Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Tuesday, August 28, 2012
(OOLITIC) - The town of Oolitic will be replacing 300 water meters in a move to accurately regulate water usage.
Town Superintendent Rick Hawkins will have the meters replaced by winter.
Town Clerk Jim Staley says IDEM recommends the town replace 10 percent of their meters every year.
"Most of the meters are 20 to 25 years old," Staley told the council. "I recommend, since we have the funds, to replace 300 of those meters now. I personally, will be in charge of the inventory of the new meters and I would like to hold on to the old meters and then eventually scrap them and place those funds back into our account."
Staley says replacing the meters is one thing the town can do to provide citizens with accurate meter readings.
Utility Supply submitted the lowest bid and will provide the meters and gaskets needed to replace them.
In other business :
* The town council approved the Oolitic Festival Committee to use the Community Center for their haunted house in October. The goup will begin setting up for the event hopefully in September. They festival committee is also looking for volunteers for their many projects. Anyone interested in helping can contact Glen Gross or Sue Holmes.
* Oolitic Volunteer Fire Department Chief Jason Lewis asked about the contract between the department and the town. Town Attorney Greg Pittman says he is in the process of revising the contract and should have it completed soon.
* Lewis and town officials will meet on September 10th to inspect the town owned buildings for fire and safety inspections. Lewis told the council there are a few repairs that will need to be made so the buildings are up to state standards.
* Lewis says the department will have to replace one of their fire engines. The Ford engine has a pump that is going bad and leaking. The pump was rebuilt a few years ago and cost more than $2,500 and will probably cost more now because replacement parts cannot be found for the unit. Lewis says the unit will have to be replace so the departments ISO rating is not affected.
"The engine is our back-up unit," Lewis says. "And we need a second unit to respond to scenes. So I am sure if the engine is not in service it will affect our ISO rating if we don't have it in service."
Lewis says the department will receive about $4,000 if they sell the engine and probably more if they trade it in on a new engine.
* The fire department will celebrate the department's 100th birthday November 3rd by hosting a breakfast for all current and former firefighters. Lewis is hoping to find all the men and women who served on the department and invite them to the breakfast. He is requesting anyone that was a firefighter to contact the department as soon as possible.
* Lewis requested to hold a roadblock on October 6th the department was sharing their donations with Breast Cancer Awareness. The department is also selling pink fire department t-shirts to raise funds. However there was a conflict with October 6th telling Lewis that ABATE had all ready requested to hold a roadblock on that day. Lewis said he would get back with the council with another date.
* The department will hold their annual hog roast fund raiser on October 13th.
* The town will hold a public hearing to address the 2013 town budget before their regular council meeting on September 24th. The budget will then be considered for approved at the town's regular council meeting on October 29th.
* Greg Pittman told the council that he has received all but two right-of-way approvals from property owners for the Safe Roads to School program. He is still waiting to hear from Casey's, whose home office is in Iowa and from Hawkin's. Once those are received the town can move forward with building of the sidewalks.
* The town approved to spend $295 so Clerk Treasurer Jim Staley can attend the Indiana Association of City and Towns annual conference in French Lick.
* The town council passed a resolution for $70,732.94 to be placed in the water operation fund to pay off the town water tower and for improvements made in 2002 to the water system.
* The town council approved an additional appropriation to increase the electric budget. Last year the town did not appropriate enough funds to cover the electrical bills for the town.
* The town council agreed to release funds awarded to the town through the Southern Indiana Development Commission so homeowners of 8 homes can do needed renovations. Homeowners had to meet state guide lines to qualify for the program.
* The town approved a building permit for a resident at 834 Smith Avenue to build a small storage shed.
1340 AM WBIW welcomes comments and suggestions by calling 812.277.1340 during normal business hours or by email at comments@wbiw.com
© Ad-Venture Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.