NORTH MANCHESTER -ÊNorth Manchester Town Council approved plans to conduct a feasibility study to determine the community's housing needs at Wednesday's board meeting.

The study will be the first step in applying for housing development grants offered by the Indiana Housing Finance Authority.

To be applicable for IHFA grants, towns must first create a document that proves the exact housing conditions and needs in all income groups throughout the community.

A consultant must be hired to research and create such a document.

The town will apply for a grant to help cover the cost of that study and soon will advertise for experts qualified to do the study.

According to Shannon Mcleod, a grant writer with Priority Project Resources, who has worked with the town on other projects, the final document should provide information that will make the town eligible for state development grants and may help to solicit developers.

In other business, the council:

• Announced Arbor Day will be April 30. The celebration will be held at Manchester Junior High School with arrangments handled by the high school's biology 3 class.

• Approved the promotion of town officer James Hyden to first class patrolman. Hyden has been with the town one year and was on his probationary period until his recent graduation from the Indiana Police Academy.

Town council members are Chris Garber, Diana Haupert, Don Rinearson, Stan Escott and Laura Rager. Town manager is Dan Hannaford, secretary-treasurer is Nancy Reed and town attorney is Charles Tiede. [[In-content Ad]]