Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
ETNA GREEN - Property owners in town who were given notice to clean up their yards will be charged for the work if it isn't done before town employees are sent in to do it.
Four homeowners are on the list because of violations of weed and junk ordinances. One property has an unfenced open hole that was intended to be used for a basement under a garage, but the work was never completed. Town officials said the 6-foot-deep hole is a public safety issue.
Other yards constitute health hazards, with tires, buckets of stagnant water and, in one case, a deer carcass. One of the yards has knee-high grass that needs to be mowed.
The cited properties were to be cleaned up by May 12. Notices were issued about two months ago. A cleanup schedule will be determined during a special meeting at 5 p.m. Monday. Any work done by the town will be charged to the property owner and unpaid bills will be held as liens on the properties.
In other business, the council approved the purchase of software for meter reading and one handheld computer for inputting the readings.
Utility superintendent Barry Baker said E.J. Prescott of Indianapolis will provide one $5,000 handheld computer at no cost and one for $1,000 if the town buys the $9,500 software package. The new equipment will require the town to change its meters, which have become obsolete. That portion of the work will take four to five years to complete, with the town having about six meters rebuilt every other month.
The council agreed to pay for the equipment and software from the electric depreciation fund (75 percent), water depreciation fund (20 percent) and sewer depreciation fund (5 percent).
In additional matters, the council:
• Announced the hiring of Bill Peckham as a part-time town employee beginning Thursday. Peckham will be paid $8 per hour.
• Agreed to spend up to $3,519 for the purchase of 500 books to be printed on the history of Etna Green. The 96-page publication is being compiled by members of the Founders Day committee. The town is celebrating its sesquicentennial this year. The books will be made available for sale for $10 each.
• Approved the purchase of two "Welcome to Etna Green" signs from Indiana Municipal Power Agency at a cost of $3,360. IMPA is providing two signs at no cost and offered to make two others for the town at the same time. The town might be reimbursed for the cost of the purchase from IMPA's budget next year.
• Heard the concerns of Brian and Jana Wilhite, West Broadway Street, about setback requirements for construction. A neighbor has poured a cement slab 2 feet from the Wilhites' property and the Wilhites are concerned that a structure could be built on it. The Wilhites were told that no deck or addition can be erected without a permit from the town.
• Approved the rental of a front-end loader at a cost of $300 per week from Wyatt Farm Center.
• Asked Baker to determine a cost for filling in pot holes at various locations in town.
• Agreed to charge an additional half fee to people renting the Heritage Park building if they want to come in the night before an event to decorate. The rental fee is $50 per night and another $25 will be charged if the key is picked up early.
Monday's special meeting is mainly to review a rate study completed by Umbaugh & Associates, Plymouth, but additional business also will be conducted.
The Etna Green Town Council normally meets at 7 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month in the fire station. Council members are Eileen Hall, Jeff Klinefelter and Andy Cook.
