TOWN OF HUDSON

115 PARSONAGE STREET

HUDSON, IN  46747

(260) 587-9500

TOWN COUNCIL MEETING

March 30, 2007 

 

CALL TO ORDER:  President Sean Walker called the Town Council meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.

ROLL CALL:  Sean Walker _ X_ Gene Hamm _ x_ Brian Hayes __ab__ Clerk-Treasurer __X__ Town Manager __X__

Others in Attendance:  Anna Platt, Betty Hamm, Louise Brock, Bill Ebert, Steven Smith, Marlene Smith, Ed Miller, Jim O’Quinn, Mark Phillips, Bryan Warstler, Kendra Warstler, Sharon Springer, Darrell. Brandenburg and Sarah Odom

 

MINUTES:  Motion by Sean Walker and seconded by Gene Hamm to approve the February 23, 2007 minutes.  Motion carried.  

 

FIRE DEPARTMENT:  Fire Chief Warstler said that the Tack Auction was successful and appreciated the support. The possibility of a new fire station was discussed.  Council member Gene Hamm suggested that Ashley and Hudson combine the fire departments and build one new station.  He also inquired about the fire districts and what could be done to change them.  After much discussion from the audience, fire department and council, Chief Warstler suggested locating the station beside the Town Hall. The town manage explained how it could be laid out and allow the trucks to come in from the back and drive through, as well as, offices and a storm shelter.  The town manager was asked to look into grants and investigate Region 3-A.  Read more here.

MARSHAL:  There are 2 pending applications for reserve officers.  Three Automatic External Defibrillators (AED), cabinet, and oxygen have arrived and been installed.  Two have been placed in the police cars and one is mounted in a cabinet outside the Town Hall meeting room along with oxygen.  Read more here.

UTILITY DEPARTMENT Fifty Flowering Dogwood seedling trees were planted in a plotted area on the former Kline property “Quiet Park”, in order to let them mature for a year or so before transplanting them throughout the town.  A different mosquito spray product called Mosquito mist will be used this year.  The cost and usage will be less then the previous product used.  A letter was sent concerning the drain at 322 N. Main and discussed on March 7.  This is to be inspected on April 2.  The 2004 Ford dump truck was taken to W.A. Jones Inc. for repair to the plow mount.  Ed Miller attended Basic Tree Care class in Kokomo on March 7 and mosquito control seminar in Fort Wayne on March 14.

 

CLERK‘S REPORT:   The clerk-treasurer attended a meeting with the County Commissioner, Auditor, Assessor, etc. concerning tax collection payments in 2007.  Due to computer problems converting parcel numbers to correspond with the state program, billing will be late this year.  The Auditor said that she expects that it will be late September before governmental entities receive any property tax payments.  The town will be preparing the 2008 budget while still waiting on an approved budget and trying to pay for 2007 activities. Some of the town’s planned major projects may have to be prioritized.  These include infrastructure development, street repairs, sign improvements, tree planting and trimming, park development, utility department vehicles, and new fire hall.  The clerk-treasurer attended ILMCT Institute from March 11-16 in Muncie.  Two sources of utility billing is being reviewed to correct areas noted in the SBOA audit.

 

TOWN MANAGER:  Six purchase orders were issued in March for a total of $3,439.37.  The biggest items were water meters and mosquito spray.  The Steuben Count Community Foundation grant for $10,000 close out was submitted at a total of $10,288.83 for Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA), Hurst hoses, and AED.  The Family Dollar completion dated has been moved to July 1, 2007 by the contractor.  A request for bids on the water/waste water lines for Family Dollar was advertised on March 21 and March 28.  The bid opening is set for April 9 at 10:00 a.m. at the Town Hall. The Park Board has decided on 6 Flowering Cherry, 11 Maples, and 6 Tulip trees for the EAB grant with many of these to be placed in the “Quiet “park.  The Park Board is reviewing a skateboard ordinance that they had requested.  The next meeting is Saturday, April 7 at 9:00 a.m. at the Town Hall.  Read more here. There are 10 trees that need to come down along Main Street and three that need to be trimmed.  Auburn Tree Service has submitted a bid at $3,210.00.  Councilman Gene Hamm made the motion, seconded by Sean Walker to accept this bid.  Proposals for new signs (Memo was provided on reader board on SR 4 at a cost of $1930.49.-New sign for the Town Hall/Community Center and Hardy Park at a cost of $2,020.25) Sean Walker made a motion to table the reader board sign, second by Gene Hamm. Gene Hamm made a motion, seconded by President Sean Walker, to proceed with the Town Hall and park signs.  LTAP has maintained our application for street sign funding and is waiting funding from INDOT.  A transfer of web hosting is completed with more capability at less cost.  Indiana State & Federal Surplus sent notice of availability of 2004-2006 Mobile Homes and Travel Trailers.  No reply as yet from Long View Communication.  Steuben County address Committee has provided procedures draft and sent a copy to the Plan Commission.  Kevin Music is placing his 15 acres south of the trailer park up for auction on May 31 at the Town Hall at 7:00 pm.  It is split in 3 parcels of approximately 5 acres each with 317’ of frontage along SR 4.  The revised project parameter worksheet did not result in a change to the offer from IEDC to Michigan BioDiesel.  The company is looking elsewhere.  Information has been provided on the possible lumber distribution yard on the property west of town.  Homeland Security Course MGT will meet at the Angola Fire Department on April 24-26, 2007.  The Hudson Ball League Hardy Park Clean-Up is March 31 at 1:00 pm.  The Annual meeting of Region 3-A is April 19 at 6:00 pm in Columbia City.  Interest in a one acre lot at the corner of SR 4 and Noll Street has been received for an automotive garage.  The council recommended that this prospective buyer be encouraged to consider the commercial property on SR 4 or in town.  The property west of town is zoned Industrial.

 

OLD BUSINESS:  There was discussion on the handicapped parking on Main Street.  President Walker made a motion, seconded by Gene Hamm to keep the current parking spaces and add one to the north. 

 

NEW BUSINESS:   President Sean Walker presented the Town of Hudson with a new state flag and certificate.  The flag was given by Representative Dick Dodge and was flown over the Indiana State House.  Gene Hamm made note that too many cars were being parked on the street at 318 W.  Wabash St.  Louise Brock complained about the trash and bales of straw in front of the Fire Station dumpster.  She also asked if the Fire Department would care if she power washed the siding.  A lid was reported missing from one of the town’s trash barrels.

 

ADDITION BUSINESS:  Darrell Brandenburg plans on closing on the property at 728 Smathers Street and a problem exists because of a garage being built on a town street.  After much discussion, a motion was made by Sean Walker, seconded by Gene Hamm to write a letter that states that if the Town of Hudson ever expands, the garage needs to be moved.  Sharon Springer asked that W. Wabash Street between Third Street and Fourth Street be vacated and returned to them as the surrounding property owner.   They also requested that Fourth Street extending beyond Depot Street to the railroad be vacated and returned to the property owners.  These streets have never been opened and seem to have little or no value to the Town of Hudson, but do to the residential property owners.  This would limit access to platted lots to the west of the property.  After discussion, it was referred to the Town Manager for further exploration. 

CLAIMS:  Claims were approved and signed.

 

ADJOURNMENT:  Motion made by Sean Walker, seconded by Brian Hayes to adjourn.  Meeting adjourned at 5:30 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Atta “Tatsy” Hayes

Clerk-Treasurer

 

Approved:

 

 

 

Sean Walker

President, Hudson Town Council

 

Town Council Minutes

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