

Inframark Utilities Manager Jayne Alger reported station A’s new pump is much quieter, lift station 5 has a new pump installed and the North Shore pump should be put in by Middlebury Electric Thursday, Nov. 14. Winter banners will be hung before the North Webster-Tippecanoe Township Chamber of Commerce tree lighting ceremony 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23. Town officers were invited to attend by chamber board members Tammy Waliczek and Martha Stoelting.

Alger noted she and her staff enjoyed helping patrol the town for trick or treat, which was moved to Friday, Nov. 1, due to weather conditions. They will be glad to help again.

During his report, Church thanked the utility department for its help and will take them up on the offer. He showed one of the four new AED Plus units that are now in each squad car thanks to a grant from K-21 Health Foundation. An AED is a lightweight, battery-operated, portable device that checks the heart’s rhythm and sends a shock to the heart to restore a normal rhythm.