Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
WINONA LAKE - The Kosciusko County Firefighters Association plans to provide a smoke detector and battery for approximately 15,000 homes over the next few months in a door-to-door campaign.
Firefighter Kevin Bell outlined the association's program at the town council meeting Tuesday, explaining the detectors are free and firemen will install them.
"There have been five fire-related deaths in the county this year," Bell said. "None of the homes had a working smoke detector."
Since the door-to-door campaign will take a lot of manpower and a lot of time, the volunteer said homeowners can come to the fire station every Thursday evening and pick up a smoke detector.
"No fireman wants to take another dead person out of a home," he said. "Five deaths in this county is five too many."
In other fire department business, the board accepted the resignation of Chief Kip Shuter effective Nov. 1. Shuter, who will remain with the department as a firefighter, also was granted a leave of absence following his resignation.
In a written communication read by town coordinator Craig Allebach, Shuter cited family obligations as the reasons for the decision. He wrote the fire department's advisory board would meet Oct. 16 to suggest a new chief.
Board members agreed to a waiver of liability regarding the Roy Hauth property at the corner of Pierceton and Packerton roads.
Hauth claims the intersection encroaches on his property, which is marked with a corner post. He said any vehicle hitting the corner post could sustain major damage, and requested a waiver.
In other business the board:
• Approved Ryan A. Andrew as a reserve police officer as requested by town marshal Malcolm Gilbert. Andrew is a Grace College senior majoring in criminal justice and also works for the Grace College Campus Safety Department.
• Heard that construction on the community building should begin mid-December.
• Tabled bid opening for lot No. 45 in Country Garden Estates. No bids were received on the property.
• Approved advertising two vehicles for sale: a 1988 Chevrolet and a 1993 Ford.
Town council members are Jeff Carroll, president, Jerry Clevenger, David Delp, Craig Snow and Rolly Ortega.
The board regularly meets the second Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m. and the fourth Tuesday at 7 a.m. in council chambers in town hall.
