Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
BURKET – Burket Town Council got an update Thursday on some projects in the works.
Street Superintendent Brad Bibler said nothing has come back in regards to utility poles that have issues in town from Verizon/Frontier. Bibler had previously reached out to representatives in regards to poles that have issues, such as being broken.
He said he noticed the cables near Council President Bill Rayburn’s house was starting to dip a little, so Bibler said he will have to reach out to someone about that.
Also, Bibler said the town has lost three signs within the last month. On Tucker and Railroad streets, a stop sign was taken. A slow children sign in front of Gateway Educational Center was taken. A 30-mile-per-hour speed limit sign was also taken.
Resident Vicki Scott suggested asking neighbors with cameras. Bibler said there weren’t any where the signs were taken.
“I think they’re wise to where the cameras are. That’s why the signs are still where they are,” Rayburn said.
Bibler said he has everything he needs to replace the signs, except a 30 mph sign.
Scott asked if the town generally made police reports when the signs are stolen. Rayburn said probably not, saying signs that were stolen before this were possibly done years ago.
A railroad sign that was taken was also brought up.
Bibler will work with Clerk-Treasurer Katina Webb to order more signs.
Bibler also said he is working with Amy Roe, Kosciusko County community coordinator, and Zach Dripps, director of operations and community development with Michiana Area Council of Governments (MACOG), and Olivia Nix, community development planner with MACOG, on trying to get a grant started for a tornado siren. Bibler said they were supposed to have a meeting last week, but it had to be rescheduled.
Rayburn asked Bibler to find out what the matching funds would be for any grants.
Bibler said the town doesn’t have a tornado siren. Rayburn said the town has an old-fashioned siren and Bibler said that siren is gone.
Later in the meeting, ordinance violations were discussed.
Rayburn said an ordinance violation letter was sent out for tall grass. The grass has since been mowed.
Later in the meeting, Scott said she thought it was great the council was having people mow their yards and follow town ordinance, but asked if town council members should also do the same.
Rayburn said she was absolutely correct and reiterated he had to recuse himself due to conflict of interest from enforcing certain ordinances due to issues at a rental property he owns.
Scott then asked if council members should follow all ordinances.
Council asked Scott for examples. Scott said she can look in her own backyard and see what she has; no one has to point it out to her.
Rayburn said council members need to follow ordinances to the best of their abilities, just like everyone else. Scott said council members should have to follow ordinances as much as other people do.
There was further discussion between council members, Scott and resident Marvin McClone on how ordinance violations were brought up and enforced and whether certain properties were grandfathered in, in regards to ordinance violations due to the town having joined the Kosciusko County Area Plan.
