CLAYPOOL - Claypool Town Council held a public hearing Monday to discuss the water line grant, which, if approved, will cover the costs of a number of different water projects.
The town has begun a number of the projects on the list, including repainting the inside of the water tower. The planning consultant, Bob Murphy, of R.P. Murphy & Associates, explained the application that will be submitted March 13 to replace all 2-and 4-inch water lines in town. The town will request $400,000 and will match it with $83,000.Murphy has received around 15 letters supporting the water projects and a number of photos for evidence. He hopes to receive more and asks that they be sent in as soon as possible.
Town council members had to decide whether to sell Norfolk and Southern 0.55 acres of land for $32,000 or have a smaller portion taken by imminent domain for $7,566, which would render the remaining land fairly useless. The council was displeased that other issues with Norfolk and Southern, particularly the locked gate at Harrison Street, were not resolved in their favor, but they signed the agreement to sell the entire piece of land because it was the best of two undesirable options.
"We're not doing this because we like it," said councilman David Dills. "We're doing it because they're pushing it down our throats."
Council members approved the fire protection ordinance, which has not been changed since 1995. They also approved the holiday ordinance for 2009.
The town members signed two payment proposals from two individuals who helped train the current Claypool clerk-treasurer and who assisted her with records updating.
Over the past three town clerks, Claypool has had a fair amount of problems and errors that are still in the process of being corrected, said Board President Don Miller. In order for these problems to be fixed, they are in need of some outside assistance.
The Kosciusko County Emergency Services have signed an agreement with the town for the use of the building under the water tower and the building adjacent to it. The County Emergency Services installed new antennas and equipment and purchased the two buildings. The county is responsible for the maintenance, and in the future if the county no longer has a need for the sites, the buildings will return to the ownership of Claypool.
