Ferdinand Town Council: Trick or Treating hours, plus much more

At a shade over two and a half hours, Tuesday night’s Ferdinand Town Council meeting covered a lot of ground.

The item many residents have been curious about came towards the end. The Council set Trick or Treating hours from 6 to 8 p.m. on Sunday, October 30.

But that was the least of it.

The first item on the agenda was adoption of the 2017 budget. Based on a fund figure of $2,746,253 and using the 3.8% maximum levy, council members adopted a tax rate of .7727, (Ordinance 2016-17) which will likely be reduced by the Department of Local Government Finance.

A significant amount of time was spent opening bids, first for the bio-solids processing facility and phosphorous removal system, bid in two parts, with some construction companies opting to bid for both and others choosing one or the other. When all bids had been opened, checked and read aloud, six contractors had bid on the phosphorous removal phase and eight on the processing plant.

The bids, which came in higher than anticipated, were taken under advisement so engineer Jon Wetzel with Midwestern Engineering, Loogootee, could analyze the numbers and report on options to the council during a special meeting next Tuesday, October 18, starting at 7:30 p.m.

Bid openings overlapped, and the next set was for a new 3/4-ton truck for the Street Department. Three bids were received and again, the bids were taken under advisement. A decision will be made during the October 18 special council meeting.

The final bid opening was for street paving projects and again, three bids were received. Ditto on taking them under advisement and selecting one at the October 18 meeting, although it’s a safe bet in all cases the low bidder will be awarded as the statute calls for municipalities to go with the lowest responsive and responsible bidder.

Next up was discussion of a tax abatement for Knú LLC, a sister company to Best Home Furnishings.

Best accountant Steve Wahl was present to outline plans for the new facility, a 35,000 square foot Knú Design Center to house a showroom, office and the research and development division.

“Our first preference is always to add new positions in Ferdinand,” he said. Wahl explained that Best purchased Lazy Boy’s contract facility in Leland, Mississippi in 2005 and they have been gradually migrating portions of that company to Ferdinand.

A total of 23 jobs will be created at Knú, 17 of these with combined salaries in excess of $1 million and six new positions with wages totaling over $200,000 per anum. The building will cost $2.1 million with $90,000 in personal property.

“We can add many more people than 23,” Wahl noted, although finding workers is sometimes the most difficult task in the local area.

The numbers make Knú eligible for an eight year abatement. Taxes will be abated 100 percent the first five years, dropping to 75 percent in year six, 50 percent in year seven and 25 percent in year eight, with full taxes after that.

The council adopted Declaratory Resolution TA 16-02, deeming the site near Ferdinand Fire Station No. 2 an Economic Revitalization Area. A hearing was scheduled for 8 p.m. on November 8 — the next regular town council meeting and, coincidentally, election day. Following the hearing the council will most likely adopt a confirmatory resolution making the abatement official.

The council also:

Heard from Property and Street Superintendent Tom Lueken that autumn leaf pickup will commence next Tuesday, October 18 and will continue every Tuesday until the leaves have been disposed of.
From Pat Miller heard the 2016 Monster Dash has been scheduled for Saturday, October 29 starting at 9 a.m. at the Tri-County YMCA and ending at the Ferdinand Community Center — with a few miles of walking/running in between. The council approved the map as presented by Miller.
Learned from Chief Lloyd Froman the transmission failed in one of the departments two 2008 Impalas, scheduled for replacement in 2017. The cost to replace the transmission would negate the trade in value; however, Froman, working with John Jones Automotive in Corydon, was able to negotiate trading in both Impalas and purchasing two Dodge Chargers for $42,550. Because the new vehicles are in the 2017 budget and because waiting would add a little over $4,000 to the cost, the company agreed to sell the cars now on a Purchase Order, payable in January of 2017. Council members agreed the savings would be beneficial and okayed the purchase.
Gave permission for Froman to advertise for two additional reserve officers as one of the five currently serving was deployed and two have made job changes that limit their hours. Potential reserves will need to pass agility and written tests, a drug screen, background check and interview and the two chosen must complete 40 hours of pre-basic training and the 160 hour ETO program.
Agreed to close a portion of 15th Street and Michigan this Sunday for the Firemen’s Parade, pending notification of all affected property owners prior to the closing.
Approving spending $2,725 to have Weyer Painting clean and apply two coats of paint on all the doors, both overhead and walk through, on Fire Stations 1 and 2 and the EMT building, with the exception of the two north-facing overhead doors on Fire Station 2.
Learned from Park Board President Mike Steffe that Memorial Hospital and Health Care donated two AEDs (automatic external defibrillators) for the parks.
Heard from Town Manager Chris James, in the absence of Utility Superintendent Henry Haake, that Crane Environmental is completing an assessment of the old water filtration plant at the Old Lake in preparation for seeking a cost estimate from Cooper Rail Service of Huntingburg for a demolition price quote. In a related matter, Steffe said plans are moving forward following preliminary approval of a grant for the Old Lake Trail. Lisa Gehlhausen with the Indiana Region 15 Planning Commission is working on environmental and other considerations and will serve as grant administrator if the grant is awarded.
Learned the park board is working on improving the grill area at 5th Street Park thanks to a donation from the Möbel Foundation.
Heard there will be a couple of options for employees to choose from for health insurance from IPEP, a provider new to Ferdinand. During the Economic Development Commission meeting held prior, the members agreed to invite land holders who may potentially wish to sell for housing developments to the November 8 meeting, which starts at 6 p.m.