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Last updated on Tuesday, March 27, 2012
(OOLITIC) - The Oolitic Town Council approved a contract with the Oolitic Volunteer Fire Department Monday night.
Fire Chief Jason Lewis still needs to approve the contract and sign it.
Currently the town is honoring a 2011 contract, according to Clerk-Treasurer Jim Staley.
Staley says the new contract is needed so the town will be in compliance with the State Board of Accounts.
The contract would allow the town to pay the fire department a quarterly allotment, so the department could pay their own bills instead of the bills coming to the town for payment.
The town would still pay the utilities bills and the department's insurance.
In other business:
* Mitchell resident Ron Pridemore addressed the council about his candidacy for county commissioner.
* The play ground equipment has been removed from the community center. The equipment was sold for scrap. It had to be removed because of safety issues.
* Council president Delvin Nikirk reported, the Oolitic Kiwanis spent a week in Henryville feeding hungry volunteers.
* Council member Billy Burnett addressed the council about concerns the police department had not received a raise in several years.
"The fire department comes in here and says they want this and they want that, but what about our police department," Burnett said. "Why is it we can do for the fire department but we can't do for the police department."
Burnett addressed Town Marshall Jon Jeffries and Deputy Bill Allen, who attended the meeting, asking them to let the council know what the department needs.
Jim Staley says those issues could be address in next year's budget or an additional appropriation would have to be made.
* The buzzard problem on Vista Drive has been solved. Nikirk says he talked to Department of Natural Resource officials.
"Basically they said we could make loud noises and scare them away or put up decoys," Nirkirk says. "Thankfully they have found somewhere else to roost."
* The council is trying to find the owners of the property at 137 Lafayette Avenue. Nikirk says the grass in the back yard is taller than he is and something needs to be done with the property. The property has been abandoned for about four years. Council Attorney Gregg Pittman says the city can clean up the property and then place a lien on the property.
* Rental rates at the Community Center were set. The current rates were confusing, because clients paid an hourly rate and then taxes were added to that rate. Now the taxes are included in the rate. The gym can be rented for $20 an hour and rooms can be rented for $12.50 an hour.
* Nikirk reported the sewer construction project was on scheduled and a meeting will be held Tuesday afternoon to update council members on the progress.
* Staley told the council he cancelled the contract with Cintas, who provides the runners for the floors at Town Hall. Staley purchased runners saving the town more than $10,000.
* Deputy Marshall Bill Allen will be conducting a meth lab training with Oolitic and Shawswick Volunteer firefighters, Thursday at 6 p.m.
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