John Lantz, president of the board of directors of the Kosciusko County Animal Welfare League, spoke during Tuesday evening’s meeting of the North Webster Town Council. Photo by Keith Knepp.

By Keith Knepp
InkFreeNews

NORTH WEBSTER — The North Webster Town Council’s regular monthly meeting held Tuesday, April 23,was relatively short, with only a brief agenda.

In old business, the council discussed the new deck behind Pizza King, Work is scheduled to begin this spring at a cost of approximately $33,000. Town Clerk-Treasurer Leigh Ann Jessop recommended to the council that ARPA funds that are available to the town be reallocated to help pay for the project. The council agreed, and Jessop will put together the necessary paperwork to make the funds available for the project, rather than using the entirety of the park department’s allocated budget.

Jessop also provided an update to the council on the Community Crossing Funds grant projects in town. She said that street drainage issues in the downtown area have already been addressed and noted that Phend and Brown and Commonwealth Engineering anticipate having the associated street projects completed before Memorial Day.

In new business, Jessop informed the council that she has been working with London Witte LLP, an Indianapolis accounting firm, to develop better capital assets records. It was an issue brought before the town during a recent state audit, which is being rectified by Jessop.

In other business, the council:

• Agreed to honor Jay Montalbano, a beloved UPS delivery driver who recently died. A bench utilizing private funds will be dedicated in his honor and a proclamation declaring Jay Montalbano Remembrance Day would be declared in the next few months. A date will be decided in consultation with Montalbano’s family.

• Heard from Allie Daugherty, a representative of the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs regarding the Indiana Main Street Program and how the town’s participation in the program could potentially improve the downtown area.

• Received an update from John Lantz, president of the board of directors of the Animal Welfare League of Kosciusko County. Lantz provided information about the AWL’s activities during the last year, including a brief review of its 2023 annual report.

• Was provided an update by Council President Dan Thystrup on the progress of the planned North Webster Trail, which will eventually connect the town with Wawasee Middle School.

• Heard from a resident on South Mulberry Street regarding the possible vacation of a right-of-way adjacent to his property. Town attorney Jack Birch recommended the resident contact the Kosciusko County Area Planning Commission to petition for a vacation of the area in question.

• Was reminded by Jessop that the town clean-up day will be held Saturday, May 18. The procedures for the day will be different in past years. Jessop advised residents to place items for pickup on the curb no earlier than the night before to avoid being charged extra by the regular refuse pickup company. Further information will be available closer to the date.

The next regular meeting of the council will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 21. The council will meet 30 minutes prior to that session in a closed, executive session to discuss pending litigation.