Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SILVER LAKE - An angry citizen spoke out on three issues at the Silver Lake Town Council meeting Tuesday evening.
Ronald Leonard voiced his concerns about snowplowing, abandoned vehicle ordinances and loose dog ordinances.
Leonard said the town plows snow against his driveway, making it difficult for members of his household to get in and out without scraping the bottoms of their vehicles.
"They plow the snow by the driveway and it piles up," said Leonard. "It drags the bottom of our new car when we drive in. The county never plowed it in."
Town council member Stanley Williams said the snow is plowed the same all over town. "I shovel it or my wife shovels it out," said Williams.
Leonard said he believed he received warnings about his dog and a vehicle on his property shortly after complaining about the snow plowing.
"I feel like it was retribution," said Leonard.
"There was no retribution," said Silver Lake Town Manager Phil Shalley. "We sent a stack of warnings out the other day. You were in violation of the ordinance."
Leonard received a warning about a pickup at his residence that was not properly plated. He said the vehicle will be moved to a mechanic for repairs Sunday, and once the repairs are finished, the truck will be plated properly.
Leonard also said town employees went on his property and took his dog.
"She was on our porch," said Leonard. "She got out of her kennel. I just don't feel right about someone coming on my property to retrieve my dog."
Shalley said he received a complaint that the dog was at a neighbor's house and was running around without a collar.
"I was on the porch and I took the dog," said Shalley. He then added that he was not aware that it was Leonard's dog when it was taken off the porch.
According to town attorney Vern Landis, if Shalley did not know it was Leonard's dog, it was legal to take it off the porch.
After hearing the concerns, the council moved on to other business, mainly reading trash bids for this year.
The council decided to continue service with Stafford Solid Waste, the company with the lowest bid. Stafford Solid Waste bid $23,337.60 for 12 months of service. A separate charge will be added for a spring cleanup day. Bids from Waste Management ($50,160) and Ameriwaste ($26,400 for 12 months or $34,320 for an additional 90-gallon cart and two cleanup days) also were received and read at the meeting.
In other business, the council:
• Approved Ed Frantz's bid of $254 to repair an electrical problem on a pump on Herendeen Avenue.
• Heard that all equipment approved for the fire department has arrived and is now in service.
• Approved the January claim docket.
• Approved the minutes from the January meeting.
• Heard that the town office will be closed Feb. 21 for President's Day.
• Heard that the next town council meeting will be March 8 at 7 p.m.
Silver Lake Town Council members are Ron Jones, president, Stan Williams and Tom Waite. Town clerk is Angie Glass.
