Webster Votes Against Alley Vacation Request
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Julie Harvey-
Attendees heard both sides of the possible vacation of Ward Lane from Crystal Flash Road to Washington Street.NORTH WEBSTER - The North Webster Town Council was met with a full house at Tuesday's meeting.
Attendees heard both sides of the possible vacation of Ward Lane from Crystal Flash Road to Washington Street.[[In-content Ad]]At the March meeting, the North Webster Church of God's Senior Pastor Jeff Boyer, along with the church attorney, Paul Refior, approached the board with the request to vacate the street. Boyer voiced safety concerns for parishioners, especially children of all ages that attend Sunday and Wednesday services at the church.
Church member, and former resident of Ward Lane, Mat Pritchard spoke to the board in favor of the vacation. He said there is a problem with cars that "zoom across the parking lot at a high rate of speed." Pritchard felt the vacation of the lane would be beneficial to the town during festivals and other activities.
Residents against the proposal, Kelly Duchiteau and Jay Rigdon, gave the board and church representatives several options to their plan. Duchiteau indicated speed bumps would alleviate part of the problem, along with putting up cones to detour traffic on Sunday and Wednesday.
Rigdon said that, along with the inconvenience that the vacation would cause those living on the lane, the proposal met several of the statutory standards that would support those against the vacation. Rigdon said parishioners, not the residents, were creating the majority of the problem. Rigdon suggested a tree lawn to stop the traffic flow.
After further discussion, the board voted against the proposal and asked The Church of God to come back to the council with an alternative plan to the vacation.
Town Marshall Greg Church reported the town's incidents for March, including one criminal mischief, seven thefts, fraud and conversion, two alcohol-related incidents and five accidents.
Church requested the board approve the purchase of four new radios for the department. Cost for the radios would not exceed $4,000. The current radios are 14 years old and outdated technology is hindering communication with dispatch. The new radios will run narrow band. Church said by the year 2013, all police radios will be narrow band. The council approved the purchase.
Utilities Superintendent Jeremy Sponseller reported the enclosure for the new blower is complete, and the project was a successful way to help dampen the sound, which was creating a problem for neighbors.
Sponseller and his crew have started sweeping the streets and will continue to do so. The state requested that North Webster sweep Ind. 13 in April to help them. Sponseller is waiting until May 1 for the leaf pick-up. He wants to wait until then for the seasonal people to arrive and give them the opportunity to catch up.
May 15 is the date the town agreed on for spring clean-up. The town will pick up unlimited trash with the exception of refrigerators and other items that contain freon. A notice will be sent to residents as a reminder closer to the date.
Park President John Brown reported the park will officially be open May 1. The new sprinkler system is almost complete, and the water is turned on.
Dick Mitchell, representing the Lions Club, asked the board if they would agree to the closing of Washington Street from the stoplight to Morton Street on June 22 for the garden tractor pull during the Mermaid Festival. The board approved. This is the only addition to the regular closings for the festival.
Gary Dant notified the board that the annual St. Jude's Bike-Walkathon is June 7 at 8:30 a.m. Those interested in participating can call Dant at 574-834-1123, or Dr. Richard Brungardt at 574-457-5574. Participants will meet at the North Webster United Methodist Church.
The EMS/Fire Department "Boot Drive" fundraiser is July 5.
Residents Steven and Kim Shipley felt the board needed to be made aware of the unfair treatment that she felt she and her husband received at the North Webster Food Pantry. Both suffer several debilitating medical problems, including diabetes. Kim Shipley felt there were several derogatory comments made to them when they entered the pantry on March 25 by the volunteers that work there.
President of the pantry, Tim Hines, sent the Shipleys a letter stating they would no longer be able to use the services of the organization due to property damaged on March 25 by the Shipleys. Kim Shipley argued the manner in which door handle was broken.
The pantry is a volunteer organization that assists people in need of food and household items. It is not run under the jurisdiction of the town. All items are donated or purchased with monies donated. People are allowed to shop at the pantry once a month.
Attendees heard both sides of the possible vacation of Ward Lane from Crystal Flash Road to Washington Street.NORTH WEBSTER - The North Webster Town Council was met with a full house at Tuesday's meeting.
Attendees heard both sides of the possible vacation of Ward Lane from Crystal Flash Road to Washington Street.[[In-content Ad]]At the March meeting, the North Webster Church of God's Senior Pastor Jeff Boyer, along with the church attorney, Paul Refior, approached the board with the request to vacate the street. Boyer voiced safety concerns for parishioners, especially children of all ages that attend Sunday and Wednesday services at the church.
Church member, and former resident of Ward Lane, Mat Pritchard spoke to the board in favor of the vacation. He said there is a problem with cars that "zoom across the parking lot at a high rate of speed." Pritchard felt the vacation of the lane would be beneficial to the town during festivals and other activities.
Residents against the proposal, Kelly Duchiteau and Jay Rigdon, gave the board and church representatives several options to their plan. Duchiteau indicated speed bumps would alleviate part of the problem, along with putting up cones to detour traffic on Sunday and Wednesday.
Rigdon said that, along with the inconvenience that the vacation would cause those living on the lane, the proposal met several of the statutory standards that would support those against the vacation. Rigdon said parishioners, not the residents, were creating the majority of the problem. Rigdon suggested a tree lawn to stop the traffic flow.
After further discussion, the board voted against the proposal and asked The Church of God to come back to the council with an alternative plan to the vacation.
Town Marshall Greg Church reported the town's incidents for March, including one criminal mischief, seven thefts, fraud and conversion, two alcohol-related incidents and five accidents.
Church requested the board approve the purchase of four new radios for the department. Cost for the radios would not exceed $4,000. The current radios are 14 years old and outdated technology is hindering communication with dispatch. The new radios will run narrow band. Church said by the year 2013, all police radios will be narrow band. The council approved the purchase.
Utilities Superintendent Jeremy Sponseller reported the enclosure for the new blower is complete, and the project was a successful way to help dampen the sound, which was creating a problem for neighbors.
Sponseller and his crew have started sweeping the streets and will continue to do so. The state requested that North Webster sweep Ind. 13 in April to help them. Sponseller is waiting until May 1 for the leaf pick-up. He wants to wait until then for the seasonal people to arrive and give them the opportunity to catch up.
May 15 is the date the town agreed on for spring clean-up. The town will pick up unlimited trash with the exception of refrigerators and other items that contain freon. A notice will be sent to residents as a reminder closer to the date.
Park President John Brown reported the park will officially be open May 1. The new sprinkler system is almost complete, and the water is turned on.
Dick Mitchell, representing the Lions Club, asked the board if they would agree to the closing of Washington Street from the stoplight to Morton Street on June 22 for the garden tractor pull during the Mermaid Festival. The board approved. This is the only addition to the regular closings for the festival.
Gary Dant notified the board that the annual St. Jude's Bike-Walkathon is June 7 at 8:30 a.m. Those interested in participating can call Dant at 574-834-1123, or Dr. Richard Brungardt at 574-457-5574. Participants will meet at the North Webster United Methodist Church.
The EMS/Fire Department "Boot Drive" fundraiser is July 5.
Residents Steven and Kim Shipley felt the board needed to be made aware of the unfair treatment that she felt she and her husband received at the North Webster Food Pantry. Both suffer several debilitating medical problems, including diabetes. Kim Shipley felt there were several derogatory comments made to them when they entered the pantry on March 25 by the volunteers that work there.
President of the pantry, Tim Hines, sent the Shipleys a letter stating they would no longer be able to use the services of the organization due to property damaged on March 25 by the Shipleys. Kim Shipley argued the manner in which door handle was broken.
The pantry is a volunteer organization that assists people in need of food and household items. It is not run under the jurisdiction of the town. All items are donated or purchased with monies donated. People are allowed to shop at the pantry once a month.
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