SOUTH WHITLEY – Long-time town electrician David Mains is expected to retire this fall and the utility doesn’t have another certified electrician, someone licensed to repair or change lines with more than 600 volts, on the payroll.
To prepare for this eventuality, a quote from the Columbia City Electric Department was presented to the South Whitley Town Council June 12, offering their electrician’s services two days a month, for $800 a month. The quote was approved by Columbia City Mayor Ryan Daniel and electrical supervisor Larry Whetstone.
Utility manager Dennis Eberhart said the two days a month would be the minimum time required. Columbia City would also want to use their own trucks.
“They say our biggest problem is trees bringing down power lines,” Eberhart said. “We just don’t have anyone qualified to handle the big-voltage lines.”
Whetstone will be at the June 26 meeting to answer any questions.
Police officer Mike Lewis presented four quotes for police vehicles with loan rates from four banks as prepared by town marshal Dave Wilkinson.
Lewis said Wilkinson recommended the Ford Taurus, four-wheel drive vehicle, equipped with the “police package” of lights, sirens, lettering on the sides, special lock boxes and other law enforcement-related equipment. Crossroads Bank offered the lowest interest on a $39,000 loan.
Lewis asked for permission to order the vehicle as it will take 90 to 120 days to arrive with all the special equipment installed, which was approved by the town council.
Credit-debit card use Clerk-Treasurer Bob Gould said PayGov has been selected as the credit-debit card processor for the town utility bills. Because the company doesn’t charge governments fees, a $3 service fee would be added to anyone’s bill to use this convenience.
Gould also said Duke Energy representative Kevin Neal indicated a 7-percent reduction in the town’s charges for electricity.
This lower rate would not be passed on to South Whitley consumers, although Duke was ordered by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission to charge the lower fee to all its retail and wholesale customers. South Whitley is not a member of the IURC.
Gould said he was working on the forms requesting additional appropriations from the state for this year’s town operations. The budget submitted to the state was 15 percent lower than what was advertised in 2011 for 2012 expenses. Gould’s request is due by the end of the month.
The council approved Patricia Garcia, the former deputy clerk, be hired as consultant to assist Eberhart in filing paperwork for the water department to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Eberhart said forms are due by July 1 and Garcia is familiar with the process.
“She’s been answering questions and helping us for free,” Eberhart said.
The council agreed to pay $1,000 a week or $25 per hour.
Wastewater plant update Fleis and Vandenbrink consultant Dave Harvey presented several change orders for work at the wastewater treatment plant upgrades at a total cost of $46,377 which includes 36 extra days of work, too. F&V's overseeing of the work would be an additional $13,900.
Tony Starkey asked whether or not the work was on schedule and Harvey hedged his answer by saying, “We’d like to see more progress.”
“Is the work on schedule?” Starkey asked again, “That’s a yes or no answer.”
“The work should be 46 percent complete by now,” Harvey said. “It’s at 18 percent.” He also noted the work was to be substantially complete by December, so there was time for the construction crews to catch up.
Harvey also noted there were three intersections with catch basins in need of repair: at Main and Columbia streets on the northeast corner; at Wayne and Main and Line and Collamer streets.
Nepotism ordinance Town lawyer Greg Hockemeyer presented an anti-nepotism ordinance the town is required to approve per federal regulations.
“The ordinance doesn’t prohibit hiring relatives,” Hockemeyer said, “but it has to be disclosed.”
The ordinance has to be approved by the council prior to July 1.
Town council members are Tony Starkey, Bill Boggs and Steve Smith. The council meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 6:30 p.m.
