NORTH MANCHESTER -ÊJames Garber, chairman of the Town Life Center Planning Committee, proposed a $40,000 grant for Thomas Marshall School repairs Wednesday to North Manchester town council.

Bricks from the school's parapet, or low wall lining the roof, are "loose and will require reconstructing," said the planning committee's proposal.

Garber offered "in full disclosure" that Karl Merritt and Warren Garner, both councilmen, were on the committee as well. He said he was "not wanting to load this issue."

The grant money Garber was asking for rests in a Department of Commerce fund that totals $78,000.

The department stipulates the money be spent on "slum and blight" areas, or impoverished parts of town, and the money needs to benefit low to moderate income citizens. Garber said senior citizens automatically qualify.

"Children's services are a good qualifier. Senior citizens' services are a good qualifier," said Nancy Reed, clerk-treasurer.

The money "needs to be spent" on "your building," said Garber to the council.

North Manchester paid for the school in 2000 but said it would not pay for any repairs or maintenance, especially with tax dollars. The Town Life Center fund-raisers needed to gather maintenance money.

North Manchester originally received the federal funds in 1981 but has not touched the fund money for four years, said Don Rinearson, council president.

"We haven't had a good project to spend it on," said Rinearson.

"We think we're doing you a favor by giving you a reason to spend that money," said Garber. Without spending the money, no new money can be granted.

Rinearson was not in favor of spending the federal dollars on Garber's building proposal. His other plans dealt with rezoning, using the fund money with North Manchester's master plan and fixing city hall.

Merritt and Garner had neither heard of the fund before nor had they heard about the rezoning project being funded by the federal grant. Rinearson said the project was "not a big secret."

"Is this an asset to the community?" asked Garner. "It doesn't make sense to me not to spend the money to fix the building and then tear the building down in two years," said Garner.

Garner motioned to appropriate $40,000 with a repayment schedule with a Community Block Development Grant from the Department of Commerce fund; Merritt seconded the motion. It passed unanimously.

In other business, the town council:

• Heard a presentation from Todd Samuelson, a certified public accountant with H. J. Umbaugh & Associates, Plymouth. He offered a preliminary proposal for refinancing the sewage works revenue bonds of 1992.

Samuelson gave three options for the refinancing: lowering the annual payments, which leaves short-term benefits; raising payments and shortening bond life; or keeping the same schedule for payment.

The best option, said Samuelson, was the second option - pay more now and finish the bond payments early. John Mugford, superintendent of public works, agreed, saying "big costs" were ahead from Indiana Department of Environmental Management.

• Heard from Jack Fetrow about a worn fire truck and the solution: an affordable replacement.

Fetrow, in his council report, said the public safety department had "more than ample money" to pay for the truck. He found a "1995 International P-1000 van-type truck" for $13,000 and $3,000 to $5,000 to finish the interior to meet the fire department's needs.

• Heard from John Mugford about Christmas tree pickup on Monday and Tuesday.

North Manchester Town Council includes: president Don Rinearson, vice president Stan Escott, Karl Merritt, Warren Garner, town attorney Charles Tiede and Bill Hix. Clerk-treasurer is Nancy Reed. Town manager is Dan Hannaford. Public safety director is Jack Fetrow, and plan commissioner is Bernie Ferringer. Public works superintendent is John Mugford. Escott and Hix were absent. [[In-content Ad]]