Ferdinand Town Council: School bus turn-around hazards
Resident Mary Ann Schilling is concerned.
Schilling, who lives on West 3rd Street, told the Town Council at their Tuesday night meeting that the school bus serving her street must stop and tun around to complete the route.
The problem, as Schilling explained it, is “people get right up [on the bus’s] bumper and don’t realize it is turning around.”
The driver must make a T-turn on Scenic Industrial Drive but cannot back up. Vehicles departing the MasterBrand warehouse pull out and try to pass the bus. Others pull up to the bus bumper. The stop arms retract when the bus goes in reverse and vehicles don’t know what the driver is doing.
Schilling suggested a sign noting the spot is a school bus turn around might help, but Street Superintendent Tom Lueken felt a sign wouldn’t solve the problem.
“I’ve had to go out and ask the cars to back up,” Schilling explained.
“The problem is, when she stops she’s leading traffic,” said Police Chief Ricky Patton. “They’re following and don’t realize she is backing up.” He suggested she put her flashers on much sooner. Patton had his department monitor the situation for a week and said the driver needs to make certain other drivers are aware of what she is doing.
“The best solution is, don’t have a school bus back up on a busy street,” suggested Town Attorney Bill Shaneyfelt.
Councilwoman Debbie Johnson thought that instead of backing up, the driver should go south on Scenic Industrial Drive and make a loop to finish her route on East 3rd Street.
In the end, Council President Ken Sicard agreed to talk to Superintendent Rick Allen to see if a solution can be worked out.
“We can still do it [add signage],” suggested Councilman Ron Weyer, if the discussion comes to naught.
Please read — important notices for residents
During the town council meeting several Department heads presented information they wanted to pass along to the public.
• Wastewater Superintendent Roger Schaefer noted his department will begin smoke testing sewer lines on September 23. He plans to start on 1st Street and work along both the east and west sides of town up to 8th Street. Over three years, he hopes to complete testing throughout town — a process undertaken every six or seven years to keep any inflow and infiltration problems in check. “It’s been good and hot and dry so it’s an excellent time to begin checking,” Schaefer noted. He wants residents to be aware because if there is a problem, they may awaken to find smoke in their house and fear it is on fire. “There will probably be a few false alarm fire calls,” he added.
• Fire Chief Dan Lindauer said that while the ladder truck passed inspection, the inspector did so with a codicil. There is an oil leak on one of the truck’s outriggers that must be repaired. He will take the truck out of service on Sunday and transport it to Evansville. While it should be back in service by Tuesday, September 17, Lindauer said he will ask Carter Township Fire Department (Dale) and Huntingburg VFD to be on standby for Ferdinand.
• Chief Lindauer also reported the department is accepting applications for new firefighters from now through November 1. The roster stands at 29 but 33 is ideal. Those interested can contact any fire department member or stop by Town Hall for an application.
• Police Chief Ricky Patton followed through on requests made at the August meeting by Don Farina. Farina asked that trucks be routed on the bypass instead of traveling through town. Patton was told by INDOT the town could put up signs requested trucks take the bypass but the drivers who don’t cannot be cited for a violation. Farina also asked that the speed limit in front of Dollar General be lowered by 5 m.p.h. INDOT reps said it would not help (and they control the speed limits on Main). He was told residents should call Brandy at INDOT Customer Relations to voice any concerns. The number is 812-895-7309.
• Property and Street Superintendent Tom Lueken has scheduled Fall Cleanup for Tuesday and Wednesday, October 8 and 9. His department will pick up bulky items on the west side of SR 162 on Tuesday and the east side on Wednesday, reserving Thursday to finish up. Regular trash pickup will still be scheduled that week for Monday, October 7.
• Utility Department head Henry Haake reported the New Town Lake reopened Labor Day weekend.
During the meeting the council also:
• Heard an update on the Town Pedestrian/Bike Trail project being funded with a TE Grant, from Bill Hawkins with Strand Associates and approved two change orders for the project. The first will cost an additional $2,865.02 for construction signage because engineers from INDOT decided they are necessary. Teh second is a net deduction of $22,090 to switch three-sided culverts to precast four-sided boxes. Project completion is expected the second week of October.
• Learned two new police cars had been delivered. One was detailed Tuesday and the second was scheduled for Wednesday. Equipment will be installed in about two weeks. The council agreed that once the new cars are in service, the highest mileage 2005 Crown Vic can be sold via sealed bids.
• Opened six sealed bids for the former police Jeep and accepted the highest, $1,550, submitted by Gary Wendholt.
• Discussed a line of sight problem at Dollar General and heard Property and Street Superintendent Tom Lueken would investigate to see if the discount store is in violation.
• Heard Fall Ball has started at 5th Street Park with 400 participants, with another 1,1117 playing football and Kiwanis soccer expected to use the park for play this Autumn. Also, donations from the 2012 and 13 Heimatfests were used to purchase several recycled picnic tables, recycling stations and benches for both parks.
• Heard 10 applications have been received for the Town Manager position recently vacated by Marc Stecyk. Sicard said two former mayors and a former town manager, as well as someone from New York and someone else from New Jersey have applied. The application window will close September 13. He will provide copies of all resumes to Johnson and Weyer. A training session on an interview process he wants to employ will be scheduled (no date as of yet), followed by an executive session to determine which applicants to interview.
Adopted Ordinance 2013-11, authorizing a loan from the Ferdinand Municipal Electric Utility to the town for a new police car. The loan will be repaid in 2014. Because an additional appropriation is needed for the fund transfer, a hearing was set for October 8 at 8 p.m., during the next regular council meeting.
• Discussed the feral cat problem. All council members have been doing research but learned most communities face the same issue.
• Will hire a surveyor to determine exactly where a 16 foot easement lies near the Hedinger and Rickelman properties and then add the location to the town’s GPS mapping system.
Prior to the meeting: The council held a required Budget Hearing. Clerk-Treasurer Bev Schulthise advertised a 2014 budget of $1,930.924, based on an estimated assessed valuation (AV) of $88,832,000. She commented the AV was 15% lower than last year ($104,507,239) and will likely rise when final figures are in. The tax rate was set at .7662 per $100 of AV, a change of 22.30% (this year’s rate is .6265) but the tax rate is also likely to go down if the AV goes up. The town’s 2014 growth quotient is 2.40, compared to 1.70 for 2013 —a significant increase — but still below the state’s growth quotient of 2.6% for 2014. The budget hearing lasted all of five minutes since no one was there to remonstrate.
