Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SILVER LAKE - Silver Lake Town Council president Brenda Wadkins announced Tuesday that Jan. 8 is the lake area's annexation date.
After Jan. 8, lake area residents will have Silver Lake's police protection. Other area services, like trash pickup, previously served by Kosciusko County won't be covered by Silver Lake until Jan. 8, 2003.
Since residents of the lake area already paid taxes for county services, the town of Silver Lake will not take over those services until a year after the area's taxes go to the town.
The ordinance gave the newly annexed area snow plowing, salting and sanding services, but Teresa Howell, clerk-treasurer, said those services "got in the wrong category" in the annexation ordinance and "got in there by mistake."
Phil Shalley, town superintendent, asked for patience.
"Bear with us. Lot of things to be done down there. It's going to take time," he said.
Shalley shared the town's policies about picking up stray dogs. Any animals caught in the town's traps will be returned the first time. The second time there is no return policy. "This also applies to cats, or any pets we find," said Shalley.
Anyone caught releasing animals from the town's traps will answer to the marshal, he said.
Ronald Feller, Lake Association president, Charlotte Feller, association secretary, and William Small, association member, attended the meeting.
"These people have been good people to work with. We don't expect a lot of problems," said Ronald Feller about the transition.
The town also approved upgrading the water filter at November's council meeting.
Brenda Wadkins, council president, said Tuesday the town cannot afford the 450-gallon-per-minute iron removal unit tank.
Ecologistics Limited offered to replace the 450-gallon tank for $180,000. The 300-gallon tank would be cheaper but no amounts were given.
The tank's cost would "practically wipe us out of money," said Howell.
Wadkins said the 300-gallon-per-minute unit would meet Silver Lake's needs. "And would be quite a bit cheaper," said Wadkins.
"We can add on to it later," said Howell.
The council unanimously approved the smaller unit.
Donald Morrison, Ecologistics Limited's senior environmental engineer, examined Silver Lake's iron removal unit and presented the findings Nov. 13 to the town council.
The unit, which removes iron from water, is expected to last 30 years, said Morrison. Silver Lake's current unit lasted 34 years. The tank is leaking now, forcing the town to replace it.
"I couldn't recommend repairing the tank," said Morrison at the November meeting.
Tuesday's approval gave Morrison the go-ahead to begin engineering work and applying for permits.
The Silver Lake Town Council is: president Brenda Wadkins, Gale Owens, Donna McCune and clerk-treasurer Teresa Howell. Phil Shalley is town superintendent.
