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September 8th Council Minutes

TOWN COUNCIL MEETING

SEPTEMBER 8, 2016  6:00 P.M.

SHIPSHEWANA TOWN HALL

345 N. MORTON STREET

SHIPSHEWANA, IN  46565

 

PRESENT:  Council; Roger D. Yoder, C. Arlene Lazzaro, Elmer J. Mast, Lynn M. Bontrager, J. Mike Wilcher.  Staff; Mike Sutter, Kurt R. Bachman, Tom M. Fitch II, Chad L. Miller, Ruth Ann Downey.  Public; Chuck Wray, Marvin Yoder, George Bachman, Todd Wisler, Hailey Cramer, Alexis Shaneyfelt, Dan Gill, Randy Gill.

 

Council President R. Yoder called the meeting to order, welcomed everyone, noted that all Council Members were present and asked that the public be sure to sign in.  Agendas were available.

 

INVOCATION & PLEDGE:  C.A. Lazzaro gave the invocation and E. Mast led the pledge.

 

MOTION:  E. Mast made a motion to accept the agenda with flexibility.  L. Bontrager seconded the motion.  Motion carried.

 

  1. Yoder asked for corrections or additions to the August 25, 2016 Council meeting minutes. There being no corrections or additions R. Yoder asked for a motion.

 

MOTION:  C.A. Lazzaro made a motion to approve the August 25, 2016 Town Council meeting minutes as submitted.  J.M. Wilcher seconded the motion.  Motion carried.

 

STREET CLOSURE REQUEST (FALL CRAFTERS FAIR):  Event Coordinator, C. Wray reported that the street closure request is the same as it has been in the past.  We are requesting that Maple Street from the West side of the Pak-A-Sak/Subway property to Summey Street be closed from 9 a.m. Thursday, September 29th through 5:00 p.m. Saturday October 1st.  We plan to run a shuttle service for parking and put up bales of hay to prevent people from parking on private property.  T. Fitch reported that he had talked with Ryan Riegsecker concerning the large number of people that will be crossing SR 5 at Maple Street during this event.  INDOT will not allow a temporary crosswalk unless it is manned but they will provide message boards to notify drivers of the increased number of people crossing SR5.  Discussion followed.

 

MOTION:  L. Bontrager made a motion to approve the Maple Street closure request as presented for the Fall Crafters Fair from 9 a.m. Thursday September 29th through 5 p.m. Saturday, October 1st.   C.A. Lazzaro seconded the motion.  Motion carried.

 

FIREFIGHTER APPROVAL REQUEST:  Fire Chief, C. Miller reported that they currently have 26 firefighters with approval to have up to 30.  C. Miller requested approval for Caleb Dickerson and Myron Miller to serve as firefighters.  We have the necessary gear and equipment for them.  C. Dickerson will need to go through training but M. Miller already has the necessary training.  Both individuals work in the area, would be available for daytime fires, and both have been approved by the Fire Department.  Discussion followed.

 

MOTION:  J.M. Wilcher made a motion to approve Caleb Dickerson and Myron Miller to serve as volunteer firefighters on the Shipshewana Fire Department.  E. Mast seconded the motion.  Motion carried.

FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT:  C. Miller reported that the annual Ham & Bean Supper Fund Raiser will be held from 4 – 8 p.m. on October 8th at the Fire Station.  Discussion followed.

 

POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT:  T. Fitch II reported that there were traffic flow issues on Labor Day due to the number of people in Town, and there were some complaints.   There was so much traffic here that there was nowhere to move the traffic to.  Discussion followed.

 

TOWN MANAGER REPORT:     M. Sutter recommended that the Council consider having him send a letter to the local people with complaints requesting that they bring their complaints before the Council rather than taking up the Police Department’s time or the time of other Town Employees.  I have seen this work in other communities and most of the time the people do not come in to present their complaints.  Discussion followed.  M. Sutter recommended that Town Employees don’t listen to the complaints just refer them to the Town office and ask to be placed on the next Town Council agenda.

 

MUSEUM CAR APPRAISALS:  M. Sutter reported that it is time to have a formal appraisal done on the Cars at the Auto Museum.  Three appraisers of classic cars were provided to me by Yoder Insurance and recommended by Haggerty Insurance the company that currently insures the cars for the Town.  I have contacted all three Motoring Icons, Simatos Auto Appraisals, and Top Hat John Auto Appraisals all three are from the Detroit, MI area.  Top Hat John Auto Appraisals is not qualified and Guy Zaninovich did not return my phone calls.  That leaves Simatos Auto Appraisals.   I would recommend paying for the auto appraisals from the Town Center Operating Fund and request that you authorize the Council President to sign the necessary paperwork to move this process forward.   Mr. Simatos has quoted $15,000.00 for the auto appraisals and $3,000 for each lot of 100 pieces of memorabilia.  Discussion followed.

 

MOTION:  L. Bontrager made a motion authorizing the Town Manager to contact Simatos Auto Appraisals to request a contract for appraisals of the 50 Hudson Automobiles in the Auto Museum at a cost of $15,000.00 with an additional cost of $3,000.00 for each lot of 100 pieces of memorabilia and authorized the Council President to sign the contract contingent on additional appropriations in the Town Center Operating Fund to cover the cost of these services.  C.A. Lazzaro seconded the motion.  Motion carried.

 

DONATION REQUEST:  M. Sutter reported that he had been contacted by the CVB (Convention & Visitors Bureau) regarding a donation to help purchase Ice Cream for an Ice Cream Social that is to be held as part of Indiana’s Bi-Centennial Celebration.  R. Yoder asked if there was a date and time for this event.  M. Sutter reported that the time and date are still to be determined.  Discussion followed.

 

MOTION:  C.A. Lazzaro made a motion to donate $100.00 from the Appreciation Fund for the Ice Cream Social that is to be held as a part of Indiana’s Bi-Centennial Celebration.  J.M. Wilcher seconded the motion.  Motion carried.

 

  1. Sutter reported that the Water Department meter head replacement program has been completed. Every meter in Town is now a radio read meter. What once took an employee 20 hours now takes them 2 ½ hours to complete.  This program has not been good for a return on investment but does free up time to be used in other areas.  Discussion followed.

 

  1. Sutter reminded Council Members that the dedication for the new Highland Ridge building will be held at 10 a.m. on September 19th. Discussion followed.

 

FINANCIAL REPORT:  R. Downey reported that the public hearing for the 2017 Budget will be held at the September 22nd Council meeting and requested approval for the Claims Registers and Adjustment Journals.

 

MOTION:  E. Mast made a motion to approve the Claims Registers and Adjustment Journals as submitted.  L. Bontrager seconded the motion.  Motion carried.

 

ATTORNEY REPORT:  K. Bachman had nothing further to report.

 

  1. Yoder asked if there was any further business to come before the Council.

 

County Council Member G. Bachman reminded Council Members that there is a service being held at Eden Worship Center (EWC) on Sunday, September 11th   at 9:30 a.m. to Thank all the Police, Firefighters, and EMT’s for their service to the community.  A carry in meal will follow.

 

  1. Bachman reported that they continue to work on the County Budget and are considering imposing a Safety Tax. This tax could help pay for the pagers needed for the Fire Departments and other safety related items. Some of this tax revenue will be distributed to the Towns based on their population.   Discussion followed.    G. Bachman reminded Council Members than any salaried workers must make $47,000.00 beginning December 1, 2016.   This requirement will have an impact on some County positions.  The CR 200 project is coming along well and is on schedule.  Discussion followed regarding the proposed MEC project and road improvements.   G. Bachman reported that the County is also considering a new legal system building which will cost taxpayers around $8.00 to $10.00 per year.   This is a project I plan to support.    Discussion followed.

 

  1. Yoder introduced the Town Council and Staff to the Westview Government Class Students and asked them to introduce themselves. Introductions followed.

 

There being no further business to come before the Council, R. Yoder asked for a motion to adjourn.

 

MOTION:  E. Mast made a motion to adjourn.  L. Bontrager seconded the motion.  Motion carried.