Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
NORTH WEBSTER - Construction is scheduled to begin Aug. 5 on the community center renovation.
The town council Wednesday accepted the bid of Robert E. Crosby Inc., Fort Wayne, for the renovation. The bid was for $815,990, a lower amount than the $1.2 million the community center board of directors had estimated.
"They were pleasantly surprised that it was so much less," council president Kay Andrews said of the community center board.
The council approved a separate contract to begin construction Aug. 5.
Also approved Wednesday was an ordinance allowing burning of leaves and yard waste in town. The ordinance specifies that burning is allowed between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. from April 1 through April 30 and Oct. 15 through Nov. 15.
The burn ordinance, however, will be re-examined annually, said council member Ken Wagoner.
"We need to take a look at it every year and keep an eye on it," he said. "Eventually we hope to get rid of burning. I still think we need it yet."
In other business, the council:
• Appointed fire chief Harold Gunkel to the Kosciusko County Emergency Management Committee. Gunkel will consult with town marshal Greg Church.
• Approved the library budget for 2004 of $45,650, an increase over 2003's budget of $30,800. "It's an increase because it's a huge increase in space," Andrews said. The town pays half of the library's budget, while Tippecanoe Township provides the other half of the funds. The library will move into the community center when renovations are complete.
• Heard from Church that the police department has received a grant for two new personal breath testers and for new bullet-proof vests.
• Thanked Kosciusko County Auditor Sue Ann Mitchell and her staff for provisional tax billings and allocations to taxing units. "They made a big, big effort and I, for one, really appreciate that," said clerk-treasurer Peg Lawrance.
• Heard a report from public works superintendent Dennis Reafsnyder that brush from last week's storms is being picked up this week. He said the department also had problems last week with power outages at six lift stations, and now that those are fixed, they will have time to clean out the stormwater catch basins.
• Agreed to consider allowing use of the boat ramp at the end of Washington Street on a permit basis only. Dave Heckaman said he has been launching boat lifts from that location for 20 years, and this year was told by North Webster police that he could no longer do that.
Gunkel said the area is considered a fire lane, and that is where fire trucks fill up if there is a fire.
"The problem is, if we let you use it, we'll have to let other people use it," Gunkel told Heckaman.
Town attorney Jack Birch suggested Gunkel, Church and a member of the council sit down with Heckaman and work out a permit process, with the police and fire departments defining the conditions for a permit.
Gunkel also suggested that if the town regulates use of the area through a permit process, they put up a sign that says use is limited by commercial permit only.
Members of the North Webster Town Council are Kay Andrews, Ken Wagoner and Jeff Morgan.
