TOWN OF HUDSON

115 PARSONAGE STREET

HUDSON, IN  46747

(260) 587-9500

TOWN COUNCIL MEETING

JUNE 26, 2009

 

CALL TO ORDER:  President Brian Hayes called the Town Council meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.

ROLL CALL: Brian Hayes _X_ Kathy Kope _ X_ Steve Smith  X  Atta “Tatsy” Hayes, Clerk-Treasurer X        Ward Odom, Town Manager _X _

 

Attendees: Sarah Odom, Gary Kope, Josh Beach, Andy Mast, Brenda Mast, Betty Hamm, Gene Hamm, Bill Ebert, John McGee, Ed Miller, Louise Brock, and Joyce Straley,

.

MINUTES:  Motion made by Kathy Kope, second by Brian Hayes to approve the May22, 2009 minutes.   Motion carried. 

 

FIRE DEPARTMENT:  Engine 102 is back in service from the tank being repaired, and is working great.  The chicken BBQ was a success and the fire department would like to thank all for the support.  On July 11, 2009, we are going to have a fun day in the park with food and small games for families to enjoy. We will also be doing fire truck demonstration and a demonstration for the kids with all the gear a firefighter wears and uses.  This will be a free event.   The need for Hepatitis B shots and TB shots testing was presented to the council.  This was discussed a few years ago and there is a need to follow up on this and get these completed for fire members who do not have them.  These shots are required by the state and the county. Brenda Mast, medical officer, is getting prices and trying to find avenues to cut the cost.  The Town Manager will also explore possibilities.  Tim Reed with ISO will be in Hudson on Monday, June 29, at 9:00a.m, to do the ISO rating for the town.  Hopefully, this will drop 1 point ultimately dropping home insurance rates.  The fire department responded to 8 incidents for the month of June.  The incidents were for the following:

·           2  Mutual Aid Structure Fires

·           2 Stand By—1 Hazmat in Fremont and 1 Structure Fire in Waterloo

·           1 Medical Assist

·           3  Public Service Calls—2 Pool Fills and 1 Escort

 

MARSHAL:  Seventy warnings, twenty-nine citations, twenty-four incident reports, and one other agency incidents. Two arrests were made and nine abates issued. The Steuben County Safety Partnership has expanded to include Waterloo, Butler, Wolcottville, and Garrett.

 

UTILITY DEPARTMENT   Banners were installed on the nine Main Street light posts.  The consumer confidence report for the fiscal year of 2008 is completed and will be distributed before the July 1st deadline.  The scheduled monitoring period for the lead and copper sampling will be done the second week of July.  This is an IDEM requirement to be done every three years.

 

CLERK‘S REPORT:  Attended the Annual Conference and State Board of Accounts in French Lick on June 14 to 18, 2009. This year, the budget process is accelerated.  The Town Council meeting in July will be a budget meeting in order to publish the budget hearing by August 2. There needs to be a prior meeting to provide input as the meeting with DLGF is July 24. Council approved a budget meeting on July 10 at 6:00 p.m. Next Town Council meeting is scheduled for Friday, July 24, 2009. 

 

TOWN MANAGER:  9 purchase orders were issued in June (May 18 to June 21) for $3,582.14. Total for year to date is 42 purchase orders for $27,520.88. In May, 2009, there were 5,588 visits for 10,349 pages on the Hudson web site, a 34% increase in visits and a 14% increase in pages from a year ago. Ammonia through the end of May averaged 38.2/mgl on 7,052,300 gallons of total flow.  Information on a fire territory is being developed in conjunction with Salem Center Volunteer Fire Department. Planning Commission meeting scheduled for July 28 at the Town Hall at 6:00 p.m. There is a comprehensive plan training session in Indianapolis on July 14.  David Mann, President of the Plan Commission, would like to attend for the registration fee ($80) and gas expense.  Council approved, Kathy Kope move, Brian Hayes second, unanimous.  Information on the new state statute on golf carts was provided. The water rates set last November have been reviewed and have not eliminated the shortfall of approximately $1,163 per month.  Suggest the other half of the rate be implemented. Council voted to table until the budget meeting on July 10.  Waste water (Sewer) is now also indicating a shortfall.  An analysis will be completed by the next Town Council meeting. The annual Tax Increment Finance review letter has been distributed as required by new state statutes. There has been an inquiry concerning the possibility of a new business in the 15 acres east of Main Street, next to Family Dollar. The State of Indiana has a program to prepare “shovel ready” industrial sites.  Upon approval, 50%, up to $ 10,000 of the expenses required to meet the criteria is reimbursed.  Estimate that approximately $ 7,000 will be required to prepare the 46 acre site west of town. Funds would come from the TIF district. Council approved, Kathy Kope move, Brian Hayes second, unanimous. Expect to have the fire hall and car/MDT grants completed by the end of next week. Currently there are three grants that have been submitted: Rescue Truck - $138,000; Fire Gear - $51,440; Police Officer - $100,000 ($289,440 total).  No information on any of the project proposals under the Economic Stimulus Bill.

 

OLD BUSINESS: None

 

NEW BUSINESS:  Gene Hamm asked the council for permission to remove the cable boxes from the yards in Hudson.  Ward Odom indicated that he had been contacted by three residents and told them to remove them if they wished. His request was tabled.  Louise Brock asked the council if something could be done about the unsightliness of some of the properties in Hudson and to whether or not ordinances were being enforced concerning junk yards.  She felt property values are affected.  The Town Manager said that contacts have been made to various owners.  The president requested that letters again be sent.  Gene Hamm also voiced Mrs. Brock’s concerns.  The president reminded him that the issue of “one man’s junk is another man’s treasure” had been dealt with during his tenure and the town’s attorney told the council not to place the town in jeopardy with a possible law suit as happened in the town of Kendallville.  That city lost the suit on appeal and cost the town a substantial amount of money.

 

CLAIMS:  Claims were approved and signed.

 

ADJOURNMENT:  Motion made by Brian Hayes, seconded by Kathy Kope to adjourn.  Meeting adjourned at 7:03 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Atta “Tatsy” Hayes

Clerk-Treasurer

 

Approved:

 

 

 

Brian Hayes

President, Hudson Town Council

 

Town Council Minutes

 

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