Ferdinand Town Council: Chief’s resignation not the only hot button issue
Special from Ferdinand News
At 8 p.m. on Tuesday night, the Town Council paused in the regular agenda to hold a public hearing concerning their intent to sell the former Police Station on East 5th Street.
Resident Greg Rickelman was the first to speak. A real estate agent, Rickelman said the price of $42,500 is too low. He thought the council should go back to the drawing board and start the process over. “Why aren’t we looking for someone to come back to that 90% (of the average of two appraisals?).”
He questioned why a higher bid was not accepted.
Council President Ken Sicard said bidding was open for 45 days and only two bids were received, three if counting the one that was withdrawn.
“As a taxpayer I think it’s too cheap,” responded Rickelman.
“We would have liked to see the Legion have the property,” explained Council member Debbie Johnson, “as their property adjoins, but we had to follow state statute.”
Rickelman said real estate sales often take more than 45 days.
To concerns that bidder Roger Quante, who rescinded his bid, had been coerced due to problems with the former school he owned in Birdseye, attorney Bill Shaneyfelt said, “We didn’t force, suggest or compel him.”
They did let him withdraw his bid, which tallied 90% of the combined appraisals.
Both Rickelman and Larry Hilgeman Jr., also in attendance, said if the process started over they would pay more than the $42,500 offered by Paul Gogel and accepted by the council at a special meeting.
“I have trouble backing away,” Johnson told the men. She asked where they had been when the bid process was open.
In the end, the council voted to accept the bid, with Sicard abstaining as his son is set to marry Gogel’s daughter in September.
The council also:
• Learned from Town Manager Marc Steczyk that the Indiana Department of Transportation had reviewed bids for the Town Pedestrian/Bicycle Trails project and were satisfied with the $460,000 bid of Ragle Construction, a Newburgh-based company. Because there was a 24-hour turn-around, the Town had to accept the contractor within 24 hours. However, according to Clerk-Treasurer Bev Schulthise, only $335,000 remains in the construction fund so an additional $125,000-$200,000 must be found to fund the project, four years in the making. Despite the overage they made it official and accepted the bid.
• Learned the fire department made one fire run and three First Responder runs in April.
• Heard from Utility Superintendent Henry Haake that IDEM completed a Sanitary Sewer survey and there were no violations. The water tank has been repainted and the New Lake project is in process. The council approved Haake’s attendance at three seminars to receive the nine Continuing Education hours he needs.
•Agreed to spend $6,000 on a wastewater rate study, another $6,000 for a water rate study, and $31,000 for bond refinancing that could save around $650,000. HJ Umbaugh will handle all three items.
• Learned Shaneyfelt is conferring with Mike Jenner from Alpha Engineering on electric rates. Current provider Vectren, along with Duke Energy, AEP and IMPA will be invited to submit bids to provide wholesale electricity to the town when the current contract expires in 2014.
• Agreed to let Avenue Broadband, the town’s current cable provider, pay for pole rental from January 1 to the current date and then monthly thereafter until the company can determine if they can expand into the local market.
• Discussed the Wollenmann house restoration project. Pat Seger was low bidder for the work at $325,000. At this point, the council was unsure whether they would have to do anything officially as they submitted the grant on behalf of the Ferdinand Historical Society. Shaneyfelt said he needed a couple of items, including proof of insurance and a lien document required in the grant, and would speak with grant administrator Nathan Held with the Indiana Region 15 Planning Commission.
• Accepted a replacement performance bond for development of a road outside town limits but inside the buffer zone from Keith Steczyk.
• Adopted Stormwater Ordinance 2013-07, amending the current ordinance, as recommended by the Plan Commission.
• Heard five street projects are on the table for 2013 from property and Street Superintendent Tom Lueken. These include East 5th Street from Michigan to the intersection at 285 E; West 16th and Missouri (repair); East 8th and Delaware (repair); East 3rd Street (repair); and West 9th near 13th heading west and stopping near Best Drive.
• Heard addition project updates and departmental reports.
• Will meet again June 11 at 7:30 p.m. in Town Hall, which just got a facelift with new ADA-approved entrance doors on the front. The back door was also replaced but a wood-framed door was erroneously used. Keusch Windows and Doors will replace it as it was their error.
