NEW WHITELAND TOWN COUNCIL

JANUARY 17, 2006

MEETING MINUTES

 

Town Council President John Perrin opened the meeting at 7:00 p.m. with the pledge to the American flag. Council members present were Scott Alspach, John Perrin, Don Harris, Terry Spencer and Joe Noonan.   Also present were Attorney Stephen Watson and Clerk-Treasurer Maribeth Alspach along with Department Heads Jim Lasiter, Mary Facemire, Bill Withers, Brian Hedrick and Office Manager Cindy Yates.   Councilman Noonan offered the opening prayer.  

 

MINUTES

Member Noonan moves to approve the minutes of the previous meeting.  Motion seconded by Councilman Alspach.  Vote 3 affirmative.  Members Harris and Spencer abstain.

 

MEDAL OF VALOR CEREMONY

President Perrin shares the story of his friend from college, Gary McCarthy, who was a missionary and then returned to the states and became a policeman.  Officer McCarthy was killed in the line of duty while serving and protecting his community.  Perrin thanks all emergency personnel for the service they provide and the risks they so willingly take for all of us.

President Perrin and Marshal Withers present Officer Ken Polley with a plaque for his acts of heroism while responding to a 911 call for a fire last December at 1034 Ashland Avenue.  Officer Polley was able to pull three persons and one dog from a burning house before backup could arrive.  Lt. Stephenson reads an account of the incident and an accommodation letter referencing Officer Polley’s brave and selfless acts that day.  Officer Polley is presented with a Medal of Valor. 

Officer Polley thanks everyone and states that it did seem effortless at the time – he was only doing what he had been trained to do.  He is very happy that things turned out the way they did that day.  He states that our Fire Department did an outstanding job of getting the fire under control and extinguished while giving medical treatment to the victims.  Polley adds that there were other police officers involved that day as well and many people deserve thanks.

Fire Chief Hedrick also read an acclamation and presents Officer Polley with a plaque from the Fire Department.  Hedrick states that the Fire Department was able to contain the fire to the room of origin and the kitchen.

President Perrin notes that the family who were victims of this fire is present tonight and thanks them for their attendance.

 

OLD BUSINESS

2006 Budget

Clerk-Treasurer Alspach states that we are still waiting on the 1782 Notice and will need to reduce the 2006 budget by an additional $22,000 +/-.  Alspach states this item will be placed on the February 7th agenda.

 

NEW BUSINESS

Police Department

Lt. Stephenson presents the New Whiteland Police Department’s 2005 Statistical Review.  Stephenson presents information on the number of calls, arrests, traffic violations, thefts, etc. handled by the department last year.  (see attached report).  Councilman Alspach thanks Stephenson and the NWPD for their service and for providing this information.  Alspach asks how many accidents were investigated in 2005.  Stephenson states he will make that information available to the council and will include it in next year’s report.

 

Fire Department

Fire Chief Hedrick presents his department’s statistical report.  Hedrick states they had 356 total runs of which 57 were fire runs, 243 were EMS calls, 33 were mutual aid runs, and there were 23 miscellaneous runs.  (see attached report)  Hedrick adds that there average response time was 4

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January 17, 2006

 

minutes and 20 seconds and that the national average is 4 minutes.  This is very impressive for a volunteer department.  Hedrick adds that his information is not as detailed as it might have been due to the fact that he has only been chief for the last month.  Chief Hedrick also distributes a list of the Fire Department Officer appointments.  Hedrick conducted an application/interview process and has made the following appointments:

                        Troy Nelson                              Assistant Chief

                        Andrew Tames                         Operations Captain       

                        Ryan Cox                                 Fire Lieutenant

                        Matt Gin                                   EMS Lieutenant

                        Scott Ferrell                              Support Services Captain

                        Ray Rodgers                             Prevention/Investigations Captain

President Perrin notes that the Department’s response time is phenomenal and also recognizes Ray Rodgers for his 47 years of service on the Fire Department.

 

Utility Account Write-Offs

Clerk-Treasurer Alspach presents a list of the uncollectible utility accounts that need to be written off.  Alspach recommends increasing the deposit from $25.00 to $75.00 or requiring property owner to put the service in their name due to the number of write-offs we have on rental properties.  Attorney Watson thinks increasing the deposit is the best plan.  Councilman Spencer asks that we research the amount other communities charge for deposits.  Member Noonan moves to approve the write-off list (see attached) and is seconded by Member Alspach.   Vote 5 affirmative. 

 

Hardship Request

Greg Burgess is present requesting an extension on his utility bill.  Burgess will pay the current balance of $225.35 on February 3, 2006 and the February 6th bill (for water used in February and late penalties for the current bill) on February the 21st, 2006 to avoid disconnect.  Member Harris moves to approve the extension and is seconded by Member Spencer.   Vote 4 affirmative 1 no vote cast by Member Alspach. 

 

Sewer Adjustment Request

Clerk-Treasurer Alspach presents copies of a resident’s letter requesting an adjustment due to a water leak at 120 Brookside.  The resident, Angela Burkhead, was asked to present documentation of a leak and proof of repair.  She says her landlord fixed the leak and won’t provide documentation.  Ms. Burkhead was asked to attend tonight’s meeting to explain the situation but choose not to.  Our Public Works employees remember being at the house and being told by the lady there that there was a toilet that ran a lot in the house.  Council states without proof of leak and documentation of repairs performed they cannot consider any adjustment. 

 

Country Gate Drainage Concerns

Councilman Spencer asks if, due to recent rain events, there have been any reports of flooding in the town?  PW Supt. Lasiter states there have not been.  Lasiter adds that he has spoken with Paul Clare who is waiting for a response from NACHI on Schneider’s offer to purchase land for the needed detention pond. 

 

2007 Budget

President Perrin suggests asking department heads to provide more line item detail when preparing next year’s budget forms.  Perrin suggests listing requested purchases (specific items) with estimated costs.

 

LEGISLATIVE

None

 

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January 17, 2006

 

 

 

LEGISLATIVE

None.

 

Councilman Spencer thanks all members of the NWPD who are in attendance tonight.  He thanks the Police Department for it’s service and states that he greatly appreciates all that they do.

 

Councilman Harris also recognizes the efforts of the Public Works employees who are out plowing the streets tonight to keep our residents safe.  Employees Jim Wilkerson and Bill Gragg are manning the snowplows tonight.

 

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Being no other business the meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

____________________________

Maribeth Alspach, Clerk- Treasurer

 

 

 

Approved: _____________________________

               John Perrin, President