SILVER LAKE -ÊRumors alleging that Silver Lake Town Council is illegal were dispelled by council president Stan Williams this morning.

Allegedly, the town council was not sworn in, though Williams says every member of the board was sworn in by a notary. He said they have documentation from Sharon Christner, Kosciusko County clerk, proving their legality.

Typically, the swearing-in process is done in a public town meeting, though town attorney Vern Landis said he doesn't believe it has to be a public ceremony.

In January, the town also passed an ordinance allowing the board to execute documents on behalf of the town.

Another allegation against the board involves using incorrect procedures for depositing town funds. According to Indiana law, a government entity must deposit funds received by the next business day following their receipt. Not depositing according to procedure is a felony.

Landis said he is unaware of the funds being improperly deposited.

Neither issue was brought up at Tuesday's town council meeting.

When council members announced that they had renewed their trash pickup contract with Stafford Solid Waste for $1,776 monthly, reportedly no increase from last year, citizens questioned the council's decision.

One woman asked clerk Angie Glass the amount of increase from the previous year. When Glass replied that it was the exact same price, the woman sharply replied, "No it's not."

Glass assured her the price is the same, though she did not have documentation on hand.

Williams presented the town with a handwritten list of operating-price increases that may explain why the town tax rate increased this year.

The new fire station topped his list of reasons. Heat for the building cost $1,100 last month. In addition, the town borrowed $225,000 and must repay the loan in twice-yearly installments of $13,000.

The payments come out of the town's Economic Development Income Tax fund.

The EDIT fund, the board also said, is considerably less than it should be as funds are awarded by population. Silver Lake's last census was in 2000, before at least 250 people were annexed into the town. The town is receiving funds based on the old survey.

A request for a new survey has been made.

The council recommended lowering the fire station's temperature from 60 degrees to between 45 and 50 degrees.

Former fire chief Rob Clark disagreed with the recommendation and said he worried that safety equipment may malfunction at a low temperature.

Council members said they had called various gas and diesel equipment experts and all agreed that a 50-degree temperature would not cause any malfunctions.

The Motor Vehicle Highway Fund also is a major expense for the town, up 280 percent this year.

Williams called the MVHF "probably the No. 1 culprit," in increasing town taxes. The fund constitutes about 5 percent of individual taxes and is used to repair the community's roads.

To potentially lower taxes, the council has requested a reduction in the amount budgeted for Silver Lake, though there is no guarantee the state will approve. The reduction could lower the tax rate.

In other business, the town approved a recommendation made by Phil Shalley, town superintendent, to take over payment for four streetlights on Neher Road. The lights are classified as streetlights by the town but were billed as security lights to individuals.

The town also will install two more lights on the road, eliminating dark spots. The lights cost about $6 monthly to rent and run, increasing the town's REMC bill $36 monthly.

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