By Martha Stoelting
InkFreeNews

Local business owner Scott Kuhn appeared before the North Webster Town Council to request it approve a zoning change of the former Milestone Early Education Center building from exempt to commercial. The council approved. Kuhn will be moving Tangibles Resale there. Photo provided.

NORTH WEBSTER — North Webster Town Council approved a zoning change and approved paid overtime for 2021 for police officers during its Tuesday evening, Dec. 15, meeting at the North Webster Community Center.

A zoning change for the property formerly known as Milestone Day Care Center was secured with a change from exempt to commercial. The property is owned by North Webster Day Care Center Inc. and is located at 111 S. Harrison St., according to Kosciusko County tax records.

It was originally built as the Sunday school building for the North Webster Methodist Episcopal Church before the new United Methodist church was constructed on Epworth Forest Road. Scott Kuhn will be moving his store, Tangibles Resale, into the location perhaps as soon as February.

The end of the year meeting is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 29, at the North Webster Town Hall Annex.

During the police department report, Officer Candace Smythe noted, “Police Chief Greg Church has requested overtime pay be budgeted for 2021 as a backup.” The council agreed and approved the funds.

She also reported Officer Erick Sawyer will be leaving Dec. 22 and applications are being accepted for another police officer. Officer Sam Phat will return to duty after a medical leave on Dec. 22.

Calls of service for November were 160 with the most citizens assists and lockouts followed by battery and fights and traffic-related. Officers worked 583.75 hours, drove 3,220 miles using 255.9 gallons of fuel.

Inframark Utilities Manager Jayne Alger said door hangers have been printed explaining not to flush wet wipes, diapers, paper towels and sanitary items as these damage the pumps and clog old sewer lines. They should be disposed of in trash receptacles. More of these informative door hangers will be delivered to homes served by the North Webster sewer system. By residents doing these things, the system will run better and overtime costs will be cut.

The generator order for the north shore pump should be delivered in February, there was a slight brush fire, and COVID updates continue three times a week from Inframark. As essential workers, utility employees should be getting the COVID-19 vaccine earlier than many.

Park board secretary Tammy Waliczek reported renovations have been done to the North Webster Town Park restrooms with new siding added.

Attending the meeting were President Lisa Strombeck, council members David Waliczek and Dan Thrystup, Smythe, Alger, and Town Attorney Jack Birch. The next regular meeting will be held 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21, North Webster Community Center, 301 N. Main St.

Strombeck announced at the end of the meeting a group of ATV owners is holding a benefit for the North Webster Food Pantry Saturday, Dec. 19. Non-perishable food items can be dropped off at North Webster Community Center or Jill & Jennifer’s Salon, 225 N. Main St., in the bins provided. The group will gather by the salon at 4 p.m. with a parade through the downtown of the lighted vehicles at 5 p.m. People wishing to have items picked up within a 2-mile radius of North Webster by the vehicles in the parade should contact Strombeck by personal message on her Facebook page.