North Webster Welcomes New Police Officer
By Keith Knepp
InkFreeNews
NORTH WEBSTER — During the Tuesday, April 19, monthly meeting of the North Webster Town Council, Noah Kiessling was officially sworn in as the town’s newest police officer.
Kiessling is from the Fort Wayne area and has been working at the Allen County Jail for the last two-plus years, according to North Webster Police Chief Greg Church.
Church noted that Kiessling started a week ago and has started his “40-hour pre-basic” and that he hopes to have him in uniform within a couple of weeks to start his field training.
In other business, Inframark Utilities Manager Jayne Alger informed the council that the town’s 2002 Ford 550 dump truck was in need of major repairs and is currently unusable.
A cursory visual repair estimate was given at $6,684.55, although Alger suggested the cost might be much higher once a more thorough inspection is made.
Board member Dave Waliczek asked Alger how much a new replacement truck would cost, to which she suggested it would be upwards of $100,000.
The board suggested Alger get a second estimate for repairs on the existing vehicle, which she agreed to do before any further action would be considered.
Alger also reported that estimates had been given by Phend and Brown and Niblock Excavating for a paving project in the town. The council voted to accept the bid from Niblock with work to begin next fall.
In the parks report, LeAnn Hubbs noted that new doors were being installed in the restrooms at the town park.
North Webster Clerk-Treasurer Betsy Luce addressed the council on the collection of the nonsufficient funds and lien fees that were presented to the town. It was agreed that any bank-imposed fees would be passed on to the customer.
In additional business, in a formality, the board unanimously approved the pursuit of grants to fund the town’s new proposed bike trail, as had been agreed upon in a previous meeting.
In new business, the council approved a request by resident Larry Kinsey to install large boulders and fieldstone on his property on Mulberry Street near the town’s lift station.