Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Tuesday, April 1, 2014
(OOLITIC) - The Oolitic Volunteer Fire Department is looking for a 4X4, one to 1 1/2 ton flat bed truck to use as a brush truck.
Fire Chief Ted Maze asked the town council if the town could assist with purchasing a truck.
"We don't need a new one, a used one would work," Maze says. "If we get a truck , it will leave the rescue truck free to do runs here in town."
Council President Delvin Nikirk says the town doesn't have any money to purchase a truck.
And Councilman Bill Kendall agreed.
"You have got to help yourselves here too," Kendall added. "Our property taxes don't increase but yet the need of the fire department increases and at some point we just can't keep spending. We are damned if we do and damned if we don't."
Maze says the department could assist if someone wanted to donate a truck to the department.
"We are tax exempt and we can give them a receipt and they could right off the value of the vehicle on their taxes," Maze says.
Anyone that has a vehicle they could donate or would like to assist the department in purchasing a truck can contact Maze or Oolitic Town Hall..
In other business:
* Safe Routes to School is back on track. Nikirk, who attended a meeting at Purdue about the project, says officials are working out the details of a contract to allow Milestone to begin construction. Safe Routes to School will add sidewalks on the east side of Hoosier Avenue from Fourth Street to Ninth Street.
*Councilmen Charlie Luther and Bill Kendall volunteered to be on a committee to look at the town's ordinances and review which ones need updated.
"This is something that has been needed for a long time," says Clerk Treasure Jim Staley. "The last time they were updated was in 1996."
Once the committee has the review done, they will meet with the town attorney and the remaining council to discuss their findings. Then the town plans to purchase new code books for town officials and for public use.
* The council voted to grant a business permit to Lisa Nolan to run a day care. Nolan will now apply for her state permit.
* The council voted to allow Stone City Collections to attempt to collect outstanding water and sewer bills. The agency will keep 25 percent of the funds collected.
"You might as well try and collect because it doesn't cost the town anything unless you collect," says town attorney Nathan Nikirk.
* The council also discussed the removal of sludge from the town's wastewater plant. Officials are looking at two companies willing to do the job. One will charge 11 cents a gallon and the other 5 cents.
"But I am not sure we can work out all the details and have all the permits in place before the deadline IDEM gave us to get the job done," Nikirks says. "We are working on that."
* Glen Gross, Oolitic festival committee president says, they will be holding a pancake breakfast at the American Patriot Lodge on April 26 from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. The cost is $6.
* The Lawrence County Chapter of ABATE presented the council with the Freedom of Road Award. The council also approved to allow ABATE to hold roadblocks on August 30, September 20 and October 11 to raise funds for Toy For Tots. ABATE will also host a Toy For Tots Run on May 17. The run will start at the Honda Shop on Mitchell Road and end at Kmart. There will also be a motorcycle show. ABATE plans to have a float in the Oolitic Festival.
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