Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
PIERCETON — Kosciusko Community Trap Neuter Release will be working in two areas of Pierceton on Nov. 17.
Cindy Lursen, president of Kosciusko Community TNR, told the Pierceton Town Council what her organization is about and what they are doing to help communities that are possibly overrun by feral cats.
Two residents of Pierceton called Lursen to come in and help with a feral cat problem that they were seeing and asked if Lursen would come to the meeting to speak about the organization and what they do. Lursen explained that KCTNR had worked in Silver Lake and caught over 60 cats; and now they are working in Whispering Pines Trailer Park in Leesburg.
The organization goes to communities that are being affected by an overpopulation of cats and sets up traps to catch them. They then take the trapped cats to get spayed or neutered, get their ears tipped to mark them as ferals who have been fixed, and then they also get microchipped so the cats can be traced to where they originated.
Lursen wants to make the community aware of what they are doing, along with putting door tags that give more information on what the organization does to place on community members' doors. Lursen told the council that they do not harm the cats but want to help control the overpopulation in affected areas.
There are two areas in Pierceton that KCTNR will start trapping on Nov. 17, and she estimates that there are around 30 to 40 cats. Because of the cost that incurs from all the spays and neuters, Lursen was also asking for help with funding. One location that KCTNR uses charges $55 per cat, while another they use charges $85 per cat. Council President Glenn Hall asked if it was beneficial for the community to trap the cats, neuter them and then return them to the areas they were taken from.
Lursen stated that her desire is to find a home for every cat that they find, but that is not feasible based on the temperament of the cats they catch, such as a feral cat versus a neighborhood cat. Feral cats are the ones that will hide from humans, while neighborhood cats are the ones that come for the attention, but do not want to be coddled, which are the types of cats that can be socialized and rehomed if needed.
KCTNR recently started working with the Kosciusko County Animal Welfare League in order to train them on how to use this program to their advantage. Lursen gave cards to council members in case anyone in the community is looking for their services.
For more information on KCTNR, visit their website.
The budget adoption hearing also took place at this meeting, and the funds for Pierceton civil town for the period until Dec. 31, 2026, were approved with the following proposed budget: Rainy day fund, $10,000; general fund, $592,100; local roads and streets, $40,000; motor vehicle highway fund, $105,050; cumulative bridge and street, $83,757; continuing education, $6,000; park fund, $16,700; park non-reverting capital, $8,000; building demolition, $10,000; cumulative capital improvement, $12,000; cumulative capital development, $15,000; economic development income tax, $275,000; and redevelopment general, $931,000.
Altogether, this totaled $2,104,607, as prepared by Clerk-Treasurer Myra Mast.
A resident asked if the park fund was raised, and by how much, wondering if it was raised by 3 or 5%. Mast responded that it was only raised by 1 percent. The budget was approved by members of the council for next year.
Town Marshal Jim Bumbaugh reported that the next meeting will be his last, as he will be moving and retiring on Nov. 30. Deputy Dustin Baker has completed his 40-hour pre-basic course and now has official arrest powers.
Bumbaugh also received quotes for a new police interceptor to have it completely outfitted like the one they bought in 2024. One quote from Van Wert Ford would include the vehicle and outfitting came for $69,480. A quote from Bloomington Ford for just the vehicle came to $46,605.25. R&B Sales could outfit the vehicle for $16,116.46, all together making the second quote come to $62,771.31. Bumbaugh is still waiting on an additional quote.
Hall asked if the quotes were about the right price for what they have paid in the past, which Bumbaugh stated that with inflation, it should be around as much as they have paid but would need to look at the records.
Starting in January, monthly meetings will be scheduled on the second Tuesday of each month.
There was an update to the wastewater significant user ordinance, as discharge limits have been evaluated against other municipalities. Superintendent Casey Boggs believes that there should be a study on the phosphorus limits, as all other levels seemed fine.
Leaf pick-up began on Oct. 6 with the following schedule: Mondays, leaves are picked up south of Catholic and west of First Streets; Wednesdays, leaves are picked up south of Catholic and east of First Streets; and Thursdays will be north of Catholic Street.
If community members want their leaves to be picked up, the leaf piles need to be out before 8 a.m. and to make sure that no trash or other debris are mixed in with the leaves. Mulched grass will need to be bagged, and they ask that residents keep the piles away from utility poles, signs and mailboxes. Thursday’s leaf pick-up on Thanksgiving will be retrieved by Nov. 26.
Mast reported that the End Waste CCMG paving project came in under budget by about $3,000, that will be refunded. Payment was approved as presented.
A 2026 terminal services data agreement that deals with the police and fire department equipment was approved.
Mast will attend virtual training for State Board of Accountants Nov. 4-6.
A representative for Astbury brought up a proposal for the wastewater in the town, but the council wanted to wait until Boggs was back from vacation to ask questions he had wanted to.
There are also several events happening in the next few weeks.
The clerk’s office will be closed Oct. 15, and will be extending bill payments until Oct. 16.
Pierceton's Girl’s Night out will be 4-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17.
Trunk and treat, presented by OMCO, will be at 1 Arnolt Drive, Pierceton, from 2-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25.
YMCA Enhanced Fitness Program will be at the Pierceton Community Building at 10 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The first two classes will be pre-program assessments at 10 a.m. Oct. 27 and Oct. 29. More information can be found at the town hall.
Trick-or-treating will be from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31.
Harvest Community Church will be hosting a trunk-or-treat from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31.
The Redevelopment Commission meeting will be 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 5.
The next council meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 10.
