Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
NORTH MANCHESTER – At Wednesday night's meeting, the North Manchester Town Council adopted the 2026 budget.
Clerk-Treasurer Carrie Mugford said total appropriations across 31 funds are going down $190,000 compared to this year. After hearing the budget on second reading, council suspended the rules to also approve on third reading.
On second reading, council approved a water rate ordinance and sewer use ordinance amendments; the water ordinance includes a rate increase of $15 per month, going from $25 to $40, for minimum water usage.
For the upcoming water main improvement project, the council awarded a bid to and approved a contract with Atlas Excavating Inc., West Lafayette, for $9,020,000.
There were no public comments at this meeting, however, Council President Jim Smith answered questions asked by Bob Sklar and Valerie Clarkson at the September meeting. Neither Sklar nor Clarkson were present Wednesday.
Smith talked about the town's dormant TNR (Trap, Neuter, Release) program for feral cats, established mutual aid to other police departments, expectations for town employee behavior and the insufficient balance, $326,000, of the town's water improvement fund to cover the $1.2 million meter replacement project.
In other business, council also:
• Heard an update on utility rate trends from Baker Tilly.
• Heard an update on the Imagine One 85 program and a $10,000 funding request from program manager Conner Hindman.
• Approved a $70,546.78 quote for new police radios.
• Heard an update from Town Manager Adam Penrod on the upcoming bridge improvement projects in town. The South Market Street bridge is due to close anytime between January and July 2026 and will be closed for six to eight months, and the Ind. 114 bridge will be down to one lane as work should begin in two to three weeks.
There was a town docket of $574,735.36 and a utilities docket of $454,351.81.
Trick-or-treat hours are 5 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31.
Council will next meet at 7 p.m. Nov. 5.
