Ferdinand Town Council: Fire Chief hopes for something big and red for Christmas

While he didn’t show it, in all likelihood Ferdinand Fire Chief Dan Lindauer was on cloud nine during the Ferdinand Town Council’s Tuesday night meeting.

The fire department is in need of a new pumper truck and the department’s budget cannot cover the cost. Nor does the town have enough money in its coffers to handle the expense, although Ferdinand Township has promised to contribute $80,000 toward the purchase.

Enter Elliott Englert with the Indiana 15 Regional Planning Commission.

Englert attended the meetingto offer his agency’s assistance. He said a round of grant for fire department equipment purchases will soon open up and he will handle the paperwork for a $500 fee. The town would have to provide a 5% match, but 5% is a whole lot more palatable than 100%.

Councilwoman Debbie Johnson was concerned that Ferdinand is often not qualified for grants due to a lack of low to mod income residents, but Elliott assured this is not a factor, and the 5% match is based on population, not income.

The council approved the $500 expenditure and directed Lindauer to provide cost figures to get the ball rolling when the grants become available.

More good news came in a report from Town Manager Chris James. He has been in contact with the state highway department concerning flooding problems on East 23rd Street, also known as the State Forest Road or State Road 264.

About two months ago survey crews assessed a culvert that caused flooding problems for residents as well as the lift station in that area.

He was told the state plans to replace the culvert in 2017. James asked if the time frame could be moved up to 2016 but was told the required materials are not standard issue and may take that long for acquisition. While the state is now aware the town would like to speed up the process, at least it would appear the problem will be rectified in the next two years.

Council President Ken Sicard said he had contacted various agencies but the damage was not severe enough to garner any help.

Meanwhile, a Memorandum of Understanding has been submitted to Best Chairs in which the furniture industry giant has agreed to divert 12.5 acres of water to a detention pond to help with flooding on West 23rd Street.

East 23rd is a state highway while West 23rd is a town street, which is why different solutions are needed.

Best Chairs is not the cause of the problem, according to a recent report, but diversion of the water will go a long way to help.

Flooding problems at the Dollar General Store were created by a faulty installation and the current owner sent an email to Attorney Bill Shaneyfelt on October 29 saying the work will be completed to fix the problem any day now. However, no further word has been received and no work started.

“We’re creeping toward the direction of issuing fines,” noted Johnson.

“The fine is $200 per day,” explained Shaneyfelt.

Johnson told him to push the issue of fines with the owner, explaining they will be leveled if the work is not done.

The council also:

-Approved a resolution for the four time (in a row) State Champion Marching
Rangers Band, to be drafted by James.

-Discovered December 4 will likely bring foul weather as that is the day (or more correctly, evening) set aside for the Town’s Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony, which is being organized by Town Manager Chris James and a committee. The event had to be canceled the last two years thanks to Mother Nature (or Father Winter as the case may be).

-Heard from Police Chief Lloyd Froman that the training pistols approved at the last meeting had been delivered and Sargent Lueken is working on a training program. Froman said during the October 28 staff meeting, department members discussed enhancing business checks and plan to visit schools at least once daily. He is encouraging police officers to be more engaged within the community. Froman also reported Officer Eric Hopkins is enrolled in the Police Academy and will take his physical February 28. He will start at the academy on March 14, with graduation on June 24. Later in the meeting, the council adopted Ordinance 2015-10, amending the salary ordinance to include a starting salary of $14.25 per hour for Hopkins, retroactive to October 14. When he graduates from the academy, his salary will increase to $16.25 per hour. Froman said he enrolled in a new Police Chief Course and will attend March 28-April 1. In a final item, the chief praised Captain Ted Bieker and Lieutenant Rob Randle who were recently called out to administer CPR to an individual in the line of duty. The man would have died had it not been for their assistance.

-Approved purchase of two new laptops for the Police Department, replacing older models and within the 2015 budget, for $2,875. In addition, Froman was trying to find a light source so officers do not have to use the interior overhead. At $300 apiece, he found the cost exorbitant, but was able to locate a $25 model that can be hardwired to the system. The laptops are essential for issuing reports and eTickets, and the map lights will prevent the officers from being a lighted target.

-Learned Fire Fighter Laura Reckelhoff retired in September. Chief Lindauer praised her for her dedication during 15 1/2 years on the force, noting she securedFire Fighter 1 and 2 designations and was a First Responder. She also served as secretary/treasurer. “I want to thank her, she was a leader in our department and wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty,” said Lindauer. He told the council that before her retirement she was nominated for — and received — the 18th Fire District Global Award. Council members added their thanks as well.

-Heard from James, serving triple duty in the absence of Utility Superintendent Henry Haake and wastewater Superintendent Roger Schaefer, who was home sick. James said the Utility Department finished installing utilities at the new Taco Bell (the opening is set for December 1) and had been tackling routine maintenance. Wiring had been extended to the former police station for a new brewery/pizzeria, boring was completed under the soccer complex and conduit installed to extend wiring to MasterBrand. The next step will be feeding wire through the conduit. The only item up in the air (so to speak) is paving of Missouri Street following the water main replacement completed over the summer. Hunter Paving has the job penciled in and hopes to get to it before the plant shuts down for winter.

-Also from James, the Wastewater Department has been hauling sludge now that Big Foot is back in business but their ability to transfer it is weather driven and rain halts the process. Schaefer has also been prepping the property at 475E for the biosolids project and is removing smaller trees and brush. A State Forester will visit the site, probably in December, to determine which larger trees should be culled.

-Learned from Property and Street Manager Tom Lueken that his department is knee deep in leaves and curbside pickup, reserving Mondays for trash hauling. In his free time he is putting together a priority list for the ongoing ADA plan and moving forward with curb and gutter projects. Lueken reported he took delivery on half the road salt ordered for winter but wants to use his stockpile before buying treated salt.

-Heard Park Board President Mike Steffe publicly thank the Ferdinand 175th Committee for its generous donation of $10,000. He reported the parks are slowing for the season but the shelter houses are still being rented and the bathrooms remain open. The adult exercise equipment in 18th Street Park, as well as the Expression Swing, are being utilized and Park Board members are working on preliminary plans for the 5th Street Park project. Bids are expected in December.

-Learned from James the joint Chamber/Town Dinner held last Thursday was an overwhelming success.

-Formally accepted the resignation of office worker Lucinda Atkins. James and Clerk-Treasurer Bev Schulthise will recheck previous applicants and work to fill the part-time, 25 hours per week position. Meanwhile, the Town Manager’s intern may help out at the office.

-Heard an update on the phosphorous abatement/bio-solids project. Everything is moving forward, according to James, who said Town Attorney Bill Shaneyfelt was the spoke that feeds the hub on this project. Shaneyfelt added that Mike Strahl, with Rural Development, the agency that will, if all goes as planned, provide financing, still needs two documents: a short-term asset recovery equipment list and a rate comparison with similarly sized communities.

-Learned Shaneyfelt has filed a lawsuit against Monster Recycling and Paul Voegerl, Jr. for nonpayment.

-Heard an update on the eGov emergency notification system. The cost to set it up is $2,500 with a $875 yearly maintenance fee. All who sign up will receive texts warning of any impending disaster or problem, such as blocked roads due to snow or an accident. Ferdinand, Jasper and Huntingburg all plan to participate and anyone can sign up, even those in neighboring towns or distant states, but the texts will be Ferdinand-centric. If needed the council may later opt to add email alerts, but that doubles the cost. The details are still being worked out.

-Learned from Councilwoman Debbie Johnson the best temporary option for continued health insurance is to stay with All Savers until something better comes along. In 2015, the rates rose by 10% so the council budget for another 10% increase in 2016, but instead the cost will go up 26.8%. The council can search for an alternative but will stay with All Savers for at least the next three months.

-Reappointed Ken Sicard, Debbie Johnson, Ron Weyer, Brett Schipp and Margie Stallman to the Plan Commission and Matt Widolff to the BZA. The Park Board will check with Delores Boeglin to see if she would like to serve another term and Sicard will ask Brian Dale to continue on the Economic Development Commission. The next BZA and Plan Commission meetings will be held at 6:30 and 7 p.m., respectively, next Wednesday, November 18. The Economic Development Commission will meet at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, December 8 and the Town Council’s next session is slated for Tuesday, December 15 instead of the 8th due to a conflict.