Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
PIERCETON - Tensions rose at the Pierceton Town Council meeting Tuesday, June 9 after council addressed multiple questions on a variety of topics.
Council Vice President Matt Brubaker read an email that the council received from resident Annie Espinoza asking four questions regarding the bathrooms at Brower Park, the basketball court, a junk van at the water plant and the sidewalk project. She noted in the email that it was to find “some type of answers or accountability.”
Espinoza asked about the “creator of Paragon Medical offering to pay in full for a bathroom at Brower Park,” with a request that the Pierceton Chamber of Commerce take turns keeping the bathrooms clean, which the Chamber said no to. She stated in the email that the “town council wants to use the town money and money from other grant(s) … to pay for a bathroom that was free before.”
Brubaker answered that he understood the frustration surrounding the donation offer for the restroom at Brower Park but noted “it’s important to remember that those discussions and decisions took place years before any of the current council members were serving in these positions. None of us had the opportunity to participate in or influence those decisions.”
Susan Mort, who has been on the Board of Directors for the Chamber, stated that the bathroom decision was tabled by the board because no one wanted to clean it. She stated that Paragon never said they would have any part of cleaning it but would sponsor it.
Espinoza's second question was about the Park Board agreement for a free basketball court as long as the Park Board pays for hoops. She noted that the end result was “the town council paid over $35,000 plus out of the K21 Foundation (monies),” asking why “the same company that was doing it for free” would result in the council paying that fee.
Brubaker stated that “Chris Staley (with LexLil Contracting) did at one time offer to install a basketball court at the community park at no cost” and that the K21 Community Park Project was a lot larger than a basketball court. He noted the bidding that went on, as well as the “specifications for the project reportedly exceed(ing) $300,000,” noting that by accepting one company’s bid, the community saved well over $75,000. Brubaker noted that he did not believe it was accurate to say the town paid $35,000 that was once free, when the town received not only the basketball courts, but additional improvements.
Espinoza's third question was about a junk van sitting at the water plant that appeared to belong to a town councilman and asked who gave him permission to park it there. Brubaker clarified that it did not belong to any council member and was donated to the Pierceton Police Department earlier this year for “use in law enforcement training exercises.” He noted that the vehicle is “located within a secured area of town property,” and noted that it is important to have all the facts.
The final question was about when the sidewalk project that will be from Catholic Street/Third Street had been approved. Brubaker noted that it was discussed and approved at the public meeting on Feb. 10, with Zach Dripps from Michiana Area Council of Governments being in attendance to ask to help Town Clerk-Treasurer Myra Mast with making a letter of intent for the Community Amenities Project Grant application.
Espinoza remarked in the meeting that she was frustrated and how “this is the first time in 50 years that there is no t-ball going on at the ballpark.” She voiced her frustration with people quitting, not volunteering, and asked what the council would do to “stop putting band aids on them." Espinoza also expressed her frustration with all of the issues that she emailed about, along with how it did not seem to her that the council was doing anything to fix it.
“We have a public meeting that this floor is open where people can come and voice their concerns,” said Council President Glenn Hall. “I’ve been on this council for two and a half years, and we’ve tried to get things done. Since getting on this council, and when people don’t get their way, we’ve become the spawns of Satan because we’re trying to do some good things for this town. I can’t answer for things that happened 10 years ago. I’ve been trying to do what I know … and I resent the fact that we’re being held accountable for things that happened 10 years ago.”
Hall also remarked that Espinoza had told the council to resign after the second meeting Hall set in on.
Espinoza brought in a flag that was donated by a veteran years ago and has been in her possession. She stated that there should have been a flagpole erected so it could be up. When asked why she never brought it to a meeting, she stated “no one ever asked for it.”
“I’ve only been on here for a year and a half, I have no clue that any of that stuff needed to happen,” stated Council member Chauncey Smith. “All of the things you’re talking about were way before me. We are trying to do our best to make this town thrive again. I’ve been working on the council … and on the Pierceton Days committee trying to get that going, and that’s not been easy. We’ve been struggling and I hope it will be worth it. It’s not our fault, and it’s in the past. Your husband was on the council, why don’t you ask him why things weren’t done?”
Espinoza said the “town is broken,” and how “people won’t use a sidewalk to connect us to other places.” The council responded that this is something the county was working on to connect all the small towns through the trails system. She asked if there had been any further comments on the sewer backup, to which Hall responded that he has been in contact and working with the county to get the problem resolved.
Mort noted that there is no money for any organization, and trying to get people is hard anymore. She stated that volunteers need to have the passion and backbone to continue coming back again and again.
Angela Himes asked that since the Lions Club pavilion would be torn down, since it was a “Lions thing,” if she could take the Lions signage and give it to one of the other Lions Clubs. Hall told her that she is welcome to them, and that they will look into any other Lions stuff to give back to them. She also gave information to the council for the Sleep In Heavenly Peace fundraiser, which Hall asked for more information about.
Tim Joy asked if the council could look at the downed stop sign at Fourth and Elm Streets. It is a safety concern, and he is afraid someone may get hurt. He also asked about the Whitko sign on U.S. 30 and if that would be fixed. The council told him they would bring that up with the school, since they owned the sign.
