Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
CLAYPOOL - State Rep. Bill Ruppel, District 22, visited with town council members Monday, presenting the council with two Build Indiana checks.
The town applied for, and received, a $20,000 grant from the state funds and a "bonus" check of $15,000.
The money will be applied toward construction of a 32-foot by 40-foot addition to the town garage.
Three bids were received for the building and conditional approval was given to Groves Construction to build the facility.
Groves' bid was $37,905. Bids from Carr Construction, $39,150, and Pace Builders, $21,500 for shell construction only, were reviewed.
Council members Don Miller, Duane Allen and Niki Lincoln heard that Groves is willing to begin the project in July.
Ruppel accepted a grant application for $40,000 to pay for a wellhead protection survey.
The council heard from resident Valerie Cruz, who asked why Claypool taxes are so high, why the sewer bill is so high, and observed that there are many homes for sale in town and no grocery, gas station or laundry, but "there sure is a place to get a drink if you want one."
She was advised by council president Miller that taxes hadn't been raised in 15 years prior to the last few recent increases and that, unfortunately, the sewer upgrade was mandated by the state and tax-paying customers had to bear the cost.
Ruppel advised Cruz that reassessment will mean a 35 percent to 40 percent tax increase when it is passed, with a possible 5 percent exemption.
Cruz turned the subject back to the tax rate and said her taxes have gone from $750 to $1,062 in the last four years.
Clerk Shelly Thomas offered to look at Cruz's tax bill.
In other business the council:
• Heard from town supervisor Gene Warner that the chlorine warning system sounded Sunday night because of a chlorine injector malfunction.
A Living Waters Co. repairman was called from southern Indiana and helped replace much of the system in the well pit.
Warner said the booster pump would need to be replaced and approval was given for its purchase and installation.
• Set a wellhead committee meeting at 6 p.m. June 19, an hour prior to the regular meeting.
• Heard that Devon and Mary Zolman's request to rezone ground from an agricultural to a residential district was approved by the Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission May 3. The request comes before the county commissioners May 23. The property is on the east side of Ind. 15 and north of CR 700S, just outside of Claypool. Approximately 35 acres are involved in the rezoning, and the Zolmans plan to donate seven acres of woods to the town for educational purposes.
• Spring cleanup is set for Saturday and begins at 7 a.m.
• The Claypool Lion's Club will purchase 52 street signs for the town.
• Heard from Thomas that aerial maps of the town have been ordered.
• Heard that the enhanced access telephone charges for local calls to Warsaw, which were to be paid for over a five-year period, have, after one year, been dropped.
• Noted that few people in town received any kind of Census Bureau material and that other small county towns, such as Silver Lake, Sidney and Mentone, were also slighted.
The council meets at 7 p.m. the third Monday of each month in the fire station meeting room.
