Town approaches county commissioners for help

The Winamac Town Council is looking to clean up the town and they have a plan that might require a little help from the county.

During a regular commissioners’ meeting on Monday, Winamac Town Council President Ken McFarland, councilman Dan Vanaman and town manager Brad Zellers approached the commissioners about purchasing a piece of property in the town limits.

The reason they were approaching the commissioners is because the property could be up for a tax sale soon and there is also an order to condemn or repair it.

Zellers said the town would like to acquire the property at 201 W. Main St. or the old Long Branch Hotel. He is hoping the town can acquire the property, so the dilapidated building can be torn down. It currently is causing an eyesore at the Winamac Pathway.

“We would like to get it down before it falls,” Zellers said.

The town would like help removing the building.

Building inspector Dave Dare said the order still stands on the property, even if the town were to acquire it. There is some funding available that could be used to help with the building demolition. The cost of the tearing down the building is estimated to be about $15,000. Dare said the town will need to bid it out because it is over $10,000.

Zellers said the town would bid it out.

“I’m sure there will have to be some attorneys involved in this on both sides to figure out the proper way to address the whole thing,” McFarland said.

Commissioner Bud Krohn Jr. suggested that the county highway trucks could be used to haul the debris away, saving the town money. “I would like to be able to help you.”

Brady said when the building is owned by the town, the county can help with the project. It’s when the building is owned by a private citizen that the situation becomes complicated.

Commissioner Larry Brady suggested that when the town is ready to move forward to let the commissioners know.

Commissioners also approved for 3.5 acres of property in the industrial park to be purchased by the town for $3,000. The advisory commission on industrial development approved the selling of the property last week. The property will be used to expand the Winamac Cemetery. The request was approved. The expansion of the cemetery will allow for additional pauper, military and veteran graves.

“I think this is a great gesture — a great move forward for our community,” Brady said.

County road 50 W. separates the properties.

In other business:

• Concerns regarding an issue with the building department were expressed by two people wanting to build a small house. During the meeting, commissioner Larry Brady apologized for a miscommunication with the building department. Brady and Pulaski County Community Development Commission Executive Director Nathan Origer tried to address their concerns by educating them on how zoning in the county works and how the board of zoning functions. Building inspector Dave Dare then met with them outside the meeting. Dare later apologized for a miscommunication.

• Krohn Jr. said there is a concern about the intersection of CR 550 S. and CR 300 E., near Star City, where a number of accidents have occurred. Some residents are wanting to make it a four-way stop. County highway superintendent Terry Ruff said he knowns the concerns about the intersection and it is up to the commissioners if they want to change the intersection. A cement block that was near the intersection has been removed, according to Ruff.

• Pulaski County EMS Director Nikki Lowry said the department is seeing an increase in calls and she is having problems staffing the third truck. She has enough employees to staff the truck for three days. “We are not the only one looking for medics,” Lowry said. “The medic pool is pretty much dried up here.” She also said the new billing and reporting software is installed and they will begin billing with it on Oct. 1.

• As the chairman of the safety committee, Lowry said she is attending a safety training seminar in October. Lowry said the committee is halfway through reviewing the safety manual and revising it. “We are hoping to finish that up by our October meeting and present it to you in November. It is more specified for our county.” She will be contacting a few county departments because they have not contacted the safety committee.

• EMA director Sheri Gaillard talked with the commissioners about appointing Brady to the DPC board. A motion was made to appoint Brady to the board. He will be representing the county. She also requested the approval of a resolution regarding two signatures of county officials for e-signatures for grant funding. In the past a commissioner and the county auditor have signed for those grants. It was approved that the auditor and Brady will sign for the grants. She asked for suggestions from the commissioners in regards to low-income families who may be good candidates to receive an all-hazard weather radio. She has received 10 radios that she will give to those families. Commissioner Terry Young made the suggestion for her to contact some local township trustees.

• Origer informed the commissioners that the updating of the zoning ordinance is almost complete. Due to some scheduling issues and ensuring there is plenty of time for the commissioners and the planning commission to review the changes, the public hearing regarding the ordinance will be introduced in November.

• Origer requested to attend the Indiana Economic Directors’ conference. His request was approved.

• Recycling and transfer station director Brad Bonnell gave a brief report on business at the recycling and transfer station including how much the county is earning by recycling. He requested permission to open a bank account to deposit the credit card transactions in. The council recently approved that the recycling and transfer station could use a credit card machine as a way for customers to pay their bills. His request was approved. A motion was also approved for Bonnell to purchase checks and transfer some funding in the account from the professional services line item of the recycling and transfer station budget.

• Ruff said 18 miles of roadway have been improved with a blade mix. There is a little additional funding left that he would like to use to improve a section of roadway in Star City with hot mix. His plan is that each year there is to be a little funding left to improve a different road in Star City.

• Krohn Jr. said county farmers need to beware that the commissioners are looking at implementing a frost law in the county. An ordinance is currently being created. Commissioners discussed with Ruff if there is funding in the budget available for signs to announce the frost law will be enforced in the county.

• Sheriff Jeff Richwine said the new animal control officer, John Kleinofen, is running into the problem of not having a place to house the stray animals that are being captured in the county. The Pulaski Animal Center will not accept animals that are not adoptable. Starke County Humane Society is full. Some residents in the county are housing the strays until homes can be found or a shelter is open. “I think we need to start thinking about where that needs to go,” Richwine said. Young suggested that a couple kennels could be purchased and the dogs could be housed briefly for the county. Richwine said the problem with that is having someone to take care of the animals. The animal control officer is a part-time position. Richwine praised Kleinofen for his work. “He is trying to watch his hours. I know he does a good job.” Brady suggested that maybe during the upcoming joint session, the issue could be discussed.

• A motion was approved that when the county home property is split and sold that the driveway stays with the county.

• Krohn Jr. said he would like to see some of the military equipment and the vehicles sold. There is currently a question of which military vehicles are insured and whether those same vehicles are property plated and registered. Richwine said he is working on disposing or returning the military items. The items that are considered “tactical” cannot be sold. “There is a wisdom in keeping some of that,” Richwine said. He used the example of during the polar vortex that Pulaski County was one of a few counties helping stranded residents. “We have a bunch, so I think that some of that can be sold.”

• A conference request was approved for the EMA department.

• The payroll was approved.

• Claims were approved with opposition from Krohn Jr. Krohn Jr. didn’t approve a few of the claims because they were questionable.