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BURKET – Burket Town Council was questioned Thursday on its enforcement of ordinances.
Resident Vicki Scott said during December’s meeting, she and another resident brought up issues and “they’ve never been brought up again in the town minutes.”
Scott brought up two properties. One of the properties, owned by Council President Bill Rayburn, Scott said, had an unplated vehicle at the property. Another property Scott brought up is where Street Superintendent Brad Bibler lives and it has two unplated vehicles.
Scott asked what the difference was between those two properties and the property on Broadway Street the council has been talking about for months about having unplated vehicles.
Scott asked Councilwoman Debra Denniston to answer the question. Denniston said she didn’t know and Rayburn said the council didn’t necessarily have to answer questions during the comment section of a meeting.
Scott asked a second time what the difference was between the properties.
“I will tell you the same thing I’ve told (people) before. We’re on a very sticky situation of fining people for having cars and towing them off their property and exposing the town to that,” Rayburn said.
He said the council has not fined anyone for unplated cars and “we’re not enforcing that until we get legal guidance on if we’re going to do that. That’s all I’m going to say at this point. I’ve said it numerous times.”
Scott said she contacted the Indiana Public Access Counselor’s Office and said the response she received stated a council member should recuse themselves from fining a violation they themselves have committed and “it it a clear conflict of interest. The board member must remove themselves from discussion, deliberation and voting to avoid the appearance of impropriety and ensure fairness,” adding a member cannot impartially rule on a violation they are currently violating.
Rayburn said that was absolutely correct.
Scott said the property on Broadway Street has been dragged through the mud by the council.
Rayburn called time for Scott to speak as the council has an ordinance in place limiting comments to three minutes. Scott said she’d come back next month and ask the same question.
“You need to start answering these questions, the way you’re treating people in this town,” Scott said.
In other business, the council learned Burket Bible Church is looking to create a youth program for at least a couple hours on Wednesdays.
