Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
BURKET - The Burket Town Council heard concerns regarding code violations in town limits during its meeting Thursday.
Council discussed issues with a portable basketball hoop at a residence being too close to the roadway, with Street Superintendent Brad Bibler asking if the town's liable for it if he hits it while he's plowing. Council member Lena Ball asked if the property owner could be sent a letter to move the hoop, and Council President Bill Rayburn said he'd like to go to the residence in question and ask for it to be moved.
Council also noted issues with multiple vehicles at one property are "slowly improving," with Ball noting there's other properties in town with junk vehicles that need addressed.
"We're on a slippery slope there," said Rayburn. "I don't want to expose the town to the liability of us going and putting tickets on automobiles and towing them away to a salvage yard, because it's a little sketchy if we can do that or not, even though it says it in our procedure. I'd rather have them voluntarily do it if possible."
After addressing its listed agenda items, council opened up the meeting to comments from those in attendance. Rebecca Foerch and Vicki Scott, town residents, brought up concerns about garbage cans, potholes and speed limit signs.
"I look out my window, and I see garbage cans," said Scott. "Every day this summer, I have trash in my yard. I pick up trash every day because cans are sitting all along the road. It's all the time. I could hit a garbage can (with my car), but I can't come up here to a meeting all the time and complain about it. There's a lot of things we could all hit along the road ... garbage cans are in a town ordinance that is not upheld."
Rayburn said there are a lot of ordinances that "are not to the letter upheld," but council tries to do what's in the best and safest interest of the town.
"How can it not be the best interest if you don't mail out letters and fine people?" asked Scott.
"If I go out here and write 25 fines, 25 letters, then you think they're going to pay it," said Rayburn. "If not, I go hire a lawyer to go pay it ... taking it to small claims court costs money too. There's only so much you can do with a part-time staff."
Scott also asked council about the placement of speed limit signs in town.
"The last time I attended a council meeting was two years ago, and we talked about speed limit signs," said Scott. "Where are they at? There's not one on Broadway Street; there's a pole there. The one across from the church is still missing."
Bibler said there's been issues with speed limit signs being stolen.
Scott also brought up a "hot mic" moment from the August council meeting about comments Rayburn and Ball made about vehicles in town.
"When I was here two years ago, I brought up certain addresses about cars," said Scott. "They're not grandfathered in and they're still there, and nothing's been taken care of."
She referenced one residence on Broadway Street where its occupants had only resided there for one year and alleged the council had been on them right away about code violations with vehicles. Scott also referenced another home on Broadway Street with a vehicle with expired plates.
"It's to the point where there's more cars that are bad in this town than there are homes," said Scott.
Rayburn reiterated he wanted property owners to move their vehicles voluntarily versus the town getting involved in a legal process.
Council's next meeting is at 7 p.m. Jan. 8.
