Ashley Jones, left, takes the oath of office as the Pierceton Police Department’s newest officer during the Town Council’s meeting on Monday, Oct. 12. Pierceton Town Attorney Tammy Keirn administered the oath. Photo provided.

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

PIERCETON — A winery is potentially coming to Pierceton.

The Pierceton Town Council heard from the Daniels family on the topic at its meeting on Monday, Oct. 12, at the Pierceton Community Building. The family plans to put the winery on 1.4 acres along Mill Street and U.S. 30.

The business would potentially sell 2,000 to 3,000 gallons of wine annually. Grapes would not be grown at the location. There would be an area for socializing at the business.

The family previously spoke with Pierceton Town Utilities Superintendent Casey Boggs. He said the output from the business shouldn’t cause problems with the town’s wastewater output.

In other business, the council also:

• Watched Pierceton Town Attorney Tammy Keirn swear in new Pierceton Police Department officer Ashley Jones.

She previously worked as a Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office jailer and reserve officer in Pierceton.

• Discussed trick-or-treating. The town’s trick-or-treat hours are planned for 5-7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31. The council discussed how a Facebook post the town put up on the subject reached about 15,000 people.

Pierceton Town Council President Tom Barker asked what should be done if COVID-19 gets worse by that date. Pierceton Town Council member Armando Espinoza suggested the council cancel trick-or-treating if schools shut down again.

• Heard from Pierceton Town Marshal Tim Sammons who sent a letter to an owner of apartments on SR 13.

The town’s having a problem with people parking behind the apartments and hindering trash pickup. The town is going to put No Parking signs there.

• Heard from resident Jennifer Reiff. She says property next to hers on Indiana Street has at least 16 cats that are leaving waste on her property. There’s also trash and a junk vehicle on the property. Sammons said residents should come to him first about town ordinance issues and that he’s always ready to help.

• Learned from Pierceton Park Board member Annie Espinoza that she’s going to set up a suggestion box in the clerk’s office lobby. The box is for ideas on how to use a K21 Health Foundation grant meant to promote health and wellness in town.

• Learned from Pierceton Park Board members in attendance that the board is active and meets at 5:30 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month in the Pierceton Community Room.
• Heard from the park board that the skate park was vandalized and someone took a piece of equipment.

Sammons said he needs more information to fill a report.

• Approved a $2,667.37 quote from Boggs for a hydraulic post driver for installing road signs.
• Approved an agreement through Text My Gov. The service allows citizens and government to send text messages back and forth. The town plans to pay for the setup fee and first year’s cost through the coronavirus relief fund.
• Approved using the rest of the coronavirus relief fund to pay for iPads for itself if it needs to meet virtually again due to COVID-19 and a laptop for Pierceton Town Clerk-Treasurer Myra Mast if she needs to work remotely due to COVID-19. The council also asked Mast to get quotes for new flooring in her office that is easier to clean and disinfect.

The council’s next meeting is 6:30 p.m. Nov. 9 in the community building.