Keyser Frustrated With State Budget Process
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
BOURBON - Council president Bill Keyser expressed frustration at the way he learned of limited funding budgeted to the town from the Build Indiana Fund to repair Center Street.
Keyser told the council Tuesday that State Senator Kent Adams recently relayed word of the budget action through a town employee instead of talking directly to him. "It drives me nuts to know that the State Legislature finds the restoration of the Billy Sunday Home more important than to provide the citizens of Bourbon funds so that basements don't flood at every rain and the pavements are made fit to drive on.
"I'm not unappreciative of the efforts of Adams and Rep. Bill Ruppel but we'd love to have an explanation directly from them. I intend to send a letter to the men requesting that explanation," he said.
The Billy Sunday Home in Winona Lake was budgeted for $500,000 for restoration.
Town officials have been trying every avenue for many years to secure funding to repair the surface of Center Street and the underground drainage and sewer system that borders it. The street was once U.S. 30 until the relocation of that road north of town more than 30 years ago. The road was then declared a county road. When county officials turned the road over to the town, it was promised it would be reconstructed. Those promises were never kept and the street continues to crumble.
In other matters:
• Building inspector Ellen Elliott said she has begun informing property owners of walks in need of replacement.
She said bids from contractors for the sidewalk replacement project for this summer will be opened at the June 3 council meeting.
• Ann Harrell shared information she had secured concerning establishing computer Internet access in Bourbon. She said the company she would deal with would charge a set-up and monthly fee for unlimited use. She had application blanks and asked that people interested in this service call her for more information.
• Keyser read a letter from Andy Hochstetler, representing the Clay Street Amish Mennonite Church, which is planning to build a Christian school on the north side of town. Council agreed there was no problem with the church's request for city sewer and water service, but the school must pay the costs and build the lines to town specifications as well as allow annexation of the property.
• Council accepted donations made recently for $1,245 to the EMS, the park and the DARE program. [[In-content Ad]]
BOURBON - Council president Bill Keyser expressed frustration at the way he learned of limited funding budgeted to the town from the Build Indiana Fund to repair Center Street.
Keyser told the council Tuesday that State Senator Kent Adams recently relayed word of the budget action through a town employee instead of talking directly to him. "It drives me nuts to know that the State Legislature finds the restoration of the Billy Sunday Home more important than to provide the citizens of Bourbon funds so that basements don't flood at every rain and the pavements are made fit to drive on.
"I'm not unappreciative of the efforts of Adams and Rep. Bill Ruppel but we'd love to have an explanation directly from them. I intend to send a letter to the men requesting that explanation," he said.
The Billy Sunday Home in Winona Lake was budgeted for $500,000 for restoration.
Town officials have been trying every avenue for many years to secure funding to repair the surface of Center Street and the underground drainage and sewer system that borders it. The street was once U.S. 30 until the relocation of that road north of town more than 30 years ago. The road was then declared a county road. When county officials turned the road over to the town, it was promised it would be reconstructed. Those promises were never kept and the street continues to crumble.
In other matters:
• Building inspector Ellen Elliott said she has begun informing property owners of walks in need of replacement.
She said bids from contractors for the sidewalk replacement project for this summer will be opened at the June 3 council meeting.
• Ann Harrell shared information she had secured concerning establishing computer Internet access in Bourbon. She said the company she would deal with would charge a set-up and monthly fee for unlimited use. She had application blanks and asked that people interested in this service call her for more information.
• Keyser read a letter from Andy Hochstetler, representing the Clay Street Amish Mennonite Church, which is planning to build a Christian school on the north side of town. Council agreed there was no problem with the church's request for city sewer and water service, but the school must pay the costs and build the lines to town specifications as well as allow annexation of the property.
• Council accepted donations made recently for $1,245 to the EMS, the park and the DARE program. [[In-content Ad]]