September 24, 2024 Meeting Minutes
- alyssaknepple5
- Sep 24, 2024
- 4 min read
SOUTH WHITLEY TOWN COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
TOWN HALL BOARD ROOM
118 E FRONT ST
SOUTH WHITLEY, IN 46787
SEPTEMBER 24, 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
OFFICER HAUPERT SWEAR IN: Officer Haupert was sworn in as an official law enforcement officer for the South Whitley Police Department. He had a large group of family and friends that came to support him. After the swearing in, the council called a 3-minute recess for the supporters to leave for pictures.
2025 BUDGET HEARING: Meeting was called to order for the budget hearing at 6:33 pm. Council had time to review and ask any questions about the proposed budget. Councilman Cokl adjourned the budget hearing at 6:36 pm.
· Councilman Waterson wanted to make a statement thanking the South Whitley Police Department for their fast response and quick decision to close school based on a legitimate threat made to Whitko Community School students.
OLD BUSINESS
206 & 208 PROPERTIES: Bid opening for the downtown properties will be on October 8, 2024 at the Town Council meeting starting at 6:30 pm. Bids will be opened and reviewed. The Council will make their decision at a separate public meeting to allow for full review and discussion over the bids.
PUBLIC INPUT
JORDAN HOLZWART: Jordan is the new market manager for Surf Net. His job is to come in after the installation construction is finished and make sure residents and new customers are getting the service they expect, and technical issues resolved in a timely manner. There are 695 homes in South Whitley that can get fiber internet services. About 2000 homes outside of town also now have fiber options as well. The council discussed the possibility of getting public internet access in some of the parks. Jordan said there would be different speed options available, but he would do some research and see what would work best for these areas and best fit out needs.
DEPARTMENT HEADS:
PARK BOARD – DAVE WARNER:
· Dave has been in contact with an engineer that will assist with the installation of the new swing set at White Rock Park.
· There were 51 pickleball teams that have registered to plat during the Fall Festival Tournament. Dave has been given access to South Whitley Elementary School in case of rain.
WASTE WATER/UTILITIES SUPERVISOR – KENT SLATER:
· Pennsylvania Ave has been finished. One API team is continuing work on Maple Street. East, Walnut, and Flint Streets will begin next week.
TOWN MARSHAL – MIKEL VANDEVENDER:
· Currently, the police officers that are full-time employed by South Whitley are receiving $5.00 per hour for
“on-call time”. The part-time officers that come from the County Sherriff’s Department or Columbia City Police Department are being paid $25.00 per hour for their “on-call” time. Marshal Vandevender is asking for the council to approve raising the “on-call” time to $20.00 for full-time officers. There isn’t usually a big need for “on-call” time for the full-time officers, but in October there is a big need with officers using vacation time. Councilman Waterson made a motion to raise the on-call time for full-time officers to $20.00 per hour for the next 30 days effective immediately. Councilman Weber seconded. Motion passed with a vote of 3-0.
TOWN ATTORNEY – GREGG HOCKEMEYER:
· Friday September 27th at 3:00 pm, anyone interested in submitting a bid for the old light poles can view the poles that are currently being stored at the Quonset hut. Kent Slater will meet the interested parties to allow them access.
· Friday September 27th at 3:00 pm will also be the time when interested businesses can look through the downtown buildings before submitting their bid and business proposals. Those proposals are due by 6:30 pm on October 8th.
CLERK-TREASURER – ALYSSA KNEPPLE: nothing to present
APPROVALS:
APPROVAL FOR SEPTEMBER 10TH REGULAR MEETING MINUTES: Councilman Waterson made a motion to approve meeting minutes from September 10th. Councilman Weber seconded. Motion passed with a vote of 3-0.
APPROVAL FOR SEPTEMBER 24TH APV’s TOTALING $ 263,520.43: Councilman Waterson made a motion to accept September 24th APV’s in the amount of $ 263,520.43. Councilman Weber seconded. Motion passed with a vote of 3-0.
APPROVAL FOR PAYROLL WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 16, 2024, TOTALING $ 12,155.84: Councilman Waterson made a motion to accept payroll for the week ending September 16th totaling $ 12,155.84. Councilman Weber seconded. Motion passed with a vote of 3-0.
APPROVAL FOR PAYROLL WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 23, 2024, TOTALING $ 11,508.59: Councilman Waterson made a motion to accept payroll for the week ending September 23rd totaling $ 11,508.59. Councilman Weber seconded. Motion passed with a vote of 3-0.
ADJOURN at: Meeting was adjourned at 7:08 pm by Councilman Cokl.
APPROVALS:
ATTEST: