Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
PIERCETON - A curfew ordinance was approved on first reading by Pierceton Town Council members Monday.
The document will be read again in August for final approval. Upon passage it will be unlawful for children younger than 18 years old to be within the corporate limits during certain hours unless they are escorted by an adult or have a specific purpose.
Curfew hours for children 17 years old and younger are between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. 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 hours are from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. on any day.
The ordinance specifies that a police officer may stop the child to ascertain his or her age and business. Notarized affidavits from a parent or guardian will be accepted for a child out past curfew hours. Fines are at least $25 and will not exceed $500.
The town also approved the first reading of an off-road vehicles and snowmobiles ordinance prohibiting their operation within the corporate limits. This law also carries a fine: $35 for the first offense, not to exceed $250. It will be read again in August.
Skate park committee members Tonia Bricker and Nancy Sommers advised the board they were applying for a K21 Foundation grant. They presented a petition, to accompany the grant application, in support of the skate park, which the board members signed.
Sommers said they have half the money to pay for a cement pad and hoped to raise the rest soon. Excavation and labor will be donated.
The board and public works superintendent, Chip Hill, discussed paying a resident's cleanup bill, which was incurred when sewage backed up into her basement. Hill said the woman came home from vacation to find her basement flooded.
Since the resident's sewer line is shared by another property owner and a church, Hill said it was hard to tell who or what caused the line to plug up and back up. The woman said her insurance company won't pay for the damages.
Attorney Jim Walmer suggested the town see a letter from the insurance company explaining why they won't pay for the cleanup before the town takes further action.
The board also:
• Approved Town Marshal Tim Sammon's request to advertise for a reserve officer.
• Heard a K21 Foundation grant will pay for reserve officers' body armor.
• Heard full-time police officer Tiffany Fulk will attend the police academy this fall.
• Heard from Pierceton Days organizer Kim Rose the KEMRAD organization wants $50 per day for services during the car show and parade. She said they've been helping with the event for 10 years and this is the first time she's heard of a cost.
• Accepted a $50 donation from Windows to Heaven Church for use of Brower Park during their musical event June 24.
• Heard everything was ready for the Pierceton Fine Arts and Writing Fair in Brower Park Saturday.
• Tabled a request by Bob Vandermark, Larwill, to purchase or lease town-owned property along U.S. 30. The ground is largely designated wetlands which cannot be developed. The council has talked about making it an educational area for many years.
Vandermark, who operates a sign company, wants to put three signs along the highway. He offered $6,000 for a 10- year lease or $20,000 to buy a 200-foot strip.
Town council members are Jerry Kreger, Bob Tenney and Mandy Espinoza.
