Ferdinand Town Council: Keeping up with technology

Ferdinand —GIS, GPS — today’s rapidly changing technology provides more acronyms that Carter’s has pills.

Both GIS (a geographic information system that allows the user to visualize, question, analyze, interpret and understand data) and GPS (Global Positioning System, a space-based satellite navigation system that provides location and time information) were topics of discussion at Tuesday night’s council meeting.

More specifically, Town officials were interested in purchasing a hand-held, stand-alone system to precisely document the location of all sorts of items, from manholes to intersections, to within four inches. They can also capture coordinates. This can be overlaid on the Town’s existing GPS map.

Eric Muncie, with Precision products of Louisville, KY, was on hand along with town employee Ryan Ernst to discuss the Trimble GIS.

The 6000 Technology unit not only measures placement, but elevation and can take photos to add a visual component. This information can be used by engineers in the design stage of any project, be it wastewater lines, the location of hydrants — whatever . Unique software allows town employees to do their own data collecting and the information can be sent to other systems besides the town’s GPS — exported to Google Earth for example.

After questions were answered to everyone’s satisfaction and with the blessing of town employees who had tested the system, the council agreed to purchase a GeoXH Handheld Standalone System. The unit costs $7,695; the software $2,995. With warranties, training and technical support, the final price tag is $15,060. Training of six town employees (including supervisors, Ernst and Steve Lechner), will commence within a couple of weeks.

This system should prove its mettle in other ways as well.

Council members officially appointed Property and Street Superintendent Tom Lueken asa ADA coordinator. Lueken is responsible for inventorying all the town’s assets that relate to ADA, meaning sidewalks and intersections and buildings — a new requirement by the state. Lueken said the GIS mapping system will allow a more accurate inventory, especially of the intersections and crosswalks.

The council also:

• Were reminded bidding will open on the old Police Station (former Town Hall) property on Monday, February 18. The bidding can be kept open for 60 days, unless the council chooses to accept a bid that is at least 90% of the average of two appraisals.

• Discussed creating a program similar to the REC’s Operation Round-up whereas utility bills can be rounded up to an even number. The most tis program would cost a resident is $11.88 (rounding up all utilities total) over the course of a year. Whether to ask residents to opt out, as the REC has done, or opt in, was a topic of discussion that will continue as all ideas are weighed. The funds could be used to replace Christmas ornaments or flags or purchase banners for the new light poles as just a few examples.

• Accepted the resignation of Officer Donna Abrams from the Police Department, effective February 22. She has taken a job with the Dubois County Sheriff’s Department.

• Learned the EQ basin liner has been delivered and will be installed by the Wastewater Dept. when weather permits.

•Discussed the Trail Project with Marc Rape from Strand Engineering. Council members are concerned the estimates by the State Department of Transportation are significantly higher than those provided by Strand. They are also concerned with having a company located in Columbus oversee inspections as this will raise the cost due to travel alone. Councilman Ron Weyer would also like to see the plans for the project. Rape will meet with Town Manager Marc Steczyk to go over the cost discrepancies and provide plans. If the council decides to find another firm for inspection, they will have to go through a Qualification Based process and will have to make the choice prior to the May 11 bid letting. Weyer said, “This process just boggles my mind,” as cost is not part of the equation.

• Heard from Steczyk that quite a few design ideas were submitted from Ferdinand Elementary students for new welcome signs. Cedar Crest and Forest Park students have also been asked to participate.

• Signed contracts with the Township to provide fire protection ($42,500) and use of parks ($22,000) for Ferdinand Township residents.

• Will hold an additional appropriations hearing at the March 12 meeting at 8 p.m. to roll over $95,000 in encumbered funds from 2012 to complete projects at 18th Street Park, including the new restroom/concessions facility that should be ready by the time the parks open April 1.

• Adopted Ordinance 2013-03, amending Vacation Ordinance 2012-11 to clarify paid vacation stipulations.

• Looked at four possible designs for new front and rear doors for Town Hall that would be ADA complaint and agreed to seek prices on option 4, seen above.

• Re-hired Victoria Winkler as Summer Recreation Manager and will hire Forest Park junior Cassie Dilger as Community Projects assistant pending results of a mandatory drug test.

• Learned Steczyk and Councilwoman Debbie Johnson will give a presentation on HomeTown Competitiveness to the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs March 6-7. All expenses will be paid and a stipend will be donated to the Folk Fest fund.

• Signed a contract with Dubois Strong agreeing to pay a sum not to exceed $5,062.78 for participation in the county’s economic development organization.

• Heard progress reports from all department heads and approved claims, including a special claim to the Shaneyfelt and Bohnenkemper Law Firm of $2,520 for the Wollenmann House and trails projects.

The next meeting is March 12 at 7:30 p.m. The Plan Commission will meet February 27 at 7 p.m.