Ferdinand Town Council: Honoring heroes

Courtesy of Ferdinand News

What constitutes a hero?

Are they born or do circumstances make them such?

While that may be a tough question to answer, recognizing heroics in action is not difficult.

Two Ferdinand Police officers displayed their heroism on November 5, but it’s doubtful either one thought about being a hero when they jumped in and saved a man’s life.

According to Ferdinand Town Council President Ken Sicard, in the early morning hours of that fall day, Donna Haake found her husband, Pat, on the floor. He was nonresponsive. She immediately dialed 911 and was told to start CPR. The call was issued at 5:47:14 a.m.

Officers Ted Bieker and Rob Randle arrived at 5:47:55 — 41 seconds later — and took over, Bieker handling the breathing and Randle the compression. They were able to revive Haake by the time the Fire Department arrived at 5:50 a.m. and handed over duties at 5:51 when the ambulance arrived.

Without their quick action and response, it is doubtful Haake would have been able to attend the February 9 Town Council meeting to offer thanks.

Sicard presented each man with a special plaque and noted, “Between all of them and God Pat Haake is here tonight. They’ll tell you they were just doing their job but we’re here with their friends and family to present this small award.”

The officers received a standing ovation and Sicard concluded, “That felt good!”

During the two-hour meeting a massive amount of business was attended to, but it is a safe bet attendees will long remember Bieker and Randle’s show of heroism.

In other police business, Chief Lloyd Froman introduced three potential reserve officers, who will begin Basic Training February 23 and should be ready to roll by March 19. Daniel Schnieders, 28, recently moved back to Ferdinand from Troy. He previously served as a reserve for the Tell City PD but needs to go through training to be recertified. Employed at International Paper in St. Anthony, Daniel is the son of Jim and Carla Schnieders, the husband of Allison and father of Quinn, almost three and Knox, one and a half.

Riley Fleetwood, of Jasper, attended Vincennes University for law enforcement. Employed at Turf Pro, the 21-year old son of Greg and Jenny Begle notes, “This is something I’ve always wanted to pursue.” He is excited about the upcoming training and looking forward to serving.

Steffen Zink, 28, of Jasper, says he recently discovered a passion for police work, noting the urge to protect, inspired by his two-year-old daughter spurred him on. A delivery driver for Coca Cola, he had applied for and made it to the final cut for a position with the Jasper Police
Department but is thrilled to be serving Ferdinand as a reserve officer, even on a voluntary basis, and would love to work his way up. He is the son of Kathy Zink and Scott Luker.

The council also:

•Heard Park Board President Mike Steffe joke that Governor Mike Pence stole his idea by finding a good person to replace another good person. He then announced long-time Park Board member and former president Scott Tretter was stepping down and introduced Tretter’s replacement, Matt Weyer, who recently moved back to Ferdinand and will be, according to Steffe and Tretter, a real asset for the Park Board.
•Also from Steffe that on Wednesday, March 2, the Park Board will hold a lease meeting with major lease holders at 4:30 p.m. and representatives of those organizations are asked to attend.
•Learned, during departmental reports, that Wastewater Superintendent Roger Schaefer had to contend with a log jam at Lift Station No. 1 on East 23rd Street. Had he not removed debris (comprised of limb waste from someone upstream who culled the limbs) with a
backhoe, the lift station would have flooded out. Councilwoman Debbie Johnson reminds residents to dispose of yard waste properly to prevent this situation from recurring.
•Gave Town Manager Chris James the go ahead to look into a replacement vehicle and opened four bids for a new wastewater department truck, bidded with and without a snow plow attachment. The bids were taken under advisement for review.
•Will advertise the sale of timber from the property where the phosphorous abatement beds will go. Bids must be turned in by March 7 and will be opened March 8 at 8 p.m. Only registered, licensed timber buyers can purchase for resale, although individuals wishing to purchase the lumber for personal use are welcome to bid. Watch next week’s News for a public notice outlining the sale protocol.
•Approved use of 18th Street Park and the lower shelter house for a Glow Run fundraiser for Stirring Up Hope horseback riding therapy to be held April 9 at 7 p.m.
•Heard an update from Attorney Bill Shaneyfelt on a proposal to sell some town-owned land to Best Home Furnishings on which the company wishes to build an office/storage for KNU LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary. The town has no plans for the parcel. The council approved
a map of the delineated area, leaving a larger buffer around Fire Station No. 2, and Shaneyfelt said it will be a win/win/win, as the parcel will be taxed, and jobs will be created. Best will pay for surveys, two appraisals and other related expenses. The selling price will be determined by the average of the appraisals.
•Adopted Ordinance 2016-04, which badically cleans up language in a previous ordinance to make sure Ferdinand’s code mirrors the state’s; and Ordinance 2016-05, setting park user fees per the recommendation of the State Board of Accounts.
•Adopted an additional appropriation, encumbering $18,000 the Park Board saved from 2015 and a $10,000 gift following the 175th celebration. The funds will be used for the building at 5th Street Park. It will take the state about 15 days to give a yea or a nay but most likely a yea as the funds are available.
•Heard from Shaneyfelt that stormwater drainage remediation at Dollar General Store did the trick and the item can be removed from the monthly agenda.
•Approved payment of $5,062.78 in quarterly installments to Dubois Strong for 2016 and $1,000 to the Dubois County Leadership Academy.

The town council will meet again at 7:30 p.m. on March 8, to be preceded at 6 p.m. by the Economic Development Commission meeting. The Board of Zoning Appeals will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 24 with the Plan Commission meeting following immediately at 7 p.m.