Ferdinand Town Council – Tapping into water challenges

Water — it’s something no one can do without.

It can also pose a challenge.

Over the last year or so, various residents have addressed the town council with water problems from flooding to overflowing ditches. Often the council has no answers and the problems are such that they have no jurisdiction.

Councilwoman Debbie Johnson has been working with Judi Brown, Dubois County Soil and Water director to schedule a program for anyone and everyone who is seeking answers to their water issues. As a result, a program entitled Water is a Challenge will be presented on Tuesday, June 23 starting at 7 p.m. EDT at the Ferdinand Community Center. Johnson shared this information with the council at their Tuesday night (June 9) meeting, saying Brown has been instrumental in securing speakers from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and the Department of Natural Resources Water Division and is working to have someone speak on erosion management.

Because all three council members plan to attend, they were advised to schedule it as a special session. Johnson said this is not for Ferdinand residents and officials alone — anyone who wants to attend is welcome no matter where they live.

On a somewhat related matter, town attorney Bill Shaneyfelt reported on talks he has been having with attorneys representing Dollar General’s owner, both past and present. According to Shaneyfelt, the original owner has made arrangements to correct all the design defects, some of which affected neighboring properties.

The work will not commence until September as he was having difficulty lining up a contractor.

The question arose: Who should certify the correct repairs have been made?

“We want this to be done — we need some resolution,” said Councilman Ron Weyer. “I think we’ve been lenient with them, fair with them and we should be able to certify [by bringing in an outside expert]. Someone could come in and just push a little dirt around.”

“I want to get a PE [licensed, professional engineer] to sign and stamp a letter, to put his license on the line,” asserted Council President Ken Sicard.

Shaneyfelt will indicate to the original Dollar General owner that the town will seek an independent inspector to make certain the work is done correctly.

The council also:

-Heard the monthly Police report from Assistant Chief Rob Randle, who noted the department received a $3,025 Homeland Security grant to help pay to reprogram existing radios and also to purchase additional 800 MHz radios. This will not cover the entire cost but will reduce the amount needed to pay for the radios, which had been discussed and approved at the May meeting.

-Learned the Fire Department was called out eight times in May, four for fires and four first responder runs. The department is working with Melrose Pyrotechnics on safety issues for the fireworks display scheduled for June 20 during Ferdinand’s 175th celebration. The department will have a pumper truck on standby.

-Learned all parade entries should line up at 11 a.m. in the MasterBrand lot on West 3rd Street for pre-judging prior to the 2 p.m. parade on June 21. Applications are still being accepted to participate.

-Heard from Town Manager Chris James, who was filling in for a couple of absent department heads, that Phase 1 of the water line replacement on West 13th Street (from SR 162 to just south of Kentucky Street) is complete and work will begin to resurface the road.

-Opened bids for the following street resurfacing/repair projects: Maryland Street between 5th and 6th; 6th Street between Maryland and Hwy. 162; 4th Street between Maryland and Michigan; 13th Street between Hwy. 162 through the Missouri Street intersection; Michigan between 14th and 15th and Birch Drive between Hwy. 264 and corporation limits. JH Rudolph was low bidder at $95,800 for all the work. The bids were taken under advisement due to the absence of Property and Street Superintendent Tom Lueken. The council authorized Shaneyfelt to issue a notice to proceed after Lueken has had a chance to review the bids.

-Approved issuing a notice to proceed to KWK for the west clarifier project as soon as the company submits a certificate of insurance. Work is set to start August 3.

-Discussed the phosphorous abatement project and learned an archeological survey must be completed. Wastewater Superintendent Roger Schaefer is working to contain costs. Also that the DNR has determined that for every tree removed to build the bio solids facility, two trees must be replaced. Schaefer plans to work with the Parks Department on those replacement trees and also to seek a grant to help defray the cost.

-In a related matter, learned from James the property lines at the future bio-solids plant site were not as anticipated following a survey. He is working on a land swap for a sliver of property with the adjacent owner.

-Heard Ferdinand’s very own Big Foot is not dead yet but repairs will be needed to keep the massive truck running to haul sludge until the bio solids plant is up and running. Also that a turbine in the non-pottable water system will have to be taken out of service this fall because it split open and will need to be repaired by adding a new stainless steel sleeve.

-Heard from Park Board President Mike Steffe that a survey will be taken via Survey Monkey seeking ideas for park improvements to be included in the five year Master Plan.

-Learned from James the Leadership Academy has two session left and the two teams are developing their capstone projects.

-Also from James, the REC awarded a $2,000 grant to the town for Folk Fest.

-Heard the insurance committee met for the first time earlier in the day and learned from representatives from GAB Insurance that the current policy could stay in affect for another year, an option the town had been led to believe would not be possible. Council President Ken Sicard was disappointed to learn insurance price quotes would not be available by budget time.

-Learned the Comprehensive Plan update is in progress. The facilitator held a session with high school students and will meet with business owners on Thursday, June 25, from 11:30 a.m.- 1 p.m. at the Community Center, followed by a session with volunteer groups later in the evening. A communitywide session will be held later with the date, time and place to be announced.

-Scheduled a budget workshop for Tuesday, July 28 at 6 a.m. to begin crafting the 2016 budget

-Heard Shaneyfelt will need a survey and platted subdivision to move forward with the Randy Begle property annexation.

-Welcomed three Boy Scouts and their mothers to the meeting. The Scouts are working on their Communications Merit Badges and attending a community meeting is one of the requirements.

-Learned Police Officer Lloyd Froman is now certified as a firearms trainer and Officer Nathan Lueken led tactical training for officers in Santa Claus.

-Scheduled a Board of Zoning Appeals meeting for 6:30 p.m. and a Plan Commission meeting at 7 p.m. on June 24; an Economic Development Commission meeting for Monday, July 13 at 6 p.m.; a meeting with Ferdinand Township representatives at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 15 and the next regular Ferdinand Town Council meeting for 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 14.