August 27, 2024 Meeting Minutes
- alyssaknepple5
- Aug 27, 2024
- 4 min read
SOUTH WHITLEY TOWN COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
TOWN HALL BOARD ROOM
118 E FRONT ST
SOUTH WHITLEY, IN 46787
AUGUST 27, 2024
6:30 PM
CALL TO ORDER: Meeting was called to order by Council President Randy Cokl at 6:30 pm. Members present were as follows: Council President Randy Cokl, Vice President Brock Waterson, Councilman Trey Weber, Town Marshal Mikel Vandevender, Utility Supervisor Kent Slater, Town Attorney Greg Hockemeyer, and Clerk-Treasurer Alyssa Knepple.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ADJUSTMENTS
NONE
NEW BUSINESS
HALLOWEEN TRICK-OR-TREAT HOURS: Dates and times were discussed for Town Wide Trick or Treating. The councilmen wanted to look into what surrounding towns and cities were doing before making a decision, so they agreed to table this discussion for the next meeting.
OLD DOWNTOWN LIGHT POLES: There have been residents asking about purchasing the old downtown lights after the new ones are installed. Town Attorney Greg Hockemeyer stated there would have to be submitted for a public auction and the county usually does an auction that the Town might be able to add some of the surplus light poles to. Mr. Hockemeyer said he will look into other different options and have more of an idea of what the Town should do at the next meeting.
LIGHT POLE BANNERS: Councilman Waterson would like to start looking into banners to purchase for the new light poles. Clerk Knepple said she has found a couple of different sites that have some options for holidays, seasons, and even a hometown hero option. These will be discussed again at a future meeting.
OLD BUSINESS
206 & 208 S STATE STREET PROPERTIES: The McCarthy’s are still interested, and Town Attorney Hockemeyer is getting the contract drawn up. There will be a set walk through for other interested parties with an appraisal estimate set by two town employees. The property information will be posted in the newspaper.
PUBLIC INPUT
TERESA CARRANO: She has bushes that line the side of her property that she oversees the maintenance. She had an agreement with the Town in which the Town was to notify her when the limbs needed to be cut back, and she would have a couple of days to get them taken care of. A Town employee went into her yard and cut branches of a tree and the side of the bushes way further than necessary and trespassed onto her property to cut said branches. Utility Supervisor Kent Slater and Councilman Waterson made public apologies for the agreement not being withheld and the employee cutting the branches and bushes too far. Marshal Vandevender will be the only one to notify Ms. Carrano about the length of the branches and the Town will no longer handle the overgrowth, unless Ms. Carrano doesn’t handle the overgrowth in a timely manner. In the event of the Town needing to cut back branches, Marshal Vandevender will be on site to ensure that only the agreed upon length is being cut back. The council is also going to speak with the county surveyor to check property lines in two other areas of Town where this problem also arises. The reason for the Town cutting the branches and bushes is because it blocks a “no parking” sign and there were a few complaints of no visibility to turn off Market Street.
DEPARTMENT HEADS:
PARK BOARD – DAVE WARNER:
WASTE WATER/UTILITIES SUPERVISOR – KENT SLATER:
TOWN MARSHAL – MIKEL VANDEVENDER:
· K-9 OFFICER BIA SWEAR IN: K-9 Bia is the new SRO dog for Whitko School Corporation. She was sworn in by Marshal Vandevender and her handler, SRO Officer Thomas.
· Officer Haupert is doing a great job with his field training and the Marshal has submitted his name for the Academy. The Marshal is hoping Officer Haupert can get in the January class of the Academy.
· K-9 Jaycee had to be medically retired and Officer Fannin was approached by the Wells County Sheriffs Department about a K-9 that had its handler quit. This dog is a 2.5-year-old female Belgian Malinois and German Shepard. She has been certified but would need to be trained for 3 weeks with Officer Fannin with the Allen County K-9 unit. Marshal Vandevender is asking the council to approve the purchase of the K-9 at $5,000 plus an extra $500 for a complete medical workup to ensure she will be a healthy K-9. Councilman Waterson made a motion to accept the purchase of the K-9 from Wells County of $5,000 and the extra $500 for the medical examination. Councilman Weber seconded. Motion passed with a vote of 3-0.
TOWN ATTORNEY – GREGG HOCKEMEYER:
· Mr. Hockemeyer is working on creating a new legal description of the Town limits. The last one was done in the 1960’s.
CLERK-TREASURER – ALYSSA KNEPPLE: Reminder of the budget hearing on September 10th at 6:30 pm.
APPROVALS:
APPROVAL FOR AUGUST 13TH REGULAR MEETING MINUTES: Councilman Waterson made a motion to accept meeting minutes from August 13th. Councilman Weber seconded. Motion passed with a vote of 3-0.
APPROVAL FOR AUGUST 27TH APV’S TOTALING $ 255,613.33: Councilman Waterson made a motion to accept the August 27th APV’s in the amount of $255,613.33. Councilman Weber seconded. Motion passed with a vote of 3-0.
APPROVAL FOR PAYROLL WEEK ENDING AUGUST 19, 2024 TOTALING $12,342.85: Councilman Waterson made a motion to accept payroll for the week ending August 19th totaling $12,342.85. Councilman Weber seconded. Motion passed with a vote of 3-0.
APPROVAL FOR PAYROLL WEEK ENDING AUGUST 26, 2024 TOTALING $10,965.59: Councilman Waterson made a motion to accept payroll for the week ending August 26th totaling $10,965.59. Councilman Weber seconded. Motion passed with a vote of 3-0.
ADJOURN at: Meeting was adjourned at 7:21 pm by Council President Randy Cokl.
APPROVALS:
ATTEST: