Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SOUTH WHITLEY - Cole Engineering keeps adding additional costs to the sanitary sewer - storm drain installation project, costs which have not been mentioned in discussions. Town council members Glee Eberly, Tom Rudd and Tony Starkey question this practice.
Several Cole engineer-consultants have represented the project over the past several months, beginning with Samir Mattix and seemingly ending with Mark Nye, who expressed an interest in the project, yet charges for travel time from Indianapolis. The engineering firm has an office in Fort Wayne.
Another unexpected $50,000 was recently added to the town's bill, and Cole representatives will be asked to appear at the Feb. 23 meeting to explain these costs.
Newly elected Cleveland Township Trustee Ron King attended the meeting requesting "gray areas" become clear concerning ownership of fire department equipment and real estate.
The board agreed to list their property and give an accounting of appropriations.
A new fire station is scheduled for construction on property north of the railroad tracks, a move that takes the fire department out of the downtown area.
In other business the board:
• Rescheduled park board representatives for a Feb. 23 appearance. A park board member drafted an illustration of a drinking fountain for Town Park. A $3,000 grant was awarded from Whitley County Community Foundation based in part on that design.
The drinking fountain was installed by Delta Theta Psi sorority years ago in memory of Mary Cramer and was demolished by a runaway truck in October.
Representatives from the park board and the sorority were to collaborate on replacement of the fountain. According to Eberly, president of the council and a member of the sorority who is representing both entities, she was not consulted regarding the park board's grant proposal and the sorority does not approve the design.
• Approved a final five-year contract with Worley Disposal/Allied Waste for trash collection.
The next town council meeting is Feb 23 at 7:30 p.m. in town hall.
