September 10, 2024 Meeting Minutes
- alyssaknepple5
- Sep 10, 2024
- 5 min read
SOUTH WHITLEY TOWN COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
TOWN HALL BOARD ROOM
118 E FRONT ST
SOUTH WHITLEY, IN 46787
SEPTEMBER 10, 2024
6:30 PM
CALL TO ORDER: Council 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, Town Marshal Mikel Vandevender, Utility Supervisor Kent Slater, Town Attorney Greg Hockemeyer, and Clerk-Treasurer Alyssa Knepple. Councilman Trey Weber was absent from meeting.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ADJUSTMENTS
ALLISON LOUTHAN 205 N CALHOUN ST | $ 135.65 | Councilman Waterson made a motion to accept adjustment in the amount of $135.65. Councilman Cokl seconded. Motion passed with a vote of 2-0. |
NEW BUSINESS
2025 BUDGET HEARING: Because of uncertainty about one of the amounts included in the budget, the hearing has been tabled until the September 24th council meeting.
OLD BUSINESS
TOWN HALLOWEEN HOURS: Councilman Waterson made a motion to have Halloween Trick or treating on Saturday October 26th from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Councilman Cokl seconded. Motion passed with a vote of 2-0.
206 AND 208 S STATE PROPERTIES: Councilman Waterson has been in contact with Mr. McCarty, who is interested in the buildings. He said that Mr. McCarty is willing to wait and understands there is a process to getting the contract approved. Attorney Hockemeyer is working on getting the public notice for the buildings published and drawing up a contract for the business that will take ownership of the properties. Once the contract is finalized, Attorney Hockemeyer will send it to the Clerk for the council to review.
FALL BANNERS: The council would like the Clerk to find some fall banners for the new light poles. They would also like to see some other holiday themed ones that can be displayed throughout town.
FALL FESTIVAL: The South Whitley Fall Festival is September 26th through September 29th. The cutest kid contest will be held at the library on Thursday September 26th. There will also be a Hobby Horse race for adults and kids, the bed race will have a $500 prize, there will be a parade and train rides sponsored by Bower’s Towing and Repair. The library is also having an art show and South Whitley festival trivia.
PUBLIC INPUT
KAREN JORDAN: The old water tower is part of the historic district and cannot be torn down. She is recommending the Town hire a grant writer to apply for money to help with the repainting and preservation of the tower. The tower was built in 1928.
TRINA FETCHIK: Trina lives at 303 S Line Street and has a tree in her tree lawn that has a crack right down the middle of it. She is asking for the Town to pay to have the tree removed. She is on disability and can’t afford the costs to take it down. Attorney Hockemeyer stated that it is the homeowner’s responsibility to take care of the trees in the property’s tree lawn. Marshal Vandevender advised the council to have someone look at that specific tree because if it came down, it would do a lot of damage to Line Street and some of the Town’s assets. The Council told Utility Supervisor Kent Slater to look at the tree and get a quote.
DEPARTMENT HEADS:
PARK BOARD – DAVE WARNER:
WASTE WATER/UTILITIES SUPERVISOR – KENT SLATER:
· API APPRAISAL APPROVAL FOR FLINT STREET WATER LINES: API has given the Town a quote for Flint Street water line work. This would bring the Flint Street water lines around and connect them back to the main. It would help eliminate the sediment building up at the end of the current line and feeding into Flint Street residents’ homes. Councilman Waterson made a motion to accept the API quote up to $46,360. Councilman Cokl seconded. Motion passed with a vote of 2-0.
· AG PLUS: Ag Plus purchased the old Whitley Tax building and the parking lot property next door. They would like to work with the Town and IMPA to re-route the existing power lines to allow grain trucks to use the parking lot as a staging area. This would help lower the amount of semi-truck traffic on State Street. Ag Plus needs to verify the parking lot is zoned for industrial use and IMPA should have a quote ready at the next council meeting.
TOWN MARSHAL – MIKEL VANDEVENDER:
· OFFICER HAUPERT CONTRACT: Officer Haupert will be sworn in at the council meeting on September 24, 2024. He will be attending the police academy class from January 6, 2025, to April 25, 2025. The contract being presented is for 3 years of employment as reimbursement for expenses incurred for the academy and equipment. Councilman Waterson made a motion to accept the 3-year reimbursement contract with Officer Haupert. Councilman Cokl seconded. Motion passed with a vote of 2-0.
· WHITKO SRO MOU APPROVAL: Marshal Vandevender is asking the council to approve the Whitko MOU and give the Marshal the authority to sign. This MOU contract is for the 2024-2025 academic school year. Councilman Waterson made a motion to allow Marshal Vandevender to sign the 2024-2025 MOU. Councilman Cokl seconded. Motion passed with a vote of 2-0.
· NEW SQUAD CAR QUOTES: Marshal Vandevender has received lease information regarding the purchase and equipment instillation of two new police vehicles. Crossroads Bank is offering a 4- or 5-year repayment plan. The Clerk would like to go with the 4-year repayment plan since it would save on interest expenses. Councilman Waterson made a motion to accept the Crossroads Bank 4-year lease in the amount of $124,176.50. Councilman Cokl seconded. Motion passed with a vote of 2-0.
· OFFICER FANNIN: Officer Fannin and his new K-9 will start training the week of September 16th. It is a 3-week course, but depending on performance, it could only be 2 weeks.
TOWN ATTORNEY – GREGG HOCKEMEYER:
· Attorney Hockemeyer has been working on the public notices for the 206 & 208 S State properties and the notice of public auction for the old downtown light poles. The minimum bid for the poles is set at $200 and will have a pre-bid view of the lights before private bids are taken. Councilman Waterson made a motion to allow Attorney Hockemeyer to handle the auction for poles and continue the notice for the S State properties. Councilman Cokl seconded. Motion passed with a vote of 2-0.
CLERK-TREASURER – ALYSSA KNEPPLE:
· OFFICE CLOSURE NOTIFICATION: The Clerks’ office will be closed on September 26th from 9:30 am to 2:30 pm so the office can participate in the Babe of Whitley County Golf Outing.
APPROVALS:
APPROVAL FOR AUGUST 27TH REGULAR MEETING MINUTES: Councilman Waterson made a motion to accept meeting minutes from August 27th. Councilman Cokl seconded. Motion passed with a vote of 2-0.
APPROVAL FOR SEPTEMBER 10TH APV’s TOTALING $ 247,542.24: Councilman Waterson made a motion to accept APV’s totaling $ 247,542.24. Councilman Cokl seconded. Motion passed with a vote of 2-0.
APPROVAL FOR PAYROLL WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 2, 2024 TOTALING $ 11,630.40: Councilman Waterson made a motion to accept payroll for the week ending September 2nd in the amount of $11,630.40. Councilman Cokl seconded. Motion passed with a vote of 2-0.
APPROVAL FOR PAYROLL WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 9, 2024 TOTALING $ 11,181.00: Councilman Waterson made a motion to accept payroll for the week ending September 9th in the amount of $11,181.00. Councilman Cokl seconded. Motion passed with a vote of 2-0.
ADJOURN: Meeting was adjourned at 7:20 pm by Council President Randy Cokl.
APPROVAL:
ATTEST: