Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
CLAYPOOL - Claypool Town Council approved ordinances regarding garbage containers and house numbers during a council meeting Tuesday.
With the ordinance on garbage containers, residents cannot place containers near the curbside for pickup any earlier than 4 p.m. on the evening prior to the scheduled collection day. All containers must be removed from the curbside no later than noon on the day after trash is collected.
The ordinance further states garbage containers must be stored behind the front building line of the structure and shall not be visible from the public right-of-way except during permitted collection periods.
Ordinance enforcement will be executed by Town Marshal Trevor Long or his deputies. When a violation is determined, property owners will be issued a written notice of non-compliance. Each additional instance of non-compliance will result in a fine of $50 per week to the property owner until non-compliance is cured.
The ordinance on the display of street address numbers says numbers must be plainly visible, unobstructed, "no less than 3 inches but no more than 6 inches wide, be color-contrasting with background surfaces, and be permanently affixed or mounted."
Property owners will receive a written notice of non-compliance from local law enforcement and will have 14 days to bring the property into compliance. Following that, residents will receive a $25 fine per week for the first two weeks of non-compliance and a $50 per week fine following that until the property is brought into compliance.
All collected fines will be placed into the town's general fund.
Both ordinances will take effect 30 days after Jan. 20.
Project Updates
In other business, council heard several updates from Chris Harrison, business development manager with Commonwealth Engineers Inc.
Harrison first requested approval from council for the State Revolving Fund grant for Crosby Construction on the wastewater project. The claim amount is $204,234.73 and was approved by council.
Harrison also provided an update on the Community Crossings Matching Grant Program, with the town receiving five bids for road work. He recommended the council go with a bid from Gaunt & Son Asphalt Inc., Wabash, in the amount of $83,872.30.
Additionally, Harrison provided council with a draft of a handout to alert residents on when contractors are working in their area.
"This could be used as a door hanger but also reaches residents with direct contact on a timeline for when contractors will be in their area," said Harrison. "That is for transparency. It also allows them to coordinate with the contractor on taking their trash out, parking, that type of scenario."
In other business, Zach Dripps, director of operations with the Michiana Area Council of Governments, attended the council meeting to present a letter of interest for a grant application to the Community Amenities Program for new equipment at the town's park.
Council gave Clerk-Treasurer Pat Warner authority to sign the letter of interest.
The council also:
• Approved a quote from CES for $2,662.77 for providing temporary electric power at the new wastewater building during construction.
• Approved a 10% raise for Long. Council Member Gene Warner said the town marshal position had not received a raise since the council voted to have a part-time marshal instead of full-time.
• Approved an agreement for 2026 legal services for town attorney Rama Sobhani.
• Approved the purchase of two body cameras for Claypool Police Department for $796.91.
• Reminded residents that an open house will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19 to discuss the town's strategic plan. Community input is being sought.
• Reminded residents that dogs need to be leashed when they are outside.
• Reminded residents to be mindful of trash cans whenever the roads need plowed following a snow event.
• Approved having Ben Stage Jr. continue serving as council president for 2026.
Council's next meeting is at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17 at the Claypool Lions Club building.
