NORTH WEBSTER — A second payment on the state mandated sewer treatment upgrades was approved by the North Webster Town Council at its monthly meeting, Tuesday, June 21, at the North Webster Community Center. General contractor for the project, Crosby Construction, Fort Wayne, will receive $81,468 since the council approved the request. Triad Associates Jeremy Sponseller explained the billing process. Triad is the town’s engineering consultant for the sewer improvements.

Council also approved the second reading of the ordinance for Fund 257-Local Option Income Tax Special Distribution. North Webster was on the receiving end of $36,000 from the state of Indiana. Seventy five percent must be designated for infrastructure and 25 percent can be put into the rainy day or general fund.

Clerk-Treasurer Betsy Luce requested that council pass a state mandated requirement that any loss over $1,000 by the town be reported to the Indiana State Board of Accounts. It was approved. Council also adopted a policy for internal controls that the board of accounts wanted.

The alley vacation between 316 and 320 S. Morton Street was tabled until further information along with a formal request can be presented by the petitioners Rex and Jeannine Hunziker. The purchase of two sewage vacuums in the amount of $11,000 plus $3,900 for technical installation was approved as asked for by the utilities department.

Police Chief Greg Church asked for street closures for the Mermaid Festival, June 22-June 25, and for Dixie Day Festival and Art Fair, July 30. The street closures for Mermaid Festival include West Washington Street from Main to Blaine Street and SR 13 downtown during the Wednesday and Friday parades.

Dixie Day closure is West Washington Street from Main to Blaine Streets. They were granted with the exception of the first two parking spaces on the north side West Washington Street for Dixie Day.

The council also waived vendor fees for Dixie Day for the North Webster-Tippecanoe Township Chamber of Commerce. Church noted, “Those who are renting space in their yards in town for vendors to set up need to be sure that the vendors come to North Webster Town Hall and pay the $20 one time temporary vendor fee or the $50 fee for the season.”

The police department is in the process of hiring a new officer. Seven candidates have been tested and the list is now down to four. The police department made 236 calls of service in May with the highest number, 48, being traffic related. Officers worked 647 hours, drove 3,553 miles and used 267.9 gallons of fuel.

A preliminary budget workshop was set for 8:30 a.m., Tuesday, July 12, at town hall, 144 S. Main St. The next regular council meeting will be 6 p.m., Tuesday, July 19, North Webster Community Center, 301 N. Main St.