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SIDNEY - Sidney Town Council is taking another step toward its strategic plan.
Amy Roe, Kosciusko County community coordinator, provided updates to the town's process of a five-year strategic plan Monday at the council's monthly meeting. Roe reported there is a verbal approval the town would be an applicable applicant for The Dekko Foundation Tool Belt grant. The grant is an 80/20 grant, which is used for quality of life projects.
This grant is not open to the general public.
The council approved Clerk-Treasurer Lisa Parrett to “open the portal” requesting the town be considered an applicant.
Roe stressed the town did not want to “get the cart before the horse,” on the strategic planning. Notation of needing the surveys returned on what the residents want was important. A meeting of the strategic planning committee will be arranged when all committee members can be present, according to Roe. That committee will look at the surveys, hold discussions and move forward.
It was noted by Councilwoman Sharon Rancourt a town resident has indicated donation of two lots to the town for some sort of potential park. This now gives the town two locations for a potential park, if the return surveys indicate that is desired.
Rancourt explained to the town members present, which was said to be the largest number ever attending a town council meeting, that it’s a plan to plan for planning.
During the presentation, Tom Bell questioned how the residents could provide input when they don't know to show up. He referred to the meeting scheduled for Sept. 8, which was cancelled earlier in the day due to illness by the majority of the bard.
“How may elderly come up and look?” he questioned. Parrett took the blame for not having the cancellation posted.
Bell also questioned if the grant would cover equipment for the park and the installation of security cameras due to the number of child molesters residing in town. He was told the board was not at that point yet and the town was “nowhere near” that point. He replied it was “bull crap.”
Another resident questioned if the plans included a walking path around town. Again the response from the council and Roe was the town was not “ready for that.”
It was stated the town is looking at what's possible and feasible. “There are many stages,” it was noted. Roe stated she hopes to stack grants over the next two years to make the plans doable and possible.
Roe stressed the residents need to let the committee and town know what they want. “It's just ideas.”
Gavin Parrett, town council president, also stated, “Nothing is concrete. It's a plan to put together a plan.”
During other business, the town's parking ordinance was brought up as well as one junk car complaint received.
Bell questioned what else besides the vehicles were being taken care of, such as trash on property, junk cars, asking if the council had been down by the church.
Gavin Parrett stated formal complaints need to be made. It was noted once a formal complaint on ordinance violations are made, a formal letter is mailed and the recipient has 30 days to correct the violation. Then a second letter is mailed noting the fines. Gavin Parrett indicated it is a 60-day process. It was also stressed that just bringing it up at a council meeting is not a formal complaint.
Several times it was stressed formal complaint forms are available by contacting Lisa Parrett to set up a time to pick up the complaint or people can write it in a letter and drop it in the box. She noted she will bring complaint forms to the next meeting.
In reviewing the town's parking ordinance, it was discovered that the ordinance could not be enforced unless signs were erected indicating no parking. Council members will look into posting signs.
Other questions were raised about getting a stop sign or stoplight somewhere on Ind. 13 andspeeding on Catholic Street. Gavin Parrett noted signage or a stoplight on Ind. 13 is out of their control and they will be relaying the speeding situation to Pierceton Police, who are on contract with the town to patrol.
When the floor was open for questions and concerns, Bell's comment about getting something done about drugs was stopped from going further by Rancourt.
She clearly stated that the questions and concerns needed to be things that the town can control. “We can't control pedophilers or drug users,” she said.
The discussion then went into creating a neighborhood watch program. However, the question was raised who would get involved. “People won't do it,” Rancourt noted, even though she felt it was a good idea. She stated there needed to be a coordinator, someone people could go to, and that it was not a function of the board. “The board can only do so much,” she said.
It was suggested the town get a “wannabe cop,” which brought up the financial details of the town. It was noted the town's annual budget is $100,000 a year. “That doesn't get you very much … our goal is to be forward thinking,” said Rancourt. It was noted that it would cost the town $50,000 a year in salary alone to have its own police officer.
A question about legal four-wheelers in town, which is against the town's ordinances, raised the question why residents couldn't have copies of the town ordinances. While it was noted all ordinances are available online and in the clerk's office, the comment was they don't go online, or they had a hard time finding the ordinances.
The next meeting of the council will be at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 13 in the Jackson Township Fire station.
