Ferdinand Town Council meeting notes from July 10

The Ferdinand Town Council met Tuesday night after a very busy grand opening day at the new McDonalds.

In the Department reports, Fire Chief Dan Lindauer reports that the ladder truck in his department has a defective hydraulic lift system that needs to be repaired. The defect is bad enough that in the recent inspection, Lindauer was told not to use the ladder in rescue situations. The top of the ladder has a mount for the spout of a fire hose that can be used to fight fires from overhead and that functionality is still approved for usage.

Lindauer sought the Council’s permission to get the truck repaired in Indianapolis where it would be best serviced. The initial diagnostic task will take three days. Then, if parts need to be ordered, it could take another 6 to 8 weeks to repair.

The Council gave permission to Town Manager Marc Steczyk and Lindauer to take the truck to Indianapolis for diagnostics to find out the problem and to get the necessary repairs made if the parts are in stock. If parts aren’t available the truck will have to come back to Ferdinand until they are available.

Lindauer reported that the truck will be taken to Indianapolis next Wednesday.

At the end of the meeting, a concerned resident spoke to the Council about a distressed property that is in the process of being torn down by the owner. The resident stated the progress is slow and the owner has not mowed the unkempt lawn as promised.

Council President Ken Sicard said that they are aware that the process is slow and he would address the mowing issue with the owner to get him to move quickly on getting it done.

Steczyk talked about distressed properties and how every city and town has them. “It’s something that has to be addressed. You can be touted as clean and tidy as anybody else in the State, which I think we are,” Steczyk said, “…as far as how our residents take care of their properties…we have the same problems that everybody has, thankfully not on the magnitude of other places.”

The Town Council is also studying residential growth to make sure it is handled properly and does not create problems.

The conversion of the old library to the new Ferdinand Police Station is coming along. According to Steczyk the inside of the building is gutted and the foundation is being laid for the garage and evidence room on the backside of the building.

“It’s moving forward and we’re hoping for a projected move-in date of November or so,” Steczyk said.