Huntingburg names new police chief and adopts tax abatement ordinance
The council chamber was full of Patrolman Arthur Parks’ family, friends, and most of the Huntingburg Police Department as Huntingburg Mayor Denny Spinner announced Parks would become the City’s new chief of police. Parks is a 16 year veteran of the Huntingburg Police Department and will replace Chief Ron Drew on March 1. Chief Drew will retire at the end of this month after 32 years of service within the Huntingburg Police Department.
Chief Drew has known Parks since he was a kid in the community and was present when Parks was hired into the police department 16 years ago. “He deserves the position. I am happy with the decision and I think the department will be in good hands and knowing that makes it easier for me to leave,” Chief Drew said.
A man of few words, Art thanked the council and the Mayor for the appointment and stated he would maintain an open door policy and open communication with the council and the community.
“I can’t describe the awesome feeling I have becoming the chief of police of my hometown,” Parks said. “Chief Drew has done a good job. We’re on top of the technology and I want to stay at the forefront of that. I would like to do more about drugs and am thinking about an anonymous tip-line similar to what Jasper has.”
With his advancement and Detective Bill Wampler’s retirement, Parks will have to appoint a new detective and fill two officer positions soon after becoming chief.
The Council then move on to new business.
The Executive Director of the Dubois County Area Development Corporation (DCADC), Jim Dinkle addressed the council. He informed them of the DCADC’s role in projects in Huntingburg.
The DCADC assisted recently with the Huntingburg Airport in developing a “Shovel Ready” site at the airport. Additionally the DCADC assisted a Fourth Street merchant with the DCADC revolving loan program. Dinkle also reported the DCADC has been working with the Dubois County Bombers in getting more tourism to League Stadium.
Dinkle then Invited the community to the annual meeting on April 19 at the Memorial Hospital Lodge on South Newton. Dinkle is excited about the annual meeting because they will be revealing the DCADC’s new branding at the event.
Tom Dippel then presented an annual resolution to transfer surplus earnings from the Electric and Natural Gas to the City’s General Fund. The amount transferred this year was $175,000 from Electric and $175,000 from Natural Gas. Dippel stated this is the same amount that has been transferred for several years. The council approved the resolution.
The tax abatement ordinance (2012-07) was discussed. Schneider explained the tax abatement ordinance was similar to the ordinances adopted by the County and the City of Jasper. The ordinance was passed unanimously by those present; Councilwoman Amy Lehr was absent.
Mayor Spinner stated due to the extensive amount of coverage over the Jasper Tax Abatement and the County Tax Abatement that was approved recently, the council and he were very familiar with the program. Additionally, the City of Huntingburg’s ordinance is very similar in language to the others with the exception of Huntingburg’s Tax Increment Financing (TIF) districts. These two reasons allowed the ordinance to be passed with little discussion.
The council then approved an amendment to the Municipal Code designating stop intersections within the city. Rich Thyen was assessing the stop intersections in the city and comparing them to the municipal code that designates stop intersections. He noticed that several have been added as stop intersections but not amended in the municipal code. The ordinance would add the missing designated stop intersections to the municipal code. The intersection of Applewood Road and Archer Road would become a new stop intersection with the ordinance. The amendment was presented and passed unanimously
City Attorney Phil Schneider presented an ordinance amending the city’s Municipal Code in regards to abandoned vehicles. The ordinance allows the city to dispose of vehicle 72 hours after tagging the vehicle without notifying the owner if the vehicle is valued at less than $750. If the vehicle is worth over $750, the city will need to contact the owner of the vehicle. The amendment also established a maximum price for towing ($75.00) and storage (not to exceed $1500).
Schneider stated the value would be estimated by the officer but acknowledged that not many vehicles would have a value less than $750. Schneider stated the goal was to exempt the officer from making a good faith effort to attempt to notify the owner for vehicles of such low value. The ordinance was passed unanimously and the council adjourned.
