Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SIDNEY - The Sidney Town Council discussed several topics Monday, including their now-finalized strategic plan and other grant-required materials for the town.
Zach Dripps, from the Michiana Area Council of Governments (MACOG), reviewed the final version of Sidney's strategic plan. The first projects detailed by the plan as short- to mid-term goals are the park and sidewalk projects.
Dripps and Kosciusko County Community Coordinator Amy Roe provided a copy of the resolution document to adopt the strategic plan. Council President Gavin Parrett and Councilwoman Rebecca Adams voted to accept the plan; Councilwoman Sharon Rancourt was absent.
With the adoption of a strategic plan, the town will be able to complete the grant application through the Kosciusko County Community Foundation and continue in the application process for the Dekko Foundation grant.
The town still needs to submit a letter of intent to K21 Health Foundation to be able to apply for their Community Amenities Program (CAP) grant. The letter does not mean the town is legally required to follow through with the project with or without grant funding. The intention is to “let them know you’re intending to apply," according to Roe.
Dripps presented a draft copy of the letter. After review, the council approved it.
Coyote Scare
Adams shared that at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28, she saw a coyote in town on Ind. 13, near the railroad tracks.
She stated that she asked representatives from the Department of Natural Resources and the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office what to do if a coyote is on her property. Both said to shoot it.
Joe Calhoun shared discomfort and said as a town they would not want random people shooting randomly. He then said that he knows a professional coyote hunter who he can get in touch with if this becomes a larger issue.
Gavin and Lisa Parrett looked at the town ordinances, and as they are currently written, no firearms can be used in town limits for any reason. Gavin said that he would review other towns to see if they have ordinance exceptions for dangerous animals.
Speed Bumps
Yvonne Lent told the council that the town needs speed bumps, not speed limit signs on Center Street and Ind. 13. Rene Shepherd agreed, saying, “I see lots of cars speeding down Center Street.”
Gavin told Lisa to look up pricing for speed bumps. Lent responded, “Whatever the price is, you can’t bring back a child.”
Lent also said that she believed money would be better spent on speed bumps in town than on the park.
In other business:
• Both council members present agreed to wait to review ordinances until all council members are present.
• Tim Woodward from the sewer department reported the UV machine at the water treatment plant has been repaired by a local electrician.
• Calhoun, with the maintenance department, reported a utility pole that is damaged in town. He said he attempted to get in contact with Duke Energy and got no response. Lisa stated she contacted both Duke Energy and Frontier, and both claimed that it wasn’t their pole.
Calhoun also reported a damaged bench. After brief discussion about whether the bench belonged to the town or not, it was determined that it did, and the council voted to allow Calhoun to repair the bench.
Calhoun also asked what the plan was for the sidewalks. He was told that this was detailed in the Sidney strategic plan.
• Roe spoke with representatives with GIS, and they will be working on making Sidney a town option on the dropdown of towns on the site. Currently, the town is shown as part of Pierceton.
• Eric Sorenson will be helping Lisa contact the state to discuss creating a website for the town of Sidney.
• Lent complained about RVs and campers in town. Gavin said they would review this topic at the next meeting when Sharon was present.
Lent responded, “When I die, it’ll still be there.”
• Kara Calhoun voiced her displeasure with the new 15-minute parking sign in front of her storefront.
She said, “I think it should either be removed from my area or moved down to the other end of the street as well.”
The council said they would reevaluate the parking limit as part of their ordinance review.
