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SILVER LAKE -ÊSilver Lake Town Council heard concerns from a lake dweller Tuesday regarding abandoned lake properties.
Ron Leonard told the council an antenna from one abandoned residence was falling over onto his roof, causing damaged. Another abandoned residence has bags of shingles laying in the yard that blow into other yards during storms.
According to Leonard, he has not seen the owners of these properties in at least three years and has sent certified letters to their full-time residences requesting they take care of their properties, but has received no reply. The letters were received, Leonard said, because he received their acceptance signatures.
Town marshal Craig Hollopeter said he too has contacted the homeowners regarding the mess but has received no response either.
Another house is the same area of the lake is in such disrepair, town superintendent Phil Shalley said, he's contacted the board of health multiple times to get it condemned. Because it's not varmint infested, they will not condemn.
Council president Stanley Williams said the town will look through their existing ordinances and see if there is one specifically applying to those situations. For now, Hollopeter advised Leonard to remove the part of the antenna in his yard, but not to touch anything over the property line.
In other business, the board:
• Approved a bid from Hohman & Sons Excavating to fix the water drainage problem near the new fire station for $6,779.50. Surface water from rain builds up in that area, causing the land to be marshy.
• Agreed to pay $667.50 toward local firefighters' liability insurance. The town pays one-half the total and the township pays the other half.
• Approved quotes from Gaunt & Sons to pave town streets and seal the town office lot. Streets will cost $53,862 and sealing the lot will be $870.
• Approved a proposal to lease about eight acres of land behind the new fire station for $1. The land will be planted with soybeans this spring. Leasing the land will save the town mowing costs and also the cost of having rocks removed from the field.
• Shalley announced that town water mains will be flushed Tuesday. Water discoloration is normal when mains are flushed, Shalley warned, but water is fine to drink.
Silver Lake Town Council members are Stan Williams, president, Tom Waite and Ron Jones. Town clerk is Angie Glass.
