Pierceton Asked to Help with Public Safety During Bike Race
Posted
T.R. Smith-
PIERCETON – For the last few years, the Winona Lake Triathlon bicycle competition sends more than 600 cyclists down Pierceton Road.
They make the turn at Seventh and Market streets in town and race back to the lake.
Town marshal Tim Sammons advised the town council Monday he has been asked by Winona Lake coordinators to provide public safety personnel at the crossroads as far west as CR 500E during this year’s race June 23. The first bike arrives in town around 8:30 a.m.
He hoped everyone would be cautious about traffic on Pierceton Road that Saturday.
In other police department business, Sammons asked the council to revisit the “junk” vehicle ordinance. He’s recently tagged 10 vehicles. The current law indicates the cars or trucks have to show movement. If the engine doesn’t start, the vehicle can be periodically pushed from place to place.
If a police officer tags a car or truck as junk, the owners seem nonchalant about paying the $25 fee.
“They say, ‘Who cares about $25. I’ll just pay it.’” Sammons said. “I think if there was a $100 fine, which would be dismissed if the vehicle was driven, fully licensed and insured to the police department, there would be fewer violations.”
Sammons said there was a good turnout for the DARE graduation May 24.
Jason Clutter approached the board about sidewalk installation along the east side of First Street, south of Wilby’s convenience store.
He said the neighbors have raised $400 and that he would build the frames for free. He estimated 10 yards of concrete is needed for 200 feet of new sidewalk.
Clerk Janet Castle said there was no sidewalk appropriation this year. The town’s policy is to pay for the concrete, but not the labor and the work should be done by a contractor.
Councilman Mandy Espinoza said there was nothing the council could do. The council would begin work on the 2013 budget in the next couple of weeks, which would go into effect in January.
Clutter also asked if there was any land the Boy Scout and Cub Scout group could use to build a meeting place. Currently the groups, with about 30 kids, meet in the basement of the Baptist Church but cannot keep things there.
He said the Scouts could raise money to build a pole barn.
Espinoza asked Clutter to leave his contact information and he would contact the town attorney, Jim Walmer, about building on town property.
Town utilities manager Chip Hill said work on the water plant is about 99 percent complete.
Moving on to the sewage works, Hill said although the town purchased property for sludge land application they can only use about 5 to 10 acres of it. Each application requires seven tests, at $30 each. Because crops are currently in the fields, land application is unavailable.
He asked to pursue the idea of a roll-off container to house the sludge. The contractor would remove it two to three times a year. This was approved.
The water hydrant replacement program is proceeding.
Councilman Jim Bumbaugh said citizens are asking about bush removal, and Hill said brush is being picked up. People used to bring brush to the water plant, but because a lawn mower and water heater mysteriously drove off, the water plant gate is locked.
The board also approved a $220 payment for Walmer to attend a Municipal Law Seminar.
Town council members are Espinoza, Bumbaugh and Ron Hall. The council meets the second Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in town hall.
