At Wednesday, May 12’s Silver Lake Town Council meeting are from left: Town Attorney Austin Rovenstine, Council Member Nichole Taylor and Council President Hugh Murfin. InkFreeNews photo by Leah Sander.

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

SILVER LAKE — Several Silver Lake streets are on the list for repairs.

At its meeting on Wednesday, May 12, at Silver Lake Town Hall, the Silver Lake Town Council approved creating a fund for the $225,051.75 it received through an Indiana Department of Transportation Community Crossings Matching Grant.

Money from the program is used for roadwork. The town also is required to match 25% of the funds.

“We’ll be doing paving, crack-sealing and revitalization to the (streets) that have been paved recently,” said Town Clerk-Treasurer Tonya Conley.

A list of the projects to be done may be found here.

The council will have a special meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 2, at town hall to open bids for the project.

Pest Problems

The council also approved contracting with Orkin for pest control services at town buildings.

The cost is $122.57 monthly plus a one-time fee of $648 for equipment. Two representatives from the company were present at the meeting.

The services will be both for bugs and rodents. Part of the problem is there have been bedbugs at the fire station.

Conley explained that EMS workers brought in bedbugs accidentally to the station after answering a call at a home that had them.

New Employee

The council also approved a salary ordinance for a new employee.

The town recently hired Christopher Craft. He’s to make $17 an hour plus benefits.

JT Prater, who ran the street and sewer department, resigned. The town has now made Joey McNeal, who ran the water department, the overall town utilities superintendent.

Craft will be an assistant and general laborer and will report to McNeal.

In other business, the council:

• Heard from McNeal that he’s planning to flush hydrants in town beginning Monday.
• Also heard from McNeal that the town’s new leaf vacuum would arrive Thursday, May 13.
• Heard from Silver Lake Fire Chief John Conley that the department has made 11 runs in the last month. Three firefighters have joined the department.

Officials were asked how the department was able to attract volunteer firefighters as many departments are struggling with staffing.

Conley said of the firefighters one is a relative of his and the others were simply interested, with one approaching the department when they were fighting a fire near Burket. That last one joined as a teenager, with Conley noting it’s better to recruit firefighters and for them to go through training when they’re young.

Conley told InkFreeNews later that it’s a lack of community support that’s keeping fire departments from being able to have enough volunteer firefighters.

• Heard a reminder from Council Member Nichole Taylor that the town’s spring cleanup is Saturday, May 22.

Items should be put out on Friday evening, May 21, as pickup the next day will start early.

All items should be put by the road, with loose items needing to be bagged. Items should fill an area no larger than six feet by six feet.

Residents may check with the town office to see what shouldn’t be put out for pickup.

The council’s next regular meeting is 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 9, at town hall.