Pictured, from left, are Silver Lake Town Attorney Austin Rovenstine, Council Member Gloria Jean Weller, Council President Nichole Taylor, Council Member Medard “Hugh” Murfin, and Clerk-Treasurer Tonya Conley. InkFreeNews photo by Brianna White.

By Brianna White
InkFreeNews

SILVER LAKE — The Silver Lake Town Council voted on Wednesday, Dec. 10, to unanimously approve ten ordinances.

These ordinances were originally presented at the Nov. 12 council meeting, but several were tabled for amendments and provisions.

All of the ordinances will take effect on Friday, Jan. 9.

Ordinance 11-01-25 addresses property standards.

Ordinance 11-02-25 addresses discharge of firearms within town limits. It was approved with the following definition for firearm being “any weapon that is capable of expelling or designed to expel or may be readily converted to expel a projectile by means of an explosion.” This was changed from what was presented at the Nov. 12 town council meeting.

Ordinance 11-03-25 addresses pets running at large and vicious animals.

Ordinance 11-04-25 addresses salvage yards in town limits.

Ordinance 11-05-25 addresses junked/abandoned/nuisance vehicles. It was revised to give the town marshal the power to have vehicles towed if needed.

Ordinance 11-06-25 addresses obstruction of public ways. The town marshal was given the power to remove vehicles parked in nuisance ways. Fire Chief John Conley requested clarification about the wording: “In the case where the obstruction interferes with emergency personnel doing their duties, the violation shall result in the immediate towing or removal of obstruction at the direction of the town marshal or the fire chief.”

Conley was concerned that this wording of the ordinance would not allow the firefighters under him to have vehicles and other obstructions moved if needed during an emergency. After review, it was determined that because it specified “at the direction of … the fire chief,” other firefighters would have that right in an emergency situation, as they would be acting under the fire chief’s direction.

A provision was also made after the last town council meeting to give the town marshal the power to have vehicles towed that are parked in inherently nuisance ways, for example those parked on the sidewalk or the road.

Ordinance 11-07-25 addresses house numbers.

Ordinance 11-08-25 addresses mobile homes.

Ordinance 11-09-25 addresses open burning of leaves and trash in town limits. Town Attorney Austin Rovenstine shared his research into the matter to address Town Marshal Jason McGlennen’s concerns from the last council meeting. No changes were made.

Ordinance 11-10-25 addresses establishing ordinance violation bureau and appeals process.

Other Business:

• Silver Lake will be participating in the CreatINg Places program in partnership with Patronicity.com and the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority. The IHCDA will match all donations made to the project through Patronicity.com dollar for dollar. Donations to the program can be made here. They will be accepting donations from now through Friday, Feb. 6.
• Santa will be visiting Silver Lake on Tuesday, Dec. 16. Santa will ride in a fire truck around town from 6-7 p.m. At 7 p.m., Santa will go to the Silver Lake Fire Station to interact with children. There will be treat bags available for children at the fire station.
• Ordinance 12-01-25 Salary Ordinance Amendment for the chief deputy marshal was approved and will be backdated to Thursday, Nov. 6. This will give Chief Deputy Marshal Kole Williams a 25 cent per hour raise.
• 2026 Salary Ordinance was approved 2:1. This ordinance gave a 50 cent raise to all town employees. Hugh Murfin and Nichole Taylor voted in favor, while Jean Weller abstained.
• The owners of property at 208 E. Main St. proceeded with tearing down their porch but were unable to proceed with building a new porch due to the weather. The council voted unanimously to grant them an extension.
• The town voted to pursue a USDA Bond instead of a traditional private loan as they had been planning.
• Hoch & Associates sent a contract amendment for the community center construction. The amendment is for an increase to the budget of $42,000. This increase is due to the potential USDA Bond needing the building to meet different requirements, and a potential donor who is willing to fund a full-sized gym.
• A public hearing for the South Street vacation has been tabled until Wednesday, Jan. 14, because none of the involved parties came to the council meeting.