Town of Ferdinand: Five new members added to fire department roster
Five gentlemen waited patiently as Ferdinand Town Council members conducted business Tuesday night during
their first meeting of the new year.
Fire Chief Dan Lindauer rose to give his monthly report. He explained that fire fighter Chris Miller resigned from the department due to his relocation from the community.
Then he introduced the five men, all of whom hoped to be added to the department’s roster. Four of them served as junior firefighters, including Dylan Henke for three years, Austin Weyer for the same length of time, Charlie Weyer for one year and Jameson Denning for seven years. Th e fifth, Brandon Schaefer, has no fire fighting experience but is willing and able to serve.
Lindauer explained, “They’re going to be a big asset because they work in and around Ferdinand,” making them ideal candidates. “If all are accepted,” Lindauer added, “the roster will be at 32.”
By Town ordinance, 33 firefighters are allowed.
The council voted to accept all five, pending clean drug screens. After they complete the Firefighter 1 and 2 courses beginning in June, they all will take the First Responder course. And they must be CPR certified before taking Firefighter 1 and 2. They will need to complete one or two NIMS classes as well.
Which means all will be quite busy in the next few months, but Lindauer said he apprised them of the commitment and they were still willing to serve.
Lindauer issued another request. He asked the council to adopt an ordinance requiring businesses and community buildings to install Knox Boxes. The department would retain a master key that would open the boxes which would contain a key to the business.
“We are extremely full of keys,” said Lindauer, referencing the keys to businesses carried in the fire truck. “I would highly recommend the businesses recess the boxes into a wall.”
Councilwoman Debbie Johnson questioned the security and was told the boxes are safe, especially if recessed.
“At least 12 facilities in Ferdinand have them already,” said Lindauer, citing McDonalds, the St. Ferdinand Church, the library and Best Home Furnishings.
Council President Ken Sicard, who had been reelected to that position at the start of the meeting (Ron Weyer will continue as vice president), asked Lindauer to seek out another community where such an ordinance exists “so we don’t have to reinvent the wheel.”
Lindauer agreed and said if any business owner wants to see a Knox Box or learn more, he will be happy to bring one to him or her. He can be contacted through the Town office.
Police Chief Ricky Patton gave both a December and a year-end report, noting his department took 4,610 calls in 2014, drove 84,251 miles and used 5,652.32 gallons of gas.
Patton said his department presented an Eagle Gun Safety program at both Ferdinand and Pine Ridge elementary schools and participated in the Shop with a Cop in December.
He sought and received permission for himself and O fficers Lloyd Froman, Rob Randall and Nathan Lueken to attend Firearms Training in anticipation of having an in-house rearms instructor, the only area in which
no one is currently quali fied to teach.
In additionm, he asked for approval to join the Southern Indiana Law Enforcement Training Council at $100 per full time o fficer ($700 total). The fee allows all Ferdinand police, including reserves, to attend and participate in a variety of training sessions, some that would cost several hundred dollars for one officer without membership.
Patton was also given permission to begin paperwork with Attorney Bill Shaneyfelt to purchase two police cars budgeted for 2015.
The council also:
–Heard departmental reports, including one from Park Board Secretary Dolores Boeglin, who said that when completed, the restrooms at both parks will be ADA compliant and the water fountains to be delivered in Spring will conserve water. Newly elected Park Board President Mike Steffe wants to help update the Town’s website and Boeglin said plans are in the works to hold opening day events on April 1 at both parks to highlight all the upgrades.
–Learned Town Manager Chris James had returned the $3,000 grant for a town AM radio station. When it was learned an AM station would not cover Ferdinand adequately, James researched an FM station but it turned out to be cost prohibitive. “I will try to find the additional funding [around $10,000 all told] in the future,” he concluded.
–Discussed bids from Commonwealth and Midwestern Engineering for the next phase of the phosphorous plan and took them under advisement.The council agreed to a special meeting January 28 at 5 p.m. so an engineer can be hired and the process begun since there is a time crunch for completion.
–Heard from Property and Street Superintendent Tom Lueken that upgrading a 700 by 30 feet undeveloped street at 3rd and Georgia would cost roughly $111,000, not including the cost of town employee labor, town-owned equipment and engineering.
–Heard no progress has been made on drainage at the Dollar General store.
–Appointed Cory Schnieders to the Ferdinand Plan Commission.
–Heard from resident Don Farina concerning the runoff from a farm field and Vienna Drive that causes flooding on West 23rd. Shaneyfelt said the town should contact the Indiana Department of Transportation to see if the culvert could be replaced with a larger one.
–Discussed renovating Town Hall and updating the Comprehensive Plan. Both are in the works. Councilman Ron Weyer asked to review the design specs before putting the Town Hall project out for bids.
A Board of Zoning Appeals meeting at 6:30 p.m. and a Plan Commission meeting at 7 p.m. will follow the special meeting on January 28. The council will meet again in regular session on Tuesday, February 10 at 7:30 p.m.
