SILVER LAKE - The building that houses the Silver Lake town offices will have a new neighbor in 2005.

Dr. Kate Kayes is planning to move the Silver Lake Small Animal Clinic into the building adjacent to the town offices. The building formerly housed a doctor's office, and will now be used to treat dogs, cats, birds and small exotic animals. Kayes does not treat large animals or farm animals in her practice.

If approved by the Kosciusko County Board of Zoning Appeals at a Jan. 10 hearing, Kayes will build a soundproof addition to the veterinary office to house a kennel for 15 to 20 animals. Kayes says the business will be much like the one in the current location on Ind. 15 near the McClure gas station.

"It is a benefit to keep a small animal facility in the community," said Kayes while addressing the council Tuesday.

The council also dealt with several tree issues in the town. First, H&H Tree Service's bid of $3,200 was accepted to cut down a pair of cottonwood trees on Roosevelt Street.

H&H Tree Service also was hired to trim limbs on trees in more than 20 locations around the lake. The branches are currently hanging low enough to scratch school buses on routes around the lake. The tree service submitted a winning bid of $500 for the project.

Another tree-related issue was tabled until another meeting. The town has a large amount of brush collected during regular pickup that needs to be disposed of. The fire department has scheduled at least two occasions to burn the waste, but weather conditions made it impossible. If the waste cannot be disposed of soon, the town will take bids on its removal.

In other business, the town council:

• Approved a billing system upgrade for the town offices. The new Windows program, which costs $4,122, will make the billing process more efficient and cost-effective. The system uses a postcard-style billing method and will eliminate the use of envelopes and will cost less for postage.

• Approved Salary Ordinance 04-12-01. The ordinance includes a 2.5 percent pay increase for town employees, the removal of election days and limits vacation to no more than 10 days at a time with at least six weeks in between.

• Elected Ronald Jones as the town council president for 2005. He will replace current president Stanley Williams beginning in January.

• Approved Robert Clark's $1 bid to rent approximately eight acres of farmland surrounding the fire station.

• Approved a $1,000 donation to the EMS.

• Heard that the Silver Lake Police Department recently received two grants. A grant from the K21 Foundation will pay for new bulletproof vests for reserve officers. The other grant from KCODE gives the department $4,000 to purchase equipment.

• Heard that the fire department has made 37 runs to date. Robby Clark also gave the council preliminary numbers for equipment the fire department would like to purchase. The purchases will be finalized at the year-end meeting.

• Approved a sewer adjustment for Clifford Webb for a water leak.

• Set the year-end meeting for Dec. 28 at 7 p.m.

Silver Lake Town Council members are Stan Williams, president, Tom Waite and Ron Jones. Town clerk is Angie Glass. [[In-content Ad]]