Bourbon Town Council Mulls Problem Of Abandoned Vehicles

March 13, 2019 at 4:29 p.m.

By Carol Anders-

BOURBON – Bourbon Town Council met for over two hours Tuesday, with much of the discussions on how to legally proceed to handle junk or abandoned vehicles.

Town attorney Tony Wagner presented a rough draft of an updated junk vehicle ordinance. Wagner said he included language from ordinances in other towns as well as specifics pertaining to Bourbon issues. Wagner asked the board members, Larry Wattenbarger, Les McFarland and P.J. Hanley, if they wanted to limit the number of days that vehicle owners would be allowed to meet the criteria in the ordinance after being issued a citation.

McFarland said, “We have wording in our comprehensive plan to make the town look good.” He also indicated that he felt the police department should communicate with vehicle owners face to face whenever possible before taking legal action.

The matter was tabled until the April meeting to give board members time to review the proposed ordinance as well as confer with Police Chief Bill Martin. Any ordinance would have to be offered on first reading, published, and accepted on second and third readings before going into effect.

They also continued discussions as they have during several meetings in the past as to what legal steps should be taken against abandoned houses. Wagner indicated that there are different ways to proceed, including, but not limited to, petitioning the courts to name receivers. He said the board would have to update their unsafe housing ordinances.

The board received a briefing on discussions between the town and the management of Shell. Wagner said Shell representatives asking for 90 days to comply with the latest agreement rather than the 10 days already stated. The board rejected the request.

Hanley said, “We have been trying for nine years to get action.”

Shell also was requesting that the product in question that the town wants removed from the property be changed from industrial waste to “spent sand.” Wagner said the town has a right to have it tested.

In other matters, the board voted 3-0 to increase its donation to the Bourbon Public Library for the Summer Discovery Program from $350 to $500. Library Director Nick Treber said, “We have a lot more people coming to the library than ever before.”

A request by Bourbon Clerk-Treasurer Kim Berger was approved unanimously. Berger said egg hunts for children had not been held for several years. She asked that the town hold an egg hunt in the park April 20.

Residents wanting to take part in the 50-50 sidewalk program are advised to apply at the clerk’s office. According to Berger, the town has budgeted $5,000 for the program this year. Residents must submit quotes for work with their applications.

Street Superintendent Roger Terry announced that the spring leaf pickup will be April 8-19. Specific instructions on how leaves need to be placed for pickup can be obtained by calling the clerk’s office.

Terry requested the purchase of two Dect headsets and a base station. After the meeting, Terry said the headsets worked with those in other departments and are used when employees are operating equipment for safety.

The board reviewed five bids for mowing at the park and baseball fields. The bids ranged from $5,000 to $20,801. The bid by Hoffer Lawn Services for $14,900 was accepted. According to Berger, the budgeted amount was $15,000. Hoffer was at the meeting and explained that he has 12 tractors, five full-time employees and four part-time employees.

A request by Triton School Corp. to use the town’s ball field finisher during softball season was approved. The board will require compensation for any damage that occurs and will continue to have the equipment stored in the town’s building.

Steve Stacy, water/wastewater superintendent, briefed the board on the results of a ACCU-Dig camera test.

Stacy said, “It showed a lot of bad pipes and a lot of good pipes.”

He requested the purchase of two router heads at a cost of $660 and $800 to help clear grease and roots. The board voted 3-0 in approval.

Stacy also reported that a lift station pump needs immediate repair or replacement. He indicated that he had already contacted the company that overhauls the town’s pumps.

The board approved $400 for wastewater certification training for employee Steve Walsh. Once completed, Walsh will be eligible to test for licensing.

Although no action was taken, Stacy said they continue to have water loss. He said they believe the problems are due to the current water meters in use and suggested that the 700 meters be replaced at some point. Although no quotes have been secured, Stacy said the cost could be over $210,000. He indicated that he would be searching for any possible grants to help defray the cost.

BOURBON – Bourbon Town Council met for over two hours Tuesday, with much of the discussions on how to legally proceed to handle junk or abandoned vehicles.

Town attorney Tony Wagner presented a rough draft of an updated junk vehicle ordinance. Wagner said he included language from ordinances in other towns as well as specifics pertaining to Bourbon issues. Wagner asked the board members, Larry Wattenbarger, Les McFarland and P.J. Hanley, if they wanted to limit the number of days that vehicle owners would be allowed to meet the criteria in the ordinance after being issued a citation.

McFarland said, “We have wording in our comprehensive plan to make the town look good.” He also indicated that he felt the police department should communicate with vehicle owners face to face whenever possible before taking legal action.

The matter was tabled until the April meeting to give board members time to review the proposed ordinance as well as confer with Police Chief Bill Martin. Any ordinance would have to be offered on first reading, published, and accepted on second and third readings before going into effect.

They also continued discussions as they have during several meetings in the past as to what legal steps should be taken against abandoned houses. Wagner indicated that there are different ways to proceed, including, but not limited to, petitioning the courts to name receivers. He said the board would have to update their unsafe housing ordinances.

The board received a briefing on discussions between the town and the management of Shell. Wagner said Shell representatives asking for 90 days to comply with the latest agreement rather than the 10 days already stated. The board rejected the request.

Hanley said, “We have been trying for nine years to get action.”

Shell also was requesting that the product in question that the town wants removed from the property be changed from industrial waste to “spent sand.” Wagner said the town has a right to have it tested.

In other matters, the board voted 3-0 to increase its donation to the Bourbon Public Library for the Summer Discovery Program from $350 to $500. Library Director Nick Treber said, “We have a lot more people coming to the library than ever before.”

A request by Bourbon Clerk-Treasurer Kim Berger was approved unanimously. Berger said egg hunts for children had not been held for several years. She asked that the town hold an egg hunt in the park April 20.

Residents wanting to take part in the 50-50 sidewalk program are advised to apply at the clerk’s office. According to Berger, the town has budgeted $5,000 for the program this year. Residents must submit quotes for work with their applications.

Street Superintendent Roger Terry announced that the spring leaf pickup will be April 8-19. Specific instructions on how leaves need to be placed for pickup can be obtained by calling the clerk’s office.

Terry requested the purchase of two Dect headsets and a base station. After the meeting, Terry said the headsets worked with those in other departments and are used when employees are operating equipment for safety.

The board reviewed five bids for mowing at the park and baseball fields. The bids ranged from $5,000 to $20,801. The bid by Hoffer Lawn Services for $14,900 was accepted. According to Berger, the budgeted amount was $15,000. Hoffer was at the meeting and explained that he has 12 tractors, five full-time employees and four part-time employees.

A request by Triton School Corp. to use the town’s ball field finisher during softball season was approved. The board will require compensation for any damage that occurs and will continue to have the equipment stored in the town’s building.

Steve Stacy, water/wastewater superintendent, briefed the board on the results of a ACCU-Dig camera test.

Stacy said, “It showed a lot of bad pipes and a lot of good pipes.”

He requested the purchase of two router heads at a cost of $660 and $800 to help clear grease and roots. The board voted 3-0 in approval.

Stacy also reported that a lift station pump needs immediate repair or replacement. He indicated that he had already contacted the company that overhauls the town’s pumps.

The board approved $400 for wastewater certification training for employee Steve Walsh. Once completed, Walsh will be eligible to test for licensing.

Although no action was taken, Stacy said they continue to have water loss. He said they believe the problems are due to the current water meters in use and suggested that the 700 meters be replaced at some point. Although no quotes have been secured, Stacy said the cost could be over $210,000. He indicated that he would be searching for any possible grants to help defray the cost.
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