Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SILVER LAKE - A contract to proceed with the town's water construction project was signed by two council members, Mabel Enyeart and Stanley Williams, Tuesday night in a special meeting.
The contract was presented by Triad Engineering Inc.'s representative Jim Evans. Council member Wilbur Brake did not sign the contract giving Allstar Construction the nod to start, saying he wanted town counsel Mike Reed to sign it first. Reed had been expected to attend the meeting and was absent.
Evans said the job will still be delayed for two to three weeks while Rural Community Development looks the proposal over again.
The town has received $1.7 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Indiana Department of Commerce. An additional $70,000 has been made available from Build Indiana funds. The project is intended to improve the water lines in town and around Silver Lake. The lake supports 212 residences and about half live there all year.
Silver Lake's water distribution system was initially built in 1925 with steel pipes and has had only two significant improvement projects since then - once in 1950 and again in 1968.
D.J. Wilson, Wilson and Associated Insurance Management, gave an overview of costs submitted from two insurance companies for the town's liability policy.
The board selected Downey Insurance, Kokomo, as its new policyholder. Premiums will be $7,463 per year. A proposal by St. Paul Insurance cost $9,211.
Wilson expressed concern over the assessed value of the town's property, valued at $812,500 for buildings and personal property. Downey is insuring the same property for $1.2 million.
Wilson said assessment of the property for replacement estimates was overdue and Downey offered this service free of charge. A citizen questioned whether or not the assessor was licensed by the state of Indiana or just certified by Downey. Wilson said she would check on that.
The salary ordinance was tabled after much discussion.
The board approved a $.25 an hour increase for Robbie Clark, who will soon mark his first anniversary as an employee.
Whether or not to pay deputy clerk Theresa Howell on an hourly basis or via salary was discussed at length.
Howell is hired for 33 hours per week but she averages 37 hours per week the first and last weeks of the month to do billing.
The board discussed whether or not to pay Howell a salaried 40 hours per week or to continue to pay her on an hourly basis, based on 33 hours per week.
She said she takes work home, always indicates these hours on her time cards and has "given time" to the town.
Williams advised her not to take work home nor to give the town time.
"It's quicker to stamp envelopes at home when I'm not answering phones or waiting on customers," Howell said.
WIlliams told her to stay in the office after 5 p.m., if that is what it takes.
"I'm not staying in this office by myself after 5 at night, Stanley," the deputy clerk told the town councilman.
The salary ordinance was tabled until a special meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. Dec. 1.
The board amended Ordinance 98-10-3 regarding water rates.
A $75 shut-off fee was established to turn the water services on and again to turn the water services off from the meter into the house. The amendment specifies no charges for emergency shut-offs.
Enyeart was named spokesman for the town in the pending lawsuit filed by Max Weller.
Weller was terminated as town marshal Jan. 9, 1996. Weller served as town marshal for nine years until Jan. 14, 1995, when he resigned. He was sworn in as constable in August and reinstated as town marshal in October 1995. Reportedly an oral, one-year contract was entered into to pay Weller $15,000 for his services.
His refusal to attend the Indiana Police Academy in Plainfield as ordered by town council members Enyeart, Brake and Anthony Caudill (the latter has since resigned and been replaced by Williams), was cited as the reason for his termination.
The case will be heard Dec. 21.
It was noted the last day of leaf pickup is Nov. 30; and trees will be planted along Ind. 14 Monday and Tuesday.
