Best Home Furnishings interested in Ferdinand property; could build new plant and employ 50

The most interesting piece of information came at the end of the Ferdinand Town Council’s inaugural meeting of 2016.

Town Attorney Bill Shaneyfelt explained he had been approached by Steve Wahl with Best Home Furnishings, who wondered if the town would be interested in selling some remnant property near Industrial Park Road and 23rd Street, close to the fire station.

Best is considering purchasing a parcel from Möbel and would build a subsidiary plant that would employ about 50 workers.

The property owned by the town is not used for anything and basically, must be mowed.

Council members agreed to let Shaneyfelt continue the discussion. He explained survey work would be required and probably an appraisal of the irregularly shaped parcels. He will also work with Property and Street Manager Tom Lueken to make certain no funding streams would be jeopardized by the sale.

The Tuesday night meeting began with the Oath of Office issued by ClerkTreasurer Bev Schulthise, who had already been sworn in by County Clerk Bridgette Jarboe. Schulthise also swore in Delores Boeglin for the Park Board, after which the council appointed her for another four-year term.

As is always the case at the first meeting of the year, election of officers was held with Ken Sicard maintaining his seat as president and Ron Weyer as vice president.

During departmental reports, the council gave the okay for Wastewater Superintendent Roger Schaefer to write the spec and seek bids for a replacement truck for the 1987 GMC now in use. Schaefer was directed to seek bids with and without a plow attachment.

Pastor Josh LaGrange and Brady Werne from True Vine Baptist Church were in attendance, along with Courtney Jacobs from Salem UCC. The two church families are planning a mission trip to St. Victor, Belize this summer and want to hold a 5-K fundraiser entitled You Better Belize It on Saturday, March 26 in 18th Street Park. Permission granted.

Council members learned from Town Manager Chris James that Folk Fest 2016 is in the initial planning stages and the Halfway to the Fest announcement of acts is scheduled tentatively for March 19.

James also said the Leadership Academy Board plans to meet January 27 and new board members are being sought. Anyone interested in serving should contact him for details.

Updates were given on the phosphorus abatement project and Shaneyfelt noted construction was scheduled to begin in April according to the timeline set forth by IDEM. However, financing will not likely be in place before late March, which won’t allow time for the bidding process. Shaneyfelt wants to contact IDEM sooner rather than later seeking an extension, but would like to have a better idea on the time frame expected from Rural Development, the preferred funding source for the project.

Meanwhile, Schaefer said the trees have been culled from 475E and this timber will be inventoried and sold via the usual bid process followed when the town sells personal property.

The council also:

•Approved hiring Jane Oeding as a part-time utility clerk for 20-24 hours per week.

•Adopted Ordinance 2016-01 dealing with rental of the Senior Citizens Center.

•Transferred $21,600 within the Park Fund to pay bills, via Ordinance 2016-02.

•Agreed to hire Indiana 15 to update zoning maps at a cost of $2,340.

•Entered into an agreement with Frontier to be paid $10 per pole rental for the 416 town poles the phone company uses, minus the 102 Frontier poles the town uses. This works out to $3,140 paid by Frontier to the town.

•Agreed to accept $1,800 as a final payment from Monster Recycling, which will cover costs and attorney fees.

•Heard the storm water drainage improvements made by Dollar General appear to be working but that engineer Steve Grundhoefer wants to check out the system when it’s completely dry.

•Learned Tom Lueken has a plan ready for spring approval to alleviate water that flows and stands in the road (and often freezes) at 9th and Virginia.

•Learned Indiana 15 is gathering information for a grant that would purchase a new fire truck.

•Will meet again in regular session on Tuesday, February 9 at 7:30 p.m. The Economic Development Commission will meet prior, at 6 p.m. Ferdinand Board of Zoning Appeals will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 27, followed by the Plan Commission at 7 p.m.