Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
NORTH WEBSTER - Marshall Minnick, town superintendent for 13 years, gave a speech of resignation Wednesday during the town council meeting. He officially resigned March 1.
Expressing sincere gratitude to the board for his years of service, punctuated with humorous asides aimed at everyone in particular, Minnick said his resignation was for personal reasons.
For the past eight years he and his wife, Linda, have operated Raleigh Press Co., a commercial printing company, which has grown enough to demand his full-time attention.
He said he is leaving the town in very capable hands, saying town employees Chet Los, Allen Bagot, Christin France and Paul Ernst are well-trained and extremely capable.
A new town position, projects coordinator, was created during the meeting to retain Minnick as a consultant.
Council members Kay Andrews, Ken Wagner and Jeff Morgan thanked Minnick for his work.
Following a public hearing, the board approved a grant application of $415,000 to the state Department of Commerce for a senior center at the community center, the former North Webster Elementary School building.
The resolution also committed the town to $1,085,000 toward the establishment of the center.
Bob Murphy of R.P. Murphy and Associates is writing the grant application. He said the $250,000 already promised by the Palace of Sports Foundation was included in that amount. The town has to come up with $850,000 in commitments in the next two weeks.
The board also applied for a brownsfield grant of $250,000 from the Indiana Finance Authority.
This will take care of demoliton of the 1911 portion of the building, rehabilitation of the site, repaving and asbestos removal. Since the building is within half a mile of a day care, $50,000 will be forgiven. The remainder is payable over the next 10 years at 2.5 percent interest.
The board approved Tony Clark, formerly of Ligonier, as deputy marshal. He begins his duties March 18.
The board heard from Chris Bruno, who asked the town to take over storage, installation and upkeep of decorative street lights. The lights, in the shape of tri-colored stars and sailboats, have been ordered from Herman's Christmasland and will cost $7,700. Bruno said the Chamber of Commerce is taking donations for the lights.
Mermaids painted by Dutch Mullet have decorated the light poles in town for years. They're used to the promote the annual Mermaid Festival. They are owned and installed by the Lion's Club.
Richard Brungardt approached the board asking permission to hold an annual bike-a-thon to benefit St. Judes Children's Hospital the same day as the Mermaid Festival Parade - or sometime in June. His request was approved.
The North Webster Music in the Park summer schedule was approved as: Lake Area Community Band, June 7, 7 p.m.; Rick Lovelady's Banjos, June 14, 7 p.m.; Becky Brady, June 21, 7 p.m.; Lynn Gray, June 28, 7 p.m.; Northeast Indiana Banjo Society, July 6, 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., fireworks to follow; Chain O'Lakes Chorus, July 12, 7 p.m.; DJF, July 19, 7 p.m.; Joyce Fry and Friends, July 26, 7 p.m.; Shelly Sanders, Aug. 2, 7 p.m.; Sax Maniacs, Aug. 9, 7 p.m.; Brass Generations, Aug. 16, 7 p.m.; and Brass Menagerie, Aug. 23, 7 p.m.
The next board meeting is April 17 at 6 p.m.
