NORTH MANCHESTER - "Our committee of kids is starting to lose interest - it's been almost a year," Gordon Richardson, president of Foundation 101 in North Manchester, told the town council Wednesday. "I'm here to see what we need to do. If we are not going to get a slab, the kids want to donate the $5,000 they have raised to another community's skate park."

Last year, the Manchester Town Council approved $10,000 to fund the concrete slab to start the skate park. Since then, not much has happened with the project. Until Wednesday night.

"A promise was made to everybody," said Manchester Town Coucil member Laura Rager.

"If we are going to have a skate park, it should be first class," said council member Stan Escott.

Since the costs to pour concrete have increased dramatically in the past year, the council added $5,000 to their original allotment. Add the council's contribution to the money raised by the children and their parents, and there should be enough to pour a 100-foot by 100-foot slab to begin the park, which will be between the soccer fields and the water tower at the town park. The slab could be poured within the next month.

Richardson and the council believe that once the slab is poured and people see progress, they will be able to raise funds and apply for grants to add equipment and a fence to the skate park in the future.

A grant from the community foundation was given to the skate park group to buy a soft drink machine. Richardson says that the funds raised from that machine will pay for the insurance for the park, approximately $1,200-$1,300 per year.

After approving extra funds for the skate park, the council accepted the only bid they received for asphalt. The bid was submitted for 500 tons of 5.5 millimeter for $32.05 pr ton, 1,000 tons of 9.5 milimeter for $32.60 per ton and 500 gallons of tack coat for $1.50 per gallon. Although higher than the one in the past, the bid from Gaud and Sons was accepted unanimously.

In other business, the council:

• Approved a traffic ordinance amendment regarding junk car, skateboarding and bicycle violations.

• Approved a traffic ordinance amendment that establishes an "Ordinance Enforcement Expense Fund to hold and disburse all funds collected by North Manchester Town Court for violation of Articles II (Abandoned Vehicles) and III (Junk Vehicles) ..." effective Jan. 1. Five dollars from each fine collected will go to the town.

• Approved General Ordinance No. 5 that supplements Title V. The new ordinance allows town residents to pay utility rates and users' fees by electronic transfer, effective Jan. 1. The town already accepts cash, checks, bank drafts and money orders.

• Promoted Greg Tomlinson to first class patrolman. Tomlinson has completed one year of service, is certified in breath test operation and graduated from the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy. His pay will increase to $14.50 per hour and he will receive a pro-rated specialty pay of $42 this year for being a chemical test operator.

• Heard that the town needs to do more testing and start implementing its long-term sewer control program. According to John Mugford, superintendent of Public Works, the discharge permit must be turned in by Nov. 19. The council gave permission for Mugford to get preliminary engineering information for the project.

Town Council members are Chris Garber, Diane 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]]