Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
PIERCETON - About 50 citizens attended Monday's town council meeting to discuss two ordinances introduced in July regarding off-road vehicles and curfew hours for minors.
Town Marshal Tim Sammons defused what could have been an explosive exchange by recommending the laws' adoption be postponed, which the council approved.
Sammons said two state laws regarding off-road vehicles and curfews are now in effect and the town may not need their own.
If a mo-ped or scooter is going more than 25 miles per hour, the driver must have a motorcycle endorsement and the vehicle must be licensed.
"If we see a mo-ped or scooter going over 25, we'll act," Sammons said. "That's not a town ordinance, it's a state law." He said anyone 15- to 18-years-old on a mo-ped must have an Indiana identification card, too.
The operation of golf carts was included in the original ordinance.
"We do not want 10-, 11- or 12-year-olds riding a golf cart on the street, either," Sammons said.
He said the state curfew law provides the same restrictive hours as the town law. However, the state law requires a child to have a note from a parent or guardian if they are out without an adult after a certain time.
Curfew hours for children 17-years-old and younger are between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday and from 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday until 5 a.m. the following day. For children 15-years-old and younger the restricted hours are from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. on any day.
Several people indicated that communication between the town police officers and citizens is not the best.
Randy Squires of Catholic Street said he and his wife have left several messages on the police department's answering machine and the calls were never returned.
Squires said he got a ticket for parking his semi tractor on his property with about two inches on the street.
"I was airing up a tire on one side and by the time I came around to do the other, I had a ticket," he said. "They also threatened to take us to jail."
Town board president Jerry Kreger advised the Squires to call central dispatch at 267-5667 for non-emergency calls, or even 9-1-1, to have an officer respond. He also said his telephone number was in the phone book and they could call him anytime.
Tom Roberts presented a petition to do away with the off-road vehicle ordinance saying there were 225 names on the offered sheets.
Roberts said when he took the petition around he heard quite a few things.
"There's a big divide between the police department and the public," Roberts said. "The officers attitude is not good. They're picking on little things."
Kreger said the police department was in the best shape since he's been a board member.
Kreger looked over the names on the petition and said people who lived outside of town limits had signed.
A woman who said she lived just north of U.S. 30 said she had signed the petition and she feels a part of the community. She brings her child to the Pierceton Elementary School every day and visits people in town.
Kreger pointed out that she didn't pay town taxes.
The board also:
• Approved a new sidewalk application. The town sets aside $3,500 each year to purchase cement for sidewalk construction parallel to a street.
Kreger said this was the first application. The property owner must hire a contractor to remove the old sidewalk and pour the new material.
He said landlords may apply for sidewalk improvements at leased properties, but an owner-occupied property will be considered first.
• Heard from Kim Rose who said Pierceton Days Festival went very well. She thanked town employees for their help and participation.
• Approved Pat Knott's petition to rezone land along East Market Street, which includes the old railroad depot at 115 E. Market St., from a Public Use to a commercial district.
Knott said the depot is being restored now and will be available as a meeting space with catering available.
The request was reviewed and approved by the Area Plan Commission Aug. 2.
• Heard from Anne Espinosa who said recent skate park fundraisers went very well. The group will meet with contractors this week and a cement pad will be poured within two weeks.
Town council members are Kreger, Bob Tenney and Mandy Espinosa.
