Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
NORTH WEBSTER – The North Webster Town Council heard an update Tuesday on funding for the town’s park improvement project.
The town has received a $500,000 grant through the Community Amenities Program and a $100,000 Lake and River Enhancement grant from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
North Webster also is eligible for a matching grant through the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority’s CreatINg Places program if the town reaches its $50,000 fundraising goal.
“We have flyers and more information coming soon,” said Leigh Anne Jessop, clerk-treasurer. “It’s the Patronicity IHCDA CreatINg Places crowdsourcing grant that we launched, which coordinates with the CAP grant we’re receiving.”
CreatINg Places is a collaborative effort between IHCDA and Patronicity.
Resident Bryan Fanning stressed the importance of the park improvement project.
“This is our community,” Fanning said.
The town will hold a photo opportunity this Thursday for the CAP grant with the K21 Health Foundation, which manages the program. More information will be released afterward.
Fanning said residents can support the park project by visiting the town’s website, northwebster.org, or its Facebook page to donate. More information and donations also are available at Patronicity.com/NorthWebster. Residents with questions can contact Jessop at 574-834-7894.
Police Report
Town Marshal Greg Church presented the North Webster Police Department’s July report. The department logged 291 calls for service during the month.
Officers worked 774.25 hours, drove 3,840 miles and used 319.92 gallons of fuel.
The department recorded 35 theft or fraud-related calls, 23 traffic-related calls, one battery, fight or domestic call and one criminal mischief call.
Officers also responded to drug- and alcohol-related incidents, traffic accidents or vehicles in ditches, citizen assists and lockouts, and agency assists involving fire and EMS.
The department issued 23 media reports during July.
Other Business
• A resident expressed concerns about stray cats, including a litter of 10 kittens. She was informed about Kosciusko Community Trap-Neuter-Return, a program that traps, neuters and returns cats.
• Residents also returned to the council to ask about speed-limit signs. Last month, the council agreed to install stop signs in certain areas of town, and some have already been installed.
Church said additional signs are needed in school zones and on Crystal Flash Road. He said the utilities department will install a requested sign on Huntington Street.
A resident also asked about a stop sign near Mulberry and East South streets. Church said the department conducted a demonstration with a vehicle and determined a stop sign was not needed. He said installing one could create more problems than it would solve.
Jessop said she will post information on the town’s website and Facebook page regarding speed limits within town limits.
• The council also was informed that the new pedestrian and bicycle trail is “moving forward” and will be constructed in North Webster, with the first phase taking place in town limits The board approved a $13,000 design contract with USI Consultants Inc. for engineering work on the local pedestrian and bicycle path.
President Dan Thystrup said another group is working to develop a bicycle trail around Tippecanoe Lake.
• The board signed a purchase order totaling $8,961.48 for equipment for the utilities department.
The next council meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Sept. 15 at the North Webster Community Center.
