TOWN OF
(260)
587-9500
CALL
TO ORDER: President Brian Hayes called
the Town Council meeting to order at 6:32 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: Ed Miller, Betty Hamm, Gene Hamm, Sarah
Odom, Lyle Torrence, Grant Deel, Charles Goodwin, Iris Rall, Dean Norman, Jerry
Coler, Sherry Holiday, and Susan Miller
MINUTES: Motion made by
Kathy Kope,
second by Steve Smith to approve the April 4, 2008 minutes. Motion carried. Due to several guests, the President
recognized them first before going into the regular meeting.
President
Hayes recognized Mrs. Sherry Holiday from Farmers State Bank. She presented the paperwork on combining the
two outstanding loans for the water and waste extension lines into one in the
amount of $206,184.55 at a rate of 4.900%.
The maturity date will be April 25, 2023.
Mr. Grant Deel from Cold Heading was
recognized. He requested 10-year tax abatement on $320,000 of new machinery to
be installed in their Hudson facility. The installation of these pieces of
equipment will permit Cold Heading to be more competitive and assist in the
retention of 40 employees. Brian Hayes made the motion to grant this abatement,
seconded by Kathy Kope. Motion
unanimously approved.
The
board recognized Charles Goodwin, a Life Scout working toward his Eagle
Scout. His intended project is to build
a Veterans Memorial in Hudson to be located in the walking park on South Main
Street. There will be monument, flowers,
shrubs, a tree of honor and one of valor.
He would have eight flag poles to represent the American flag, Indiana
State flag, POW/MIA flag and the four branches of the military plus the Coast
Guard. Troop 189 volunteers, local
American Legion, friends, and family will do the work. The supplies will also be donated. Not only will
this project honor those that have given so much, but can foster an interest in
scouting and getting young people involved in their community. Mr. Goodwin was given permission to pursue
this project. The President also
requested that a plan be presented to the board before any work was started.
FIRE
DEPARTMENT: At a meeting on Wednesday, April 23, with
Salem Trustee Marcia Helmuth, Salem Center FD, Helmer FD, and Cindy Snyder of
Steuben County Communications, some minor changes to the Hudson Volunteer Fire
department service area were made. The
HVFD service area for medical and grass fires now extends to 800 W between 700
S and SR 4. All three departments will
be toned out for structural fires. The SAFER Firefighter classified
advertisements have started.
Qualification, duties, and application are available in the town office
and on line at the Hudson web site. The Architect/Engineer is finalizing the
bid package for the fire hall and bid advertisements should be in approximately
2 weeks. The wiring of the tornado/WMD
siren is nearing completion and will soon be set.
UTILITY
DEPARTMENT : Ed Miller asked that the existing fax machine
be replaced. Brian Hayes motioned,
seconded by Kathy Kope to replace the fax.
Motion carried.
CLERK‘S
REPORT: Mr.
Tom Bredeweg from Indiana Association of Cities and Towns(IACT) will present an
update on House Bill 1001 and how newly passed property tax legislation will
effect the local government in our town.
The meeting will be held at Dillinger’s on Wednesday April 30, at 6:30
p.m. Invitations have been sent to board
members from Orland, Fremont, Clear Lake, Hamilton and Ashley. The public is also invited. A resolution of the town to support the
Steuben County Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan was read. A motion was made by Kathy Kope, seconded by
Brian Hayes to sign this resolution. Motion passed. Property tax statements will
again be late this year. Property owners
are being encouraged to pay the first half of their property tax in the same
amount as last year. The clerk will be
attending ILMCT and State Board of Accounts School from June 9-June
TOWN
MANAGER: Four purchase orders were issued in April
(March 24 to April 20) for $12,139.82.
There was no April report for the web pages or on the waste water and
ammonia levels. Umbaugh and Associates
have completed a water rate study among municipal water systems. Among towns with a population less than
1,000, Hudson rates are 78.9% of the average. The Alliance of Indiana Rural Water
and Indiana Rural Community Assistance Program (USDA) are holding Utility Board
Training at Pleasant Township Fire Department in Laketon, Indiana. There will be three
sessions: Managerial Capacity (April 17)
Financial Capacity (August 21), and Technical Capacity (November 13). Ed Miller will attend the November 13
session. The Clerk Treasurer attended the April 17th session and the
Town Manager will attend the August 21 session. The satellite dishes have been
removed and the building will be removed by the end of April along with the
cement footings. The Steuben County
Commissioners have adopted a snow emergency ordinance for the county. There will be an Ashley-Hudson Festival
meeting on May 28 at 6:00 pm at the site on Railroad/Wabash Streets (old Cinder
Path). The Steuben County Economic
Development is requesting nominations for local business recognition. We are awaiting information on playground
equipment assemblers from Indiana Recreation in order to prepare site in Hardy
Park. The Ball league has completed the
work on the steps by concession stand. The ball season starts on May 1st. The Town Wide Garage Sale will be held
Saturday, May 3rd and Town Clean-up will be May 10th.
OLD
BUSINESS: Jerry Coler’s request that the Town
extend Depot Street to the west for access to his property on the west end was
reintroduced. The council agreed that the road extension would be
possible. It would probably be gravel. The timing will depend on the property tax
legislation and tax dispersments. Dean
Norman was upset with the condition of the fence on Main Street and the
vehicles, etc. behind the fence. The
president informed him that a letter had been sent. If nothing is done, it will be sent to the
Fremont Court as it was in the past. Gene Hamm voiced a complaint about the
number of garbage cans set out at this residence. As the president noted, this has been dealt
with in the past and is a “perk” of the company. Gene Hamm was very vocal in his
opinion about not only the SAFER Grant for a full-time fireman, but in the
location of the fire department as well.
Neither Orland, Fremont, Salem Center, nor Ashley has a full-time
fireman, so why should Hudson? The Town
Manager reminded him that he and the other two council members in June of 2006
agreed to pursue this instead of a full-time deputy. He also voted to make the Kline property a
“Quiet Park” and was present at the Public Hearing with Region IIIA on the
location of the new fire station.
NEW
BUSINESS: None
CLAIMS: Claims were approved and signed.
ADJOURNMENT: Motion made by Kathy Kope, seconded by Steve
Smith to adjourn. Meeting adjourned.
Respectfully
submitted,
Atta
“Tatsy” Hayes
Clerk-Treasurer
Approved:
Brian
Hayes
President,
Hudson Town Council