Ferdinand Town Council: Timber sale nets better than expected returns

Attendance at the Ferdinand Town Council’s Tuesday night meeting was lighter than usual, with only three students, two parents and one Boy Scout in addition to the regulars.

Also missing was Councilman Ron Weyer, who had just come out of back surgery.

Still, that didn’t prevent a heavy slate of items from being checked off the list, barring a few ordinances that both Council President

Still, that didn’t prevent a heavy slate of items from being checked off the list, barring a few ordinances that both Council President Ken Sicard and Councilwoman Debbie Johnson felt should be deferred until Weyer’s return.

At 8 p.m. the council paused the meeting to open four bids for timber cut on 475E to make way for the drying beds that are a requirement for the phosphorous abatement project.

The bids varied from a low of $9,413.25 to the winning bid of $23,419 placed by Nick Miller for Quality Woodland Projects of Birdseye. The high bid was accepted after verification of the company’s licensing.

According to council attorney Bill Shaneyfelt, all necessary paperwork has been submitted to Rural Development for the phosphorous project, and while construction won’t begin by the original deadline imposed by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, the project is progressing.

Wastewater Superintendent Roger Schaefer gave his annual report for the previous year, noting his department treated 339,000 gallons of sludge per day and with a reserve capacity of 361,000 GPD, could add 165 new customers without any negative effect.

They also hauled 537,600 gallons of sludge and would have transported more had the weather been more cooperative.Schaefer said Alabama Street improvements for the Sisters of St. Benedict’s Benet Hall project proved fortuitous.

Schaefer said Alabama Street improvements for the Sisters of St. Benedict’s Benet Hall project proved fortuitous. With a price tag of $30,130, required the installation of 800 feet of in-liner repaired breaks and one big leak that resulted in the loss of 4,300 gallons of water per day, which cost $12,442 per year to treat. So, in essence, the project will pay for itself in two and a half years just by slip lining and addressing infiltration.

The council also:

• Heard an update from Park Board President Mike Steffe, who noted the parks are open and in full swing, the 5th Street Park shelter house project is, in his words, “progressing quite nicely,” and the Park Board is preparing to move forward with plans to make the Old Lake a recreational oasis with trails, a fishing pier and shelter houses. Currently, funding is being sought and plans evolving.
• Learned from Chief Dan Lindauer the Fire Department will hold confined space training at MasterBrand on March 29 with several other agencies; the ladder truck is currently out of commission; and the two newest members, Steve DeKemper and Nick Rountree will start Fire School shortly.
• Heard from Chief Lloyd Froman the three new reserve officers have almost completed pre-basic training and will follow this with 160 hours of field officer training. Also, that Officer Eric Hopkins will start at the Police Academy March 14; the chief will attend Police Chiefs School March 28-April 1, and received permission to purchase three computers (in the budget) for a total of $2,209.17.
• Learned from Utility Superintendent Henry Haake the north side sirens are still not working; he ordered two new crossbars for $5,000 for the water tank (which would have cost $21,000 had Haake and his crew not been able to handle the work); and received permission to attend Rural Water Alliance Training at French Lick March 16 and 17 for $160, earning 10 credit hours.
• Also agreed to bid out the water main replacement on the west side of Main and agreed to have the Lochmueller Group write the specs.
• Approved seeking bids for 2016 street repair projects, including Virginia from 5th to 8th, 13th from Missouri to Iowa, 8th from Main to Virginia, Illinois from 6th to 7th and Vienna Drive from SR 264 to just past the drive at 1645 Vienna.
• Heard updates on the Leadership Academy and Folk Fest from Town Manager Chris James and also discussed potential plans for a county-wide Certificate of Occupancy program, agreeing such a program, at least on the residential side, might stifle rather than encourage growth. However, both Sicard and Johnson said they want to hear more of the plan before rendering a decision.
• Accepted the low bid of $28,960.25 for a new 3/4 ton truck from Washington Chrysler.
  Learned from Shaneyfelt that survey work is completed on the three parcels, two owned by the town and one by Möbel, to be purchased by KNU LLC, a subsidiary of Best Home Furnishings, and agreed to be party to plat approval and rezoning to Industrial.
• Set Spring Cleanup for removal of large items for April 12 (west side of Main) and April 13 (east side), with regular trash pickup on April 11.
• Heard from Clerk-Treasurer Bev Schulthise the audit for the last four years was approved by the state with no substantive findings.
• Made James the town’s Title VI coordinator, a new requirement of the state for federal grants.
• Will sell the gray ghost, a 2000 Ford Crown Vic that is actually spruce green, and a 1987 3/4 ton GMC by sealed bids.