By Jackie Gorski
Times-Union

BURKET — Town cleanup was a topic of discussion for the Burket Town Council Thursday, May 9.

Over the past couple months, the council has been discussing trying to do a spring cleanup day.

Council President Bill Rayburn said he talked with a representative from Strafford’s about if they could collect spring cleanup items the same day as regular trash pickup. Rayburn was told that wasn’t possible.

Rayburn did mention he did take some items to KC Recycling Depot as they will take items for free through June 28 for residents of Kosciusko County, according to KC Recycling Depot’s Facebook page. Rayburn suggested that may an option for people.

The council also discussed some of the properties that were sent code violation warning letters for people who have not fully cleaned up their properties.

Councilwoman Lena Ball said one of the properties has gotten worse.

She said she thought it was time to start fining those properties.

Later in the meeting, resident Marvin McClone asked about the fines.

Rayburn said in the initial warning letters, the property owners were given 30 days to clean up their properties and would be fined $25. A second offense would be added onto the first offense if the violation wasn’t taken care of.

Rayburn said he will have to look at the ordinance to see what exactly the ordinance states if it is a $25-per-offense fine or a $25-per-day fine, as well if they could possibly increase the amount of the fine.

In other business, the council:

• Was reminded the townwide garage sale is May 31 and June 1.

• Heard from Street Superintendent Brad Bibler about the railroad crossing on Walnut Street.

He spoke with a representative from the railroad company and was told they were planning on doing work in Mentone after the Egg Festival and Burket was next on their list.

• Heard Bibler filled a sinkhole on Center Street, about 100 feet west of Market Street. Nothing had moved since he filled the sinkhole, so he thought it was safe to close it off.

• Heard from Rayburn he heard from Area Plan Commission Director Matt Sandy about a storage container ordinance Area Plan was thinking about putting together. Sandy wanted input on it from area towns. Rayburn said he would forward the ordinance to Ball so she could look at it.