Bourbon Makes Changes At 1st 2020 Meeting
January 16, 2020 at 4:36 a.m.
Bourbon Makes Changes At 1st 2020 Meeting
By Carol Anders-
New board member, Ward Byers, was elected president. Byers officially took office Jan. 1.
The board voted unanimously to approve Alex Hoover as the town attorney. Hoover is from the Nappanee office of Walter Law Office.
All department heads were reappointed to their supervisory roles: Water Superintendent, Steve Stacy; Street Superintendent, Roger Terry; Waste Water Superintendent, Steve Stacy; and Zoning/Building Commissioner, Bill Keyser.
Byers added an item to the agenda at the end of the meeting. He said they wanted to give each department head a “point of contact” by naming council members as liaisons. Department heads will now communicate with their liaison first and if necessary, the entire board will be notified by the liaison.
P.J. Hanley will act as the point of contact for both the Street Department and Zoning; Wes Mc Farland will serve as the liaison for Utilities; and Ward Byers will be the contact for the Police Department.
The council voted 3-0 to change the ordinance for rental fees for the Matchette Center and the Park. It was noted that they would now be under one ordinance. Town employees will now be under contracts. Rental fees for the Matchette Center were discussed and where fees would be paid. The matter was tabled until the February meeting. A discussion of fees in general and the possibility of raising fees will continue as the council receives more information and opinions.
Byers had indicated that they would be looking at perhaps raising fees next year, but Dena Wattenbarger, who oversee the Center, said she had given the council her recommendations. She further asked about special pricing for community events and was told that those questioning fees or seeking a fee reduction consideration would need to come before the council for approval. Any new fees would have to be published before they could be changed.
The council broached the subject of having all fees paid at the Clerk/Treasurer’s Office from both the Center and the park in the future. No vote was taken on the matter, but will be considered at the February meeting.
The council approved securing bonds for the Clerk/Treasurer, Deputy Clerk Treasurer, and the Chief of Police. Previously the Matchette Center Director was bonded; however, the council did not include that bond in the vote.
Attorney Hoover said he will be looking at an interlocal agreement the Town of Bourbon and the Triton community schools. The school officials had requested that the Bourbon Police Department be allowed to monitor their school parking lots.
The council approved a payment of $10,000 to the Marshall County Economic Development Commission. The payment is paid annually. Prior to the final vote, Hanley shared his concern that the council was no longer getting monthly updates. He said, “I want to see more accountability.”
The also approved engineering fees to JPR for their work on the Community Crossings Grant. Both Clerk/Treasurer Kim Barger and Street Department Superintendent Roger Terry reported that they had experienced some difficulties in working with JPR in 2019, but felt that the company deserved another chance. The fees for the JPR contract was decreased from &17,000 to $9, 965.
During his report, Stave Stacy requested approval for Berger to begin obtaining financing for new water meters. The need for replacement of the current meters had been discussed in several meetings in 2019. The expected total to replace meters throughout the town is $177,125. Town employees would be installing the new meters in the summer months of 2020.
Stacy also presented a request to purchase a shop generator to replace the current one that was installed in 1950. Stacy said the cost of $20,648 would be shared by four departments.
Keyser informed the board that a property on N. Washington St. owned by Karen Holmes was inspected due to rodent infestation and found to also have structural problems. He went on to say that that it would fall under review by the Marshall County Unsafe Building Committee.
Melanie Mendoza was granted approval to use the town’s streets for a local marathon to be held on either March 21 or April 11. Mendoza said they need another $250 to hold the event to bring awareness to human trafficking. She was asked to inform the council of what streets would be needed when final arrangements are made.
New board member, Ward Byers, was elected president. Byers officially took office Jan. 1.
The board voted unanimously to approve Alex Hoover as the town attorney. Hoover is from the Nappanee office of Walter Law Office.
All department heads were reappointed to their supervisory roles: Water Superintendent, Steve Stacy; Street Superintendent, Roger Terry; Waste Water Superintendent, Steve Stacy; and Zoning/Building Commissioner, Bill Keyser.
Byers added an item to the agenda at the end of the meeting. He said they wanted to give each department head a “point of contact” by naming council members as liaisons. Department heads will now communicate with their liaison first and if necessary, the entire board will be notified by the liaison.
P.J. Hanley will act as the point of contact for both the Street Department and Zoning; Wes Mc Farland will serve as the liaison for Utilities; and Ward Byers will be the contact for the Police Department.
The council voted 3-0 to change the ordinance for rental fees for the Matchette Center and the Park. It was noted that they would now be under one ordinance. Town employees will now be under contracts. Rental fees for the Matchette Center were discussed and where fees would be paid. The matter was tabled until the February meeting. A discussion of fees in general and the possibility of raising fees will continue as the council receives more information and opinions.
Byers had indicated that they would be looking at perhaps raising fees next year, but Dena Wattenbarger, who oversee the Center, said she had given the council her recommendations. She further asked about special pricing for community events and was told that those questioning fees or seeking a fee reduction consideration would need to come before the council for approval. Any new fees would have to be published before they could be changed.
The council broached the subject of having all fees paid at the Clerk/Treasurer’s Office from both the Center and the park in the future. No vote was taken on the matter, but will be considered at the February meeting.
The council approved securing bonds for the Clerk/Treasurer, Deputy Clerk Treasurer, and the Chief of Police. Previously the Matchette Center Director was bonded; however, the council did not include that bond in the vote.
Attorney Hoover said he will be looking at an interlocal agreement the Town of Bourbon and the Triton community schools. The school officials had requested that the Bourbon Police Department be allowed to monitor their school parking lots.
The council approved a payment of $10,000 to the Marshall County Economic Development Commission. The payment is paid annually. Prior to the final vote, Hanley shared his concern that the council was no longer getting monthly updates. He said, “I want to see more accountability.”
The also approved engineering fees to JPR for their work on the Community Crossings Grant. Both Clerk/Treasurer Kim Barger and Street Department Superintendent Roger Terry reported that they had experienced some difficulties in working with JPR in 2019, but felt that the company deserved another chance. The fees for the JPR contract was decreased from &17,000 to $9, 965.
During his report, Stave Stacy requested approval for Berger to begin obtaining financing for new water meters. The need for replacement of the current meters had been discussed in several meetings in 2019. The expected total to replace meters throughout the town is $177,125. Town employees would be installing the new meters in the summer months of 2020.
Stacy also presented a request to purchase a shop generator to replace the current one that was installed in 1950. Stacy said the cost of $20,648 would be shared by four departments.
Keyser informed the board that a property on N. Washington St. owned by Karen Holmes was inspected due to rodent infestation and found to also have structural problems. He went on to say that that it would fall under review by the Marshall County Unsafe Building Committee.
Melanie Mendoza was granted approval to use the town’s streets for a local marathon to be held on either March 21 or April 11. Mendoza said they need another $250 to hold the event to bring awareness to human trafficking. She was asked to inform the council of what streets would be needed when final arrangements are made.
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