Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
PIERCETON - The town of Pierceton heard updates from several departments during a meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 11.
Town Marshal Phillip Hawks requested permission to purchase a Chevrolet Silverado and outfit it, with the total cost being $62,600. He noted that the encrypted radio would be the only item needed before decommissioning the police department's Ford Explorer for auction or personal use. The council approved the quote for the Silverado, with Council Vice President Matt Brubaker joking that it “should’ve been a Ford.”
For next year's budget, Hawks noted that there would need to be a bump in pay for officers who patrol in Sidney. Brubaker noted that it was a great way for the reserves to make some money while not on the clock for them and approved having Sidney pay Pierceton officers directly.
Hawks requested for the council to look at the ordinance when it comes to the shooting range. He noted that currently the ordinance does not address private use, but it needs to be updated. Town attorney Tammy Keirn stated that it should be limited to law enforcement entities, not private, which was echoed in the statement made by Council President Glenn Hall.
Hall stated he did not want anyone on the range because of its proximity to the park and town. Keirn noted that they would look at other ordinances from surrounding towns but keep it to law enforcement entities only.
Noah Shepherd, who was not present, gave Hall a list of items that were worked on by the street and wastewater department. There was a water main break on West Pine Street, but it was fixed along with a water leak on West Main Street. The department was working on picking up brush, and resident Susan Mort noted that they were doing a great job.
Shepherd asked for approval to get a new toolbox for all the tools around the town's shed, and the council approved them getting a large toolbox, quoted at close to $1,000 with a $100 rebate.
Carla Quintero, with the Park and Recreation Committee, stated there were “tons and tons” of people in the park playing disc golf and enjoying the park as a whole.
One of the latches on the pickleball court hit a woman at the court, and Hall noted that they needed to be reinstalled because of "dismantling things that are paid for,” and needed to be “reinstalled with ADA compliance.”
Quintero lastly noted that if anyone wants to get involved with the Park and Recreation Committee to contact her, Georgia Tenney or Aleta Smith.
Clerk-Treasurer Myra Mast reported that if anyone wants to pay utility bills online, they need to get a hold of the office and provide their email. Hall wanted everyone to spread the word on the REACH alert system so everyone will know when bad weather, or incidents like the water main break, happen, so they do not have to worry about reaching out to the wrong people.
In other business, the council:
• Amended the meeting minutes from June 9 to fix a comment made by Mort about the public restrooms and Paragon Medical sponsoring them, stating that the idea was never given to Paragon Medical to sponsor, nor did the Chamber agree to cleaning them.
• Approved the July labor invoice from Aug. 6 from Astbury totaling $21,080.30; and the June labor invoice from July 16 totaling $15,687.55.
• Heard from Hawks about completing the cybersecurity training for wastewater plants and noted “as long as it isn’t connected to the internet, we’re golden,” and that the plant is not currently connected.
The council approved Hawks selling some of the old firearms that have been phased out. Council also approved for Hawks to apply for grants to update the department's radios.
• Heard Shepherd has a meeting on Friday, Aug. 14, to discuss permits for two large monument “Welcome to Pierceton” signs, which were purchased by Graycraft Signs.
Tenney asked about why the tornado sirens went off twice when the bad storms hit, which Brubaker stated that after speaking to county dispatch, it is because there are two buttons for the north and south part of the county separated by U.S. 30, “and Pierceton sits in the middle.” She also asked about an all-clear signal, which Brubaker stated dispatch no longer does, and the recommendation would be to get a NOAA weather radio, or a weather app.
Lastly, she asked about the digital signs, which Hall noted they are in progress and waiting on permits.
The Tomato Festival and Car Show will have East Market Street, First Street, and Washington Street closed Saturday, Aug. 22.
Clearly Kosciusko has heard of the improvements to the park and are potentially going to be adding them to the website.
• Approved to set aside the two-reading ordinance to have it be done in one with establishing fund 4650 for them to have a dedicated fund for the Brower Park project.
• Approved conducting interviews and restructuring of the street and wastewater department's town superintendent position to be two separate roles, instead of just one.
Kosciusko County Council Member Rachael Rhoades asked for them to elaborate on the role's split, which Mast stated that they could not give a lot of details as it is still in negotiation, but the new role of town manager would be an administrative role, while the town superintendent would be the same.
• Approved AIM medical premium benefits and upped the HSA to $1,800.
A special meeting will be held at 4:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 17.
Girls' Night Out will be 4-8 p.m. Oct. 16.
The next meeting of the Pierceton Town Council will be at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8.
