NORTH WEBSTER - Town marshal Greg Church reported to the town council Wednesday that a grant has been approved by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children for receipt of a computer and scanner. The equipment will allow law enforcement to scan a missing or abducted child's photograph into the computer, making the image and information available to officials across the nation.

Church said the system will be available to other area police agencies.

The council gave Neva Hartman a favorable recommendation to rezone lots 4 through 6 in the Griffith Garden Addition, north of the old Bart's Water Sports on Ind. 13, from residential to commercial.

Hartman said she will appear before the Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission Nov. 6 and plans to build a restaurant on the property.

The council also:

• Approved a request by Tippecanoe Environmental Lake and Watershed Foundation Executive Director Lynn Stevens to write a letter supporting a grant to hire a watershed coordinator for the foundation. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management would fund the position, if approved.

• Gave Scott Mann and friends permission to hand out Upward Basketball and Cheerleading brochures at the stop light on Ind. 13 Saturday.

• Approved an ordinance designating the alley behind North Webster Canvas as a south-bound one-way alley. Although the thoroughfare has been designated as one-way for years, there was no ordinance to this effect.

• Set Halloween trick or treat hours from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31.

• Heard open house dates in the North Webster Community Center - the former elementary/high school - are set for Oct. 19 from 4 to 5 p.m. with a social gathering at the American Legion to follow; Nov. 24 and Dec. 15.

• Approved a $150 voluntary dues supplement to the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns. A communication by the organization indicates revenues have increased by 14 percent since 1998 while spending increased 32 percent.

The letter indicates a negative cash balance is expected by mid-November if additional revenue is not received.

• Heard from Terri Pawlosky, park director, who said the park is officially closed now.

Board president Kay Andrews thanked her and her board for a great summer.

• Heard from public works superintendent Denny Reafsnyder that he received one quote, from R. E. Hamman Excavating Inc., North Webster, to dredge the Eckert channel.

The board approved Hamman as contractor for $3,000.

Also approved was a bid by Phend and Brown to repave 13 streets for $75,443. A bid was also received by NIBLOC in the amount of $76,477.

Reafsnyder said the work on at least 11 streets should be completed this fall.

The Severn-Trent employee also said there is a three-year-old pile of sludge at the wastewater treatment plant that needs to be hauled away.

He gave prices from two companies available to do the job at about $28 per cubic yard.

He said equipment the town has is under repair, and after the big pile is down to a manageable size, it will be applied monthly.

The leaf vacuum, which is being repainted, will be available Oct. 18. Residents are asked to place leaves at the curb, not on the street. Bagged leaves will not be collected but can be taken to the wastewater treatment facility.

• Received an award from the Public Facility Energy Efficiency Program to be announced Nov. 7.

Town board members are Kay Andrews, Ken Wagoner and Jeff Morgan.

The next meeting is set for Nov. 13 at 6 p.m. in town hall. [[In-content Ad]]