By MARTHA STOELTING
InkFreeNews

NORTH WEBSTER — The agenda was full at the North Webster Town Council meeting Tuesday, June 15, at the North Webster Community Center.

Highlights included a request for a letter of support to the county zoning, transfer of funds, a long report from the Inframart Utility Manager Jayne Alger, police report from Sgt. Dave Mays, KEDCO information from Suzie Light and a presentation by an engineering firm.

Hayden Piersell requested the letter of support of a zoning change for the former White Service Station on SR 13. His used car business in Milford currently uses the station for repairs on purchased vehicles.

He would like to add a used car lot on the north side of about 20-24 spaces. There would be lighting placed on the cemetery side of the property.

The state of Indiana requires rezoning from commercial to car dealership. The county planning department suggested he get the letter from council.

After input from Clerk-Treasurer Alice E. “Betsy” Luce, the three council members, President Lisa Strombeck, David Waliczek and Dan Thystrup, asked him to bring signatures of nonobjection from adjoining property owners to Luce, saying the council needed the input of citizens affected. If this was received, a letter would be submitted.

Piersell agreed to get the list to Luce before his appointment with the Kosciusko County Area Planning Commission for his zoning hearing.

Council approved two resolutions for the transfer of funds — $50,000 from the unspent fund to the rainy day fund, and $100,000 from the EDIT fund to the general fund.

Council also approved $2,500 for lift station 5 repair, which is located on East Washington Street, and $700 for replacement of lights and light fixtures in the utility department garage during Alger’s utilities report.

Alger is getting estimates for repairs of lift station 10 and light installation for the garage. Driveway work at the plant has been completed by Siteworks. Alger noted the fire pit was also improved and town residents can now bring their brush out to the utility site for burning.

A new employee begins with the utility department on Monday, June 21. The town was in compliance with the state inspection for May.

A problem with brush pickup was presented by Alger. It seems a town property owner took down three trees on his property and expects the town to pick up the debris.

After discussion and citing previous town policy as outlined on door hangers to residents, if a property owner cuts a tree down, it is up to he or she to dispose of the waste. The debris can be brought to the utility site as well.

Council emphasized regular brush pickup does not fall under these guidelines. Storm brush pickup does.

Mays reported the police department is still taking applications for an officer. They are available at town hall-police station.

Calls of service for May numbered 266, with the most being traffic related, citizen assists and battery, fight, domestic. Officers worked 683.75 hours, drove 3,600 miles and used 277.31 gallons of fuel during May.

Suzie Light represented KEDCO and gave out information to the council while urging North Webster to become a vested member. She said the priorities for 2021 were entrepreneurship, housing and talent initiatives.

Fleis & Vandenbrink Engineering representative Stuart Savka spoke on the upcoming $100,000 grant the town might be eligible for in 2021 and 2022.

Council took it under advisement.

The next meeting will be 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 20, at the North Webster Community Center, 301 N. Main St.