Ferdinand Town Council: Sweet, sweet music a feature in the park?

An extensive amount of business was tended to during the Ferdinand Town Council’s June 13 meeting, despite the fact both Councilwoman Debbie Johnson and Clerk Treasurer Bev Schulthise were absent.

On a cheery note, a team from the 2017 Leadership Academy came bearing plans for a unique capstone project, presented by Emily Fuhs. The five-member team proposes installing a musical playground in Ferdinand’s 18th Street Park.

This would include about four different permanently affixed instruments that would provide hours of fun, help build reasoning skills, confidence and cognitive development, encourage creativity and self-expression and “take participants on a magical journey.”

Before beginning a fundraising campaign, the group wanted to vet the plan with town officials.

“The way I look at it, it’s another positive,” said Council President Ken Sicard.

“I like the idea,” added Councilman Ron Weyer. “There’s nothing like it in the area.”

Sicard said he was honored the team picked Ferdinand.

Fuhs shared photos of what the instruments would look like and also a letter to be sent to potential donors. Prices ranged from $5,000 to a deluxe ensemble for $16,448.04 (less because taxes would not be included).

In addition to tax free donations from business and individuals, the quartet will look into grants and recently earned $300 during the Ferdinand Clean Sweep sponsored by GAB. Anyone interested in donating can send a check made payable to Dubois County Leadership Academy, and mailed to Chris James, Attn.: Leadership Academy Group Ambiguous Quintet, PO Box 7, Ferdinand, IN 47532.

Those with questions should contact Fuhs at 812-630-3742.

There was more good news from Park Board President Mike Steffe who said the Sisters of St. Benedict have preliminarily agreed to a land swap. The Sisters will give the Town 2.8 acres, and the Town will give the Sisters 2.8 acres, plus an easement. The land exchange is needed to develop a walking trail around the Old Lake, as well as new restrooms and a suitable access.

Town Manager Chris James and Property and Street Superintendent Tom Lueken were appointed as appraisers as a value must be assigned to both parcels as part of the process.

Steffe also reported that 5th Street Park will play host to a multitude of baseball and softball tourneys which should bring quite a few visitors to town.

Council members introduced Ordinance 2017-09 to rezone the 700 block of St. Benedict Drive from agriculture to multi-family residential in preparation for Trilogy’s new nursing and assisted living facility. The property, to be leased to Trilogy, served as Ferdinand’s first football field after that sport was added to the fall roster.

A representatives from Cash Waggner and Associates and two from Ramsey Development (Tell City) were on hand to outline plans and answer questions.

Later in the meeting the council introduced an Annexation Ordinance (2017- 10), setting a public hearing for 8 p.m. on August 8, to annex the property upon which the nursing home complex will be built, and Resolution 2017-04, a fiscal and development plan and policy for the area to be annexed, which includes a utility plan.

The guests and council discussed who would do what and who would pay for what in relation to water, sewer and electric line extensions.

Again, more good news, division one of the phosphorus abatement project, namely a chemical facility at the wastewater plant, is substantially complete and the equipment is up and running. With the exception of one minor punch list item (a dinged garage door) this part of the project is finished.

Division two, the off-site drying beds are under construction.

The council approved two pay requests from Graves Plumbing for the $2.1 million project, $87,401.79 for division one (retaining $12,300) and $186,633 for divisions two.

The only problem? Thirteen trees must be cut down and the DNR wants to make certain these trees don’t harbor any endangered bats.

The council also:

-Discussed on-going street projects including repaving from 8th-13th on Virginia and Missouri west to the end of 5th Street Park property — the last two 2017 Community Crossing grant projects. Lueken said he is working to complete the plan for the 2018 project — resurfacing West 23rd Street. He believes this project could come in at $1 million, 75% of which will be paid by the grant with a 25% match from the Town (the 75/25 split due to a population of less than 10,000). He won’t get final cost figures until the end of June, and the grant application is due July 14, so a special meeting may be necessary to submit the grant.

-Heard from Fred Ebert who was in attendance to discuss erosion control on his property as part of the Old Lake Trail project, that the Legion, of which he is a member, is gravely concerned about a potential cave-in on property owned by Ohio Valley Gas Company adjacent to the Legion’s shooting match range. He took the problem to a gas company employee who said his concerns fell on deaf ears when broached with upper-level management. Sicard agreed the area is a problem — “Mother Nature’s making a mess.” Lueken suggested the issue be brought to the attention of the County Drainage Board or if that doesn’t work, the DNR.

-Heard Summer Recreation is going well from James, and that no activities are planned for next week due to Vacation Bible School.

-Opened six bids for a wastewater tanker truck. One was not in order and of the rest, Robinson Vacuum Tanks out of Bellefonte, PA was low bidder at $130,401. The bids were tabled and taken under advisement for review.

-Decided to deny a bond extension for completion of the street at Kimberly Court. The street has never been accepted into the Town’s road inventory as it does not meet requirements.

-Agreed to go forward with a project to add fencing by the New Lake and split the cost with the property owner, Dave Rickelman. This agreement had been made in February. James will have complete cost estimates by July 1. •

-Signed a contract with the Indiana 15 Regional Planning Commission to revise Town zoning maps for $2,500.

-Will meet again in regular session on Tuesday, July 11 at 7:30 p.m.