November 12, 2024 Meeting Minutes
- alyssaknepple5
- Nov 12, 2024
- 4 min read
SOUTH WHITLEY TOWN COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
TOWN HALL BOARD ROOM
118 E FRONT ST
SOUTH WHITLEY, IN 46787
NOVEMBER 12, 2024
6:30 PM
CALL TO ORDER: Meeting was called to order at 6:30 PM by Council President Randy Cokl. 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
ALLIANCE WATER PRESENTATION: Utility Supervisor Kent Slater presented the Water Plant Emergency Response plan to the council. This plan was updated and approved at the October 22nd meeting, but the plan must be presented again to the council for IDEM.
2024-1 CCMG LETTER PROPOSAL: South Whitley was awarded the remaining $300,000 from CCMG to have another partial street repaved in 2025. Main Street from Market Street to Columbia Street will be done under this contract. This remaining balance is from the 2024 -1 bid coming in lower than projected. Councilman Waterson made a motion to accept the DLZ contract and letter proposal for the 2024-2 CCMG project. Councilman Weber seconded. Motion passed with a vote of 3-0.
SET DATE FOR LAST 2024 COUNCIL MEETING: Councilmen discussed the last meeting of the year and decided to hold the meeting on Monday December 23rd at 6:30 PM. The regularly scheduled meeting would have been held on December 24th and the Town is closed for the holidays. The meeting information will be posted after the first meeting in December to let residents know of the change.
COUNCILMAN WATERSON: Jon Myers has reached out to Councilman Waterson about the opening for a part-time grant writer in 2025. He would like to do grant writing for the Town of South Whitley, while also taking the position of Town Manager. The councilmen had some discussion and decided to use this information as information only and did not take a vote on the request. The topic of a grant writer will be tabled until a future meeting.
OLD BUSINESS
· Councilman Weber is doing research on kayak and canoe “vending” machines for the Eel River launch in the Town Park.
· Councilman Cokl is working with SurfNet to get the parks in town free public WiFi. Surf can offer free instillation and Councilman Cokl is waiting for the official quote to approve at the next meeting.
· Councilman Waterson is still receiving calls about the stick pile at Hagan Park. He is going to work with Utility Supervisor Kent Slater to look into repairing or getting a new chipper to chip the limbs and leaves picked up throughout the year. There are options related to scheduling certain drop-off days or weeks of the summer where chipping will be available. Discussion will continue until there is a solution.
PUBLIC INPUT
There was no public input.
DEPARTMENT HEADS:
PARK BOARD – DAVE WARNER: Not Present
WASTE WATER/UTILITIES SUPERVISOR – KENT SLATER:
· Kent gave an update on the CCMG project. API should be done with construction by Thanksgiving.
· The leaf vac is in the shop. The water pump went out and it should be back in commission by the end of next week.
· It would cost the Town $255,000 to restore and paint the old water tower. It would cost $68,000 to take it down. The estimated cost also included a quote of $15,000 to touch up the new tower. The Town should look into grants or talk to the Whitley County Community Foundation to see if there is a 50/50 grant, they would award South Whitley for the project.
TOWN MARSHAL – MIKEL VANDEVENDER:
· Officer Johnson will be going to EVOC training in 2025.
· Officers Johnson and Thomas will be gone December 16 – 20 for instructor training.
TOWN ATTORNEY – GREGG HOCKEMEYER:
· Waiting for the signed contract with Mr. McCarty for the 206 & 208 S State Street properties. Once that is signed, there will be a closing date selected.
CLERK-TREASURER – ALYSSA KNEPPLE:
· Presented Council the new Holiday Decorations that will be put throughout downtown.
· REVISIT OFFICER THOMAS’ K9 PTO HOURS: Marshal Vandevender explained that Officer Thomas is allotted the K9 hours, but with him being the SRO, the school needed to be notified that this change was taking place. Councilman Waterson made a motion to give Officer Thomas 8 hours of PTO earned per month of employment with the K9. Councilman Weber seconded. Motion passed with a vote of 3-0.
APPROVALS:
APPROVAL FOR OCTOBER 22ND REGULAR MEETING MINUTES: Councilman Waterson made a motion to accept October 22nd regular meeting minutes. Councilman Weber seconded. Motion passed with a vote of 3-0.
APPROVAL FOR NOVEMBER 12TH APV’s TOTALING $ 1,021,494.96: Councilman Waterson made a motion to accept November 12th APV’s totaling $1,021,494.96. Councilman Weber seconded. Motion passed with a vote of 3-0.
APPROVAL FOR PAYROLL WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 28, 2024, TOTALING $ 11,457.98: Councilman Waterson made a motion to approve payroll week ending October 28 totaling $ 11,457.98. Councilman Weber seconded. Motion passed with a vote of 3-0.
APPROVAL FOR PAYROLL WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 4, 2024, TOTALING $ 10,481.88: Councilman Waterson made a motion to approve payroll week ending November 4 totaling $ 10,481.88. Councilman Weber seconded. Motion passed with a vote of 3-0.
APPROVAL FOR PAYROLL WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 11, 2024, TOTALING $ 11,687.71: Councilman Waterson made a motion to approve payroll week ending November 11 totaling $11,687.71. Councilman Weber seconded. Motion passed with a vote of 3-0.
ADJOURN at: Meeting was adjourned at 7:00 PM by Council President Randy Cokl.
APPROVALS:
ATTEST: