Ferdinand Town Council meeting minutes: Leaf collection, final ordinances and good news

ByKathy Tretter, Editor Ferdinand News Reading Time: 4 minutes

When it comes to packing a multitude of business in one night, Ferdinand Town Council members are pros.

During their final session of 2016 held Tuesday night they managed to adopt a variety of ordinances, hear reports from department heads, issue a couple of demolition permits, hold a rezoning hearing and discuss projects for 2017 and beyond.

They also heard some good news from council president Ken Sicard.

Thanks to approximately 22,000 on-line votes, the Ferdinand Folk Fest was named Best of — Honest to Goodness Best 2016 Hometown Music Festival. The Indiana Department of Tourism sent a certificate recognizing the award, and Sicard suggested it be framed and hung in Town Hall.

Included in the departmental reports was a final notice from Property and Street Manager Tom Lueken, who said this Friday, December 16 would be the final day for leaf pick-up. Noting the leaves are freezing, making collection difficult, he asks that anyone wishing to dispose of leaves make the request ASAP.

At 8 p.m. the council briefly dispensed with business to hold a rezoning hearing for a 40.246 acre parcel adjacent to Möbel property along the curve to the north and on the east side of the Industrial Bypass. The acreage abuts Best Home Furnishings property as well as land in the Dilger Trust Agreement.

According to Phil Ruhe, a member of the family that owns both the land and Möbel, rezoning from Agricultural to Industrial is a step needed for State Site Certification of the parcel. No one remonstrated and adoption of Ordinance 2016-25 made the rezoning official. The next step will be annexation of the acreage not already inside town limits.

After the meeting resumed, other ordinances were adopted, including Ord. 2016-26, authorizing ClerkTreasurer Bev Schulthise to invest town funds in one of several designated depositories. The ordinance, which comes up every two years, allows her to check interest rates and gives her the latitude to get the best return on the town’s investments.

The 2017 Salary Ordinance, 2016-27, will basically give employees a 1% raise, which does not include the added amount the town will pay for increases in employee health insurance.

Ordinance 2016-28 establishes a required Local Road and Bridge Fund.

The council also:

  • Approved a $191,577.18 claim from JH Rudolph for recently completed paving projects. This includes a $7,034.68 change order for areas that proved difficult, such as a hidden soft subsurface.
  • Approved two demolition permits, the first for the water plant building at the Old Lake and the second for the Sisters of St. Benedict to raze Madonna Hall. The latter is contingent upon receipt of a bond and a certificate of insurance from the company handling the demo.
  • Adopted the 2017-18 EDIT Plan, including $75,000 to renovate Town Hall, $336,000 for street improvements, $150,000 for a compactor truck and $120,000 for ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) improvement projects, including curbs, sidewalks and ramps.
  • Reappointed Natalie Howard to the Park Board for another four-year term and Bev Schulthise as the town’s representative on the Indiana 15 Regional Planning Commission.
  • Approved a plan for Utility Superintendent Henry Haake to bid the Missouri Water Main project. Public notices will appear in the December 28 and January 4 issues of the News and bids will be opened February 14. They likely will be held for review and awarded March 14. A pre-bid meeting is set for January 31.
  • Approved purchase of two Alaska Mold reclosers from low bidder Brownstown Electric for $23,561 apiece, which is less than the $60,000 budgeted for the project.
  • Learned from Town Manager Chris James that he had written and submitted a grant application to help with the purchase of a new fire truck.
  • Heard the bond closing with Rural Development for the Phosphorous project is set for Wednesday, December 28 at 10 a.m. in the ShaneyfeltBohnenkemper Law Office and various entities will be present. By doing this before year’s end, the council will be able to lock in a 40 year fixed interest rate of 1.875%. The preconstruct ion conference is set for Friday, January 6 at 10 a.m. in Town Hall. Council members granted approval for Sicard and Schulthise to sign all necessary paperwork, for Schulthise to pay all claims, a Memorandum of Understanding canceling the previous agreement with the engineering firm (Midwestern) and approval to reinstate the same company. This is due to requirements from Rural Development whenever modifications are made to the project.
  • Heard 26-year fire fighter Randy Gehlhausen is retiring at year’s end. “His willingness, dedication and leadership will be missed,” said Chief Dan Lindauer. Council members echoed Lindauer’s sentiments.
  • Learned Mark Bolte wishes to rezone property at 425 West 5th from Industrial to Commercial.

The next regular Ferdinand Town Council meeting will be held Tuesday, January 11 at 7:30 p.m., right after the Economic Development Commission meeting at 6 p.m

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