Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
PIERCETON - Police officer Tim Sammons was praised at the Pierceton town council meeting Monday by Whitko School Superintendent Dr. William Worl and Pierceton Elementary School principal Ruth Jones.
Worl thanked the board for allowing Sammons to continue the DARE program and for his presence in the school each morning.
"We will see the long-term benefits of that," the superintendent said.
Jones also thanked the board and town marshal George Alexander for freeing Sammons for the in-school duty.
"It's wonderful having him there. He spends a lot of time talking to the kids," Jones said.
She and Sammons go to the homes of students who are supposed to be in school but aren't. "They won't come to the door when I knock, but they do when Tim knocks," she said.
Alexander said Sammons recently became the second officer in the county to employ the portable AED to keep a heart beating until medical help arrived.
Alexander said all three squad cars are equipped with the units.
In April Jason McGlennen, Silver Lake's deputy marshal, was the first to save a life with the defibrillator.
Alexander also said full-time officer Mark Wise is leaving, and he asked permission to advertise for a replacement, which was approved.
Pam Kennedy of Housing Opportunities of Warsaw approached the board regarding the current owner-occupied rehabilitation grant.
She said her office is getting ready to advertise for projects again.
A current $40,000 rehabilitation involves a family with three children. She said half of the money will go toward eliminating lead paint in the house.
The town is in the middle of its second rehabilitation grant. The first served 10 homeowners.
The money can be used for new furnaces and/or air conditioning, plumbing, rewiring, windows and the like.
Applications are available in the clerk's office.
Orvil Taylor, senior club president, asked the board when the seniors will begin paying utility bills at the senior center building. The facility also houses the street, police and EMS departments.
Council president Jerry Kreger said originally the town agreed to pay for utility bills for the first five years. Now, however, the board is inclined to pay them as long as there is a viable senior group.
"The only thing we've asked is you purchase liability insurance," he said, "and you've done that."
Taylor said there are usually 40 people attending events and recently 70 people came to a meeting. The air became too warm despite air conditioning.
He asked if it were possible to get fans installed and was told a recent $1,000 gift from the Bibler Family Trust would cover the expense.
Terry Hill said he was glad to hear about the regular attendance.
"That is more than we hoped for," he said. "We figured you were all old enough to take care of yourselves, so we've left you alone."
In other business, the board:
• Heard Jim Brumbaugh would serve as a reserve officer.
• Approved an amendment to place a stop sign on Walnut Street at the intersection of Third Street.
• Heard from fire chief Gordon Baker that many people are attending the first responder classes, which last through December.
Monthly testing of the sirens will be held the fourth Saturday of each month at 11 a.m.
Hydrant flushing will be Saturday on the west side of Ind. 13, except the industrial park. The east side flushing is complete.
He reminded the board that free smoke detectors and batteries are still available.
• Town attorney Jim Walmer advised the board about adopting staggered council terms. All the members are at-large and are up for re-election in 2003.
They expressed concern about the possibility of an all-new council and clerk and the difficulties that scenario could bring.
Walmer said the council would have to decide on staggered elections before year's end. One of the members would serve a three-year term during the transition.
He advised them they would have to pay for two elections if staggered terms are adopted.
Town council members are Jerry Kreger, Ron Hall and Terry Hill.
