Postal Service Lists Sites For New Webster Post Office
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
NORTH WEBSTER - Seven sites are under review as potential locations for the new North Webster Post Office.
The town now enters a 30-day period when residents can review the site list and comment on which site is most suitable.
After the 30-day comment period, the postal service will send a team to evaluate the sites.
The sites are:
• Two vacant lots on the southwest corner of Himes Street and Linda Lane.
• A building and lot on the southeast corner of Main and Himes streets.
• Two hundred feet east of the northeast corner of Main and North streets.
• A building and lot on the northeast corner of Effie Mae Street and Linda Lane.
• North end of the strip center at the southeast corner of Ind. 13 and Epworth Forest Road. Also, the vacant one-acre site on Epworth Forest Road behind the strip center.
• South end of the strip center at Ind. 13 and Epworth Forest Road.
• East end of strip center at the southeast corner of Main and North streets.
Site descriptions also are posted at the post office.
Utilities superintendent Dennis Reafsnyder told the board of a problem with residents dumping trash in an area set aside for leaves and lawn clippings.
He said his employees are finding bottles, cans and other trash mixed in the leaf pile.
"When trash gets sucked through the vacuum, it hits the blades and damages them," Reafsnyder said.
He also noted the refuse from the leaf pile is land applied as biodegradable material.
If any trash is mixed in and inadvertently land applied, the town could face hefty Environmental Protection Agency or Indiana Department of Environmental Management fines.
"This is a service we're trying to provide for the residents," Reafsnyder said. "And people are taking advantage of it."
The council said the town may have to stop allowing residents to bring yard waste to the treatment plant if the trash dumping continues.
Town Marshal Greg Church thanked North Webster resident Dean Anderson for his help in clearing a tree that fell across Blaine Street during a recent storm.
Church relayed a request from the fire department to close the alley behind the fire station from 2 to 8 p.m. Saturday for a fish fry. The request was granted.
He reported Candace Smythe's squad car was involved in a minor accident. Damage was estimated at $1,800 and there were no injuries.
The North Webster police department logged 691.25 officer hours, drove 3,641 miles and burned 308.8 gallons of fuel in May, Church reported.
Parks board member Tim Hine asked the board for permission to spend $3,600 to trim 10 large trees at the town park.
The trees have many large, dead limbs which create a hazardous situation, Hine said.
One limb - 6 to 8 inches in diameter and 6 feet long - recently fell in the park, he said.
The council approved the expenditure. Mudrack Tree Service, Fort Wayne, will do the work.
Hine reported the leases with the Dixie excursion boat and the Lakeview Diner are nearing completion.
He also reported decking around the restaurant was power-washed, stained and repaired, and the street department has been doing a good job cleaning up the beach and weeds along the lakefront.
Council president Jon Sroufe said he was approached by Mark Harness concerning a used car lot.
Harness previously owned the car lot south of Lucky's Tavern on Ind. 13. He sold that lot and now wants to establish a new lot at property owned by Dan Gregory behind the CVS store on Effie Mae Street.
Harness would like the town's approval before seeking the proper zoning. The town had no objections.
North Webster resident Chuck Lawrance brought a copy of the Epworth Forest newsletter to the meeting.
The newsletter stated for faster response in an emergency, Epworth Forest residents should call the North Webster police, not the county sheriff's department.
Lawrance said that wasn't fair because Epworth Forest residents do not pay North Webster taxes.
"Maybe we need to look at annexation," he said. "We're paying for the police department, not them."
Council members and Church all said they were unaware of the newsletter.
Church said his department's policy is that in an emergency situation, his department responds. "Anything else, the sheriff's department responds," Church said.
Sroufe asked Church to contact Epworth Forest officials to be sure they understood the policy.
Jay Clutter asked the board to look into the number of people who tapped onto the sewer system without being charged or who are receiving services without paying.
"Without naming names," Clutter said. "These people know who they are. Maybe they could come forward and get it straightened out with the clerk."
Lawrance asked why names were being kept secret.
The council decided to give people a chance to step forward before taking any action.
Town council members are Jon Sroufe, Travis Marsh and Jane Shepherd. Town clerk is Betsy Luce. The next council meeting is July 12 at 6 p.m. in the Community Center. [[In-content Ad]]
NORTH WEBSTER - Seven sites are under review as potential locations for the new North Webster Post Office.
The town now enters a 30-day period when residents can review the site list and comment on which site is most suitable.
After the 30-day comment period, the postal service will send a team to evaluate the sites.
The sites are:
• Two vacant lots on the southwest corner of Himes Street and Linda Lane.
• A building and lot on the southeast corner of Main and Himes streets.
• Two hundred feet east of the northeast corner of Main and North streets.
• A building and lot on the northeast corner of Effie Mae Street and Linda Lane.
• North end of the strip center at the southeast corner of Ind. 13 and Epworth Forest Road. Also, the vacant one-acre site on Epworth Forest Road behind the strip center.
• South end of the strip center at Ind. 13 and Epworth Forest Road.
• East end of strip center at the southeast corner of Main and North streets.
Site descriptions also are posted at the post office.
Utilities superintendent Dennis Reafsnyder told the board of a problem with residents dumping trash in an area set aside for leaves and lawn clippings.
He said his employees are finding bottles, cans and other trash mixed in the leaf pile.
"When trash gets sucked through the vacuum, it hits the blades and damages them," Reafsnyder said.
He also noted the refuse from the leaf pile is land applied as biodegradable material.
If any trash is mixed in and inadvertently land applied, the town could face hefty Environmental Protection Agency or Indiana Department of Environmental Management fines.
"This is a service we're trying to provide for the residents," Reafsnyder said. "And people are taking advantage of it."
The council said the town may have to stop allowing residents to bring yard waste to the treatment plant if the trash dumping continues.
Town Marshal Greg Church thanked North Webster resident Dean Anderson for his help in clearing a tree that fell across Blaine Street during a recent storm.
Church relayed a request from the fire department to close the alley behind the fire station from 2 to 8 p.m. Saturday for a fish fry. The request was granted.
He reported Candace Smythe's squad car was involved in a minor accident. Damage was estimated at $1,800 and there were no injuries.
The North Webster police department logged 691.25 officer hours, drove 3,641 miles and burned 308.8 gallons of fuel in May, Church reported.
Parks board member Tim Hine asked the board for permission to spend $3,600 to trim 10 large trees at the town park.
The trees have many large, dead limbs which create a hazardous situation, Hine said.
One limb - 6 to 8 inches in diameter and 6 feet long - recently fell in the park, he said.
The council approved the expenditure. Mudrack Tree Service, Fort Wayne, will do the work.
Hine reported the leases with the Dixie excursion boat and the Lakeview Diner are nearing completion.
He also reported decking around the restaurant was power-washed, stained and repaired, and the street department has been doing a good job cleaning up the beach and weeds along the lakefront.
Council president Jon Sroufe said he was approached by Mark Harness concerning a used car lot.
Harness previously owned the car lot south of Lucky's Tavern on Ind. 13. He sold that lot and now wants to establish a new lot at property owned by Dan Gregory behind the CVS store on Effie Mae Street.
Harness would like the town's approval before seeking the proper zoning. The town had no objections.
North Webster resident Chuck Lawrance brought a copy of the Epworth Forest newsletter to the meeting.
The newsletter stated for faster response in an emergency, Epworth Forest residents should call the North Webster police, not the county sheriff's department.
Lawrance said that wasn't fair because Epworth Forest residents do not pay North Webster taxes.
"Maybe we need to look at annexation," he said. "We're paying for the police department, not them."
Council members and Church all said they were unaware of the newsletter.
Church said his department's policy is that in an emergency situation, his department responds. "Anything else, the sheriff's department responds," Church said.
Sroufe asked Church to contact Epworth Forest officials to be sure they understood the policy.
Jay Clutter asked the board to look into the number of people who tapped onto the sewer system without being charged or who are receiving services without paying.
"Without naming names," Clutter said. "These people know who they are. Maybe they could come forward and get it straightened out with the clerk."
Lawrance asked why names were being kept secret.
The council decided to give people a chance to step forward before taking any action.
Town council members are Jon Sroufe, Travis Marsh and Jane Shepherd. Town clerk is Betsy Luce. The next council meeting is July 12 at 6 p.m. in the Community Center. [[In-content Ad]]