Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
NORTH MANCHESTER – At Wednesday night's meeting, the North Manchester Town Council voted to use motor vehicle highway funding to purchase a backordered dump truck cab and chassis that was ordered 18 months ago and is due to be built in mid-February.
The 2025 model cab and chassis will be $73,620, which is less than the cost of a 2024 model on the lot, according to Town Manager Adam Penrod. The town's current dump truck is a 2001 model.
At the start of the meeting, the council held an election of officers. Jim Smith will remain president and Laura Rager vice president for this year. Chalmer “Toby” Tobias has filled Thomas Dale's council seat. Dale served on the council for 12 years.
The council heard an update from Keith Gillenwater, of Grow Wabash County. Gillenwater said the county's largest investment in 2023 was the Ford Meter Box expansion, with a $300 million investment and 126 new jobs.
In old business, the council approved the Learn More Center's request for funding. The town is donating the requested $15,000 toward operational costs. As of this week, the Center is up to 91 students.
In new business, the council approved resolutions for setting meeting times for 2024 and allowing reimbursement for pre-project expenses ahead of the sewer project to allow for flow modeling.
The town rejected a $141,000 valve replacement bid from SAMM Trucking of Evansville as Penrod advised the work should only cost $40,000 to $50,000. The town will advertise for new bids soon.
In other business:
• The Department of Natural Resources will begin spraying for the invasive species of spongy moth that has been identified in the area. Low-flying planes, about 50 feet above the treetops, will be in North Manchester sometime in May to spray for the larvae.
• Sgt. Nate Birch has a new puppy, a golden retriever named Rip, who will be trained as a sniffing dog for the police department.
• There was a town docket of $181,149.25 and a utilities docket of $170,400.28.
The council will next meet at 7 p.m. Feb. 7.
