Ferdinand Town Council: Ordinance mania

It was a night for adopting ordinances and for wrapping up business for the year.

The Ferdinand Town Council met in regular session for the final time in 2015, on Tuesday night (December 15). They began by hearing departmental reports and learned that this Friday, December 18, would be the last day for curbside leaf pickup. After that residents should bag their leaves and bring them to the 23rd Street disposal site (they are directed by Property and Street Superintendent Tom Lueken to dump the leaves and take the bags back home).

The council approved two new members for the Volunteer Fire Department, pending clean drug screens. The two are Stephen Dekemper and Nicholas Rountree.

They heard what will be perceived by residents in the Holiday Lake area as “bad news.” The FAA has denied the Huntingburg Airport’s request to prevent construction of a cell tower in the area. The request had been made because the tower would be problematic for eastbound air traffic once the new runway is built.

However, council members noted that thus far, no application had been filed to build the tower. According to Town Manager Chris James, work slated for several months to alleviate problems with drainage at the Dollar General Store is close to completion. But while grading and sodding have been done, work must still begin to replace the orifice into which water drains and the parking lot will need to be asphalted, both of which may have to wait until Spring.

Council members approved a contract with Alt Witzig Engineering, located in Carmel, to complete a geotechnical investigation and make foundation recommendations for the foundation at the bio-solids processing facility being built to abate excess phosphorous in the town’s wastewater system.

The cost for boring to determine whether the soil is soft or rocky will cost $6,325 and the contract was approved, pending the company’s willingness to extend the pay period from 30 to 45 days to allow approval during the claims process. The council hopes to secure both a loan and a grant from Rural Development to pay for the mandated project.

To that end, they approved a Conflict of Interest Policy Ordinance (2015-12) that is required for the grant/loan application.

That was the just the start of a slew of ordinance adoptions, many the culmination of months of discussion while others were suggested by the State Board of Accounts following the town’s recent audit.

Ordinance 2015-13, requested by the Ferdinand Volunteer Fire Department early in the year, makes Key Box Emergency Access Systems (often referred to as Knox Boxes) a requirement for any new construction of businesses or industry.

The locked box will contain a key to the structure and the fire department will have the only key to the box. In an emergency they can get in and won’t have to wait for someone to unlock the door, nor will they have to carry a massive key ring filled with multiple keys.

Ordinance 2015-14 amended insurance benefits for town employees who will now have to contribute to their health insurance policies. An approximate 1% raise will defray some of the cost but pretty much negates any increase in pay. Ordinance 2015-15 came at the request of a wholesale electric supplier and will allow Clerk-Treasurer Bev Schulthise to pay the supplier by wire transfer.

Ordinance 2015-16 adopts a travel policy for town employees, mandated that hotel stays are paid at the government rate and capping food and other travel costs.

Ordinance 2015-17 adds a $5 fee for requested police reports following accidents, plus another $5 if a compact disc of the police photos is requested.

Ordinance 2015-18 is the salary ordinance for 2016, establishing salaries, compensation and wages. The 1% increase figures out to about $600 across the board. “We wanted to go higher but couldn’t get there,” explained Council President Ken Sicard.

Part of the problem was the $23,000 increase in health insurance costs to the town.

The council also:

-Were told by Police Chief Lloyd Froman that 29-year reserve officer, Corporal Bill Meyer, is retiring and praised him for his service. Froman asked for and received permission to advertise for five new reserve officers and will accept applications from interested parties.

-Learned Paul Voegerl, Jr., owner of Monster Recycling has filed bankruptcy and the likelihood of Ferdinand being reimbursed for breach of contract grew even slimmer.

-Signed nepotism, direct line supervision, and, in Councilman Ron Weyer’s case, a conflict of interest statement as required by law.

-Reappointed Schulthise as representative to the Indiana 15 Regional Planning Commission where she serves on the executive board as treasurer.

-Approved Luke Fleck replacing Donnie Mohr as assistant fire chief and Mohr — who held the position for nine years — to serve as exterior captain.

-Will meet again January 12 at 7:30, following an Economic Development Commissioner meeting at 6 p.m.