Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
NORTH WEBSTER - Denny Reafsnyder was introduced as the town's project manager Wednesday by Severn Trent Services senior area manager Calvin Teague.
The environmental services group was contracted to run the town's street and wastewater treatment departments beginning July 1.
Reafsnyder, according to Teague, has 30 years public and private experience operating wastewater treatment facilities.
He commented that the former town employees are among the hardest-working and most talented he's ever worked with.
Council members Kay Andrews and Ken Wagoner then asked Reafsnyder to check on available sanitary sewer lines to Hickory Hollow subdivision and listed roads to be paved.
Hickory Hollow is across from the new elementary school on Blaine Street. After very slow sales over the last 10 years, there has been a sudden interest in property there with the relocation of the school.
Six lots have sold this spring and the owners are waiting for sewer extensions to begin construction.
Andrews said it has always been a goal of the town to construct a sidewalk or path from the new school to the park and asked Reafsnyder to look into sidewalk construction.
Blaine and Stanley streets are slated for repaving this summer.
Tippecanoe Environmental Lake and Watershed Foundation Executive Director Lynn Stevens asked when dredging would be done in Eckert Channel. A storm drain collapsed in the channel and material is blocking it.
Clerk Peg Lawrance said the Department of Environmental Management dredging permit has been approved.
Andrews said the work will probably be done after Labor Day so property owners can keep their piers and boats until then.
Gloria Shipley approached the board asking for a donation to the North Webster Library.
"We occupy 1,000 square feet now and will have 6,000 square feet when we move to the old school," the treasurer said. The library board is not on the tax rolls and depends on the township trustee's generosity for operating costs, an amount the town matches.
Shipley asked for an increase of $8,600, or an additional $4,300 from the town. The town's half would total $19,800.
The board agreed to the increase pending the township trustee's approval of the match.
In other business, the board:
• Heard the Tippecanoe Environmental Lake and Watershed Foundation will hold a lakes appreciation party and lakes education day July 28 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The event will be in the North Webster American Legion pavilion, corner of Ind. 13 and Backwater Road, according to Stevens.
She said representatives from the Department of Natural Resources will be on hand to answer questions.
The board also approved a $300 donation to the Foundation.
• Heard from town marshal Greg Church that everything went smoothly during the Mermaid Festival.
The department is co-sponsoring a fingerprinting of children booth Aug. 3 from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Kiwanis building during the corn and sausage roast.
• Although Sue Studebaker, Kosciusko County Solid Waste Management director, did not appear, the board discussed the recycling station at Lance's Super Market.
Lawrance said she expected Studebaker to appear and knew she was going to ask the board to help fund the station, which costs $15,000 per year.
Andrews said she wasn't inclined to help fund the station and asked why the solid waste board hadn't raised the funds to keep it operational.
She said it's not just towns-people who use the popular station.
The next town council meeting was set for Aug. 14.
