Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
BURKET – Burket Town Council was updated on various projects around town during its meeting Thursday.
Council President Bill Rayburn said the speed limit sign on Center Street still has not been moved after it was first requested by a resident to the council for it to be moved to be more visible in July 2024.
Rayburn also said the town received five stop signs after complaints were aired about several missing signs or signs and posts around town. Rayburn said Street Superintendent Brad Bibler has not put those signs up as of Thursday.
Resident Marvon McClone asked why it has taken so long for Bibler to move the speed limit sign and put up the stop signs. He brought up liability issues for the town for the missing stop signs.
Bibler was not at the meeting.
Rayburn said Bibler does have a full-time job and has been working on other jobs for the town as well.
Councilwoman Lena Ball said she agrees with McClone the job needs to be done. She had concerns about children walking up and down the streets with speeding down the street.
Earlier in the meeting, Rayburn said he was going to try to work on putting up the stop signs and moving the speed limit sign as soon as possible.
Also, Rayburn said work on the railroad crossing on Walnut Street is currently in progress. The railroad company has put in temporary patch and they will put in a new rail.
The town’s street inventory has been complete, adding South West Street to the inventory. A review of the condition of the roads has to be done. The town then has to update its five-year plan for the roads and submit it to Purdue University for approval before the town can apply for Community Crossing Grant money, Rayburn said.
In other business, the council
• Heard a suggestion from Councilwoman Debra Deniston to send out a newsletter around the beginning of May talking about the townwide garage sale. She said there are not a lot of people participating in the sale and she heard from at least one person they didn’t hear about the sale in time to get ready for it.
• Heard complaints about properties with junk cars that have not been cleaned up.
• Was asked by McClone why the town didn’t have an attorney regularly attend council meetings. He said he thought the council needed a lawyer.
Rayburn said they use Austin Rovenstine when needed. He said cost was the primary factor in not having an attorney come to council meetings. He cited lawyers generally have a retainer fee in their contracts on top of additional costs for additional work.
Deniston asked if they had a town attorney regularly if that would help with ordinance violations. Rayburn said he thought it would cost more money to go that way.
• Heard from Rayburn the K21 Health Foundation wants to meet with the council at their July meeting to talk about grant possibilities.
• Heard about two ordinance violation letters that were sent out.
One resident received a letter for garbage refuse and junk cars and will receive another letter with a fine.
Another property was sent a letter about cleaning up the property and long grass and council members talked with the property owner over the phone and met with him to resolve the issue.
• Heard about another property that Rayburn had previously talked to about removing a shed that was taken down from the property. Rayburn said he heard someone is helping the property owner with cleaning it up.
