Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
ETNA GREEN - "Let's work together."
That was the emotional plea Tuesday night by Etna Green clerk-treasurer Laura Baker because of fighting going on among residents misinformed about the change in policy on fish frys.
"I am shocked by the vindictiveness and the things that have been said," Baker said. "I can't go to the bank ... or the hardware ... I know some of you will leave here and talk about me. I don't care."
Council member Keith Robbins supported Baker's comments and said that even though he was not at the last meeting, he was accused of being there and voting against fire department fish frys.
At the April meeting, it was decided that the council didn't want fish to be cooked in the community building because of the odor and grease left behind. The town recently paid $2,400 to have the interior of the building repainted, and employees had complained of the lingering odor from the fish frys. Town officials pointed out that it was never even insinuated that there should be no more fish frys, just an alternative location for cooking the fish.
Since that time, residents have apparently been playing a game of Chinese telephone, town officials said, and have taken what happened at the meeting and created their own stories as to the truth.
Baker said that some comments taken away from April's meeting were turned and twisted until nobody knew which way to even look for the truth.
"Knowledge is gold," Baker said. "If you don't know, ask somebody who knows." She added that any questions residents may have can be answered by her or any council member, especially when conflicting statements are being bantered about town. "We want fish frys," she said. "We're working on a solution ... let's hold tight."
Robbins suggested to the 45 people in attendance that if residents want to know what's going on, they should regularly come to council meetings. "Be here and we won't have problems like this," he said. "If every one of you here tonight comes to every meeting and brings a friend ..."
Bob Haines, who represented the fire department at April's meeting, said he came away from it happy. Although the policy change resulted in cancellation of the April 25 fish fry, the fire department and council hope to resolve the problems and have asked for input on ways to resolve the matter.
Tom Feldman, an officer with the fire department, said that he has served as a firefighter for more than 30 years and takes part in the fish fry fund-raisers.
"It does smell terrible," Feldman said. "We don't have an adequate fan system." He suggested that since one reason the fish frys are so popular is because they're a time of fellowship for residents - "a night out for the town" - that the same might be accomplished if chicken or soup and salad were served instead.
Another suggestion was to install a hood system to keep the grease off the ceiling.
Fire Chief Carl Wireman explained that there are five cookers, 700 pounds of fish and about 26 men to accommodate to get the fish prepared, and an earlier suggestion to cook the fish in the building across from the community building and carry it over presented some problems, mostly with manpower.
"We're trying to find a reasonable solution that we can all work together on," Feldman said.
Town and fire department officials remain upbeat over resolving the matter and council members will attend a fire department business meeting June 2.
In other matters, the council approved an addendum to the grant application to Rural Development for the wastewater treatment project. The town has added two pump stations, one near the housing development at the gravel pit and one on the north side of U.S. 30, to accommodate future development and, possibly, future annexation.
These changes add about $100,000 to the project cost and can be cut if the grant amount isn't as much as expected. Regardless of whether that portion of the project proceeds, the town will incur about $10,000 in engineering fees, a portion of which is expected to be paid by developers of the properties affected.
A meeting to answer questions on the loan/grant application is set for 1:30 p.m. May 22.
In other business, the council:
• Voted to work with the park board to establish guidelines so that members of that board are better aware of what they are and are not responsible for.
• Approved spending $3,920 to exterminate termites in the park building; up to $500 to have street and stop signs replaced in town; and $8,762 for Phend & Brown to repair designated streets and a catch basin at the park.
• Tabled a decision on replacing doors at the concession stand.
The next regular meeting is at 6 p.m. June 9 in the fire station meeting room.
