PIERCETON - Pierceton Town Council approved a water rate study at their monthly meeting Monday night.
President Jerry Hartman said Umbaugh and Associates told the board that the water rates need to be adjusted.
"Adjusted is a polite way of saying raised," said Hartman
The board noted that they are just going to have Umbaugh conduct a rate study at this point.Pierceton's water rates have remained the same since 1997. The minimum rate is $13.40 for up to 2,000 gallons a month.
Resident Oliver Bernstein brought up water issues to the board during public comments.
Bernstein asked the board what needed to be done to improve drainage at this property. He said if there is two days of solid raining he has standing water on his property.
"The situation we have is if we put brand-new tiles in town we will still have two to three days of retention," said Town Superintendent Chip Hill. "If we put $2 million in it we are still going to have high water."
Hartman said engineering studies have shown that unless the county replaces its tile, standing water will still be an issue.
Town board member Jerry Kreger said the high water was a problem that only affected about 10 homes out of the 900 in town.
Bernstein disagreed with that saying that the mosquitoes that come from the standing water on his property affect the whole town.
"Do we impose a tax on everyone for a $3 million system?" asked Kreger.
Berstein presented a worst-case scenario.
"I'm not trying to enflame the issue, but what if a kid drowned out there? What are we going to do?" asked Bernstein. "I have a good two feet or higher out there. Do we have to have a kid drown out there or do we get on it?"
Hartman said he was meeting with state officials today, barring weather, to look at drainage ideas.
During his monthly report, Town Marshal Tim Sammons said that in-car video systems are in Pierceton's police vehicles.
Sammons also said that he won't know until March about a grant applied for through the Kosciusko County Community Foundation.
After being directed to, by Hartman, Sammons did an inventory of all the items inside police vehicles.
"Last month I asked our town marshal to find out what it costs to equip each vehicle," said Hartman. "It's $20,000 an automobile. And that doesn't include the vehicle itself. That's eye opening."
Sammons noted in his report that 88 percent of the cost to equip a vehicle is paid for through grants and donations and not taxpayer dollars.
Don Barton, from Kosciusko County ABATE, asked the board if his group could block off a section of Catholic Street from First Street to the alley.
ABATE meetings take place at the American Legion in Pierceton, and Barton said rather than take up space with motorcycles and cars in front of businesses, he asked that the section of Catholic Street be barricaded from 1 to 5 p.m. the first Saturday of every month from May to October except for July.
Barton said he hadn't received any complaints from merchants when ABATE met, but he didn't want his members taking up parking spots in front of businesses on a Saturday.
The board approved allowing ABATE to use that section of Catholic Street for the allotted time barring any other conflicts from groups that had previously asked for access to that road.
Both the fire department and street department said the street could still be accessed in case of emergency.
A resident gave two "attaboys" to Pierceton's fire department as well as Hill for the town's revamped Web site.
Townofpierceton.com has information on upcoming events as well as information on the town's different departments.
Once town attorney Jim Walmer codifies the town's ordinances they will appear on the town's Web site.
The board will next meet March 8 at 6:30 p.m. at the Pierceton Community Building.
