SILVER LAKE - More changes are to come from Tuesday night’s Silver Lake Town Council meeting.
At the meeting, the council voted to approve creating a new position and dissolving another, allow departments to spend some of their excess money and demolish a house on Kermit Street.
At the request of the town council, Silver Lake Clerk-Treasurer Angie Glass wrote two ordinances, one to create a position and one to dissolve a position. The ordinances created a billing clerk and receptionist, replacing the position of deputy clerk. Julie Reahard was appointed to the position.
“It is basically a title change,” said Glass. “Previously, that position reported to the clerk-treasurer, but now it will report to the town council.”
During reports from department heads, Town Marshal Craig Hollopeter informed the board that he had roughly $5,000 left in his equipment fund and he would like to use some of it.
“We went to Taser® training in Columbia City this last weekend,” Hollopeter said. “I would like to use some of my equipment fund to purchase two Tasers®. They are roughly $800 a piece.”
The council agreed that it would be a good use of funds and approved the motion.
Hollopeter also told the council he wanted to start Kid’s Gym again. Hollopeter explained that Silver Lake would partner with Claypool to rent the gym at Claypool Elementary and allow kids to hang out. He mentioned there would most likely be two per month.
The council also tackled the issue of demolishing the home at 3189 W. Kermit St. Bids were taken and read aloud at Tuesday night’s meeting. The city received three bids. The Town of Silver Lake’s Street Department bid $4,117, Shankster Brothers bid $5,000 and Hohman Excavating bid $6,166.20.
At first, the council seemed to have an easy decision voting 3-0 to accept the low bid from the street department, but after further review changed their minds. The council was concerned with the amount of other work the street department had and could have while doing this project.
Jasun Blocher asked the council what to do if they had a broken water main or other emergency work to do while on the job. After a short discussion the board voted 2-1, with Chad Miner the lone no vote, to accept the bid from Shankster Brothers.
A date has not been set as to when the home will be demolished.
