PIERCETON - Excavation will begin next week to prepare the property at the corner of First and Market streets for construction of town garages and offices and a senior center.

Collier Excavating was awarded the contract for the earth- moving work.

Town board members Jerry Kreger, Ron Hall and Terry Hill also heard an update Monday on the construction phase of the project from adviser Bob Murphy, of R.P. Murphy and Associates.

Specifications, plans and blueprints should be completed by noon today, Murphy said.

Indiana Department of Environmental Management recommendations were distributed regarding treatment of the petroleum tainted soil dug up at the site, and options about how to handle the dirt were discussed.

Christmas lighting will be hung by the fire department at 7 a.m. Nov. 21.

Chief Gene Burkett asked that the old lights be removed from a storage area. The board approved giving them to another town.

The chief also asked for a $400 transfer of funds for equipment, which was approved by Kreger and Hill.

New officers for 2000 were named: Gene Burkett, chief; Merritt Hyndman, assistant chief; Gordon Baker, captain; Rob Barker, first lieutenant; Tim Meloy, second lieutenant; and Tony Himes, training instructor.

Town marshal George Alexander said Halloween went smoothly with not one window soaped.

Alexander said emergency medical personnel and firefighters will no longer be ticketed for parking on the wrong side of the street when they are responding to calls. [[In-content Ad]]