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SOUTH WHITLEY – At Wednesday night's meeting, rescheduled from Dec. 9, South Whitley Town Council approved holiday bonuses for qualifying town employees and one employee's apprenticeship program.
Full-time employees will receive $300 and part-time employees, who must work 96 hours to be considered eligible, will receive a $150 bonus. Elected officials will not receive bonuses.
Town employee Diana Welsh will enter the Alliance Apprenticeship Program in which a current water systems employee can complete training and a final exam to become a licensed water operations specialist. It is a two-year program.
Council tabled a website contract with Ryan Gable until the town attorney is present to review the contract at a public meeting.
Councilman Kris Shoemaker asked about the old bank building on State Street and whether the town is still interested in purchasing it from Tony Starkey. Council President Brock Waterson said the town is interested, which Shoemaker will pass on to Starkey before he lists the building publicly.
Town Marshal Chad Schipper presented a quote for a Polaris side-by-side vehicle. Council asked for an updated quote that reflects only the equipment the department would like installed on the vehicle.
Clerk-Treasurer Alyssa Knepple asked the council consider a hydrant fee to replace the hydrant rental, which is paid each year out of the general fund to the water department for use of the fire hydrants. The rental is $84,000 for 2026 which is not allocated in the town's budget. A fee to replace this would be around $5.35 per customer.
In other business, council:
• Approved a resolution to balance the town's American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) fund after it was shorted $168,000 during the downtown lighting project.
• Approved the annual services and maintenance contract with the Indiana Municipal Power Agency (IMPA) for the town's electric meters.
• Approved the 2026 salary ordinance on second reading.
• Approved a resident's sewer adjustment for $158.02.
Council will next meet at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 23.
