Maintaining social distancing during the Tippecanoe Township Advisory Board meeting Wednesday, April 15, were from the left, clockwise, Fire Chief Jeremy Likens; board members Ed Clayton, Jim Smith and Jim Roades; and Township Trustee Chris Francis. InkFreeNews photo by Martha Stoelting

By Martha Stoelting
InkFreeNews

NORTH WEBSTER — Tippecanoe Township Advisory Board met with Chris Francis, township trustee, and Jeremy Likens, fire chief, at its regular monthly meeting Wednesday, April 15, at the Tippecanoe Township Building, North Webster. Social distancing was observed.

The main order of business was the hearing on the cumulative capital development fund to establish a cumulative fire fund for 2021. No members of the public were present to comment.

According to the public notice published in two local newspapers, the tax will be levied on all taxable real and personal property within the taxing district and will not exceed $.0333 per $100 of assessed valuation.

The fund is subject to the approval of the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance. A notice of adoption must be published within 30 days. The board approved the fund establishment.

Likens reported 10 fire calls and 42 EMS calls for the month of March. He explained some of the new policies put in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The station is locked to all but employees. Masks and gloves are worn on all calls.

Medical supplies seem adequate at this time but more are being sought. Gloves are fine, but there could be a shortage of masks. At the questioning of President Jim Rhodes, Likens noted, “Some masks can be reused with application of disinfectant, at least for a while. He thanked members of the public who had dropped off homemade masks at the station.

During his report, Francis said the township was running on budget. He is seeking bids for the stoning of the lanes in North Webster Cemetery to be done before Memorial Day. Other cemeteries’ road repairs will be dealt with later in the year.

Present for the meeting were Francis, Likens, Rhodes, board members Jim Smith and Ed Clayton, and township clerk Jen Cripe.