Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
CLAYPOOL - Claypool Town Council approved applying for a Community Crossings Matching Grant and hiring a tree-trimming service to address trees near town roads during a meeting Tuesday, Sept. 15.
Chris Harrison, Commonwealth Engineers' business development manager, attended the meeting to inform council that applications for the 2027 Community Crossings Matching Grant Program are due at the end of September. If received, work would be done on Calhoun Street. Harrison said the work would involve milling and paving the asphalt, replacing sidewalks, removing tree stumps and replacing stop signs. The total estimated cost for the project is $252,295.
Harrison noted there was a portion of the road work on Calhoun Street that was ineligible for CCMG, specifically for the parking area near the post office. That cost for that portion is estimated at $8,955.
With the CCMG being an 80/20 match, and the cost for the post office area not being covered by the grant, the town's commitment toward the project would be $59,414.
In other business, Council President Benny Stage presented two quotes for tree-trimming service in town. He said there's approximately 90 to 100 trees near town roads that are in need of trimming. The trees would be cut to where they're 15 feet tall and back from the edge of the road. Stage said all cuttings would be taken to the town's burn pile.
"I know this is high, it's a lot of money, but it would be even higher if they were chopping all this stuff up when cutting it down," said Stage. "We have to do something, because school bus (drivers) are complaining, trash truck (drivers) are complaining. Then we have, I think Jerry (Creekmore) has cleaned a couple of them up for the trash guys. It's just bad, it hasn't been done in years."
Council approved a quote from Clay Tree Services, Pierceton, for $27,500.
The council also approved making Gregory Helton a full-time employee for the town of Claypool. Helton will work as the assistant superintendent under Town Superintendent Danny Warner. The full-time change will take effect Oct. 1.
Tied into Helton's employment change, the council approved participating in the Alliance of Indiana Rural Water program. Alliance helps with training on utility operations for water and wastewater. Council also approved applying for any existing grants through Alliance to help with paying Helton's wages.
The council also:
• Set trick-or-treat hours for 6-8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31.
• Had its first reading of the 2027 budget, which totals $1,397,983. This number includes the bond construction fund, which is $1 million.
• Heard a reminder from Warner that leaves need to be placed in biodegradable bags for pickup.
• Approved a $750 quote from Custom Fencing for a fence repair at the northwest corner of the town's ponds. The fence damage is due to a tree falling on the fence as a result of storms.
• Approved sending a letter to the Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission on behalf of Seth Lee for the placement of a driveway at 204 S. Graceland Ave. Lee is building a new house on the property.
• Tabled a terminal services data agreement for the Claypool Police Department until their October meeting in order to review the matter with town attorney Rama Sobhani.
Council's next meeting is at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20, in the Claypool Lions Club building.
