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Clermont Delays Vote on Park Maintenance
(posted 7.11.09)
Clermont Town Councilor Vonda Kiger is ready to abandon Miller Park and
return it to Miller Pipeline. Kiger, blaming "old age", no longer
wants to maintain the town's park.
She told council members at their July 9 meeting that she could not rely
on volunteers to show up and help. She did not want to use community work
release prisoners.
"You begged us to take it back," President Bob Hinshaw said.
He explained the council has tried for the last three years to appease
her wishes of maintaining the park.
Kiger said the park's maintenance has always been a "bone of contention"
among the councilors.
Councilor John Miller said part of the town's problem is that it is so
small it does not have street or park department paid staff.
Councilor Walt Miller was not ready to give up the park.
The councilors debated the cost of hiring someone to work at the park and
a supervisor to oversee the employee. Clerk Treasurer Kathy Arauco said
that paid employees would require additional insurance. Arauco contends
the town would be OK without the park because residents have access to
Lion's Club Park.
Hinshaw said he was not willing to take a vote at the meeting and delayed
discussion until August.
"It is a big job. I'll say that," Councilor Nancy Baxter said.
The council voted to pay $100,000 on its 2008 fire contract with Wayne
Township. The town is still paying on the $358,000 contract due to the
delay in receiving property tax payments from the state. The council has
not received funds to pay for the 2009 fire contract. Town Attorney Robert
Lutz told the council to expect its proceeds from the 2008 reconcillation
tax bills in late August.
Lutz said he would recommend the council appeal the 2008-2009 tax rates
and assessments. He said they have been reduced by 25%, which could mean
a short fall of $55,000 for 2009. The council has ten days to appeal after
the scheduled July 20 publishing date.
The Council directed Walt Miller to research the amount the town would
receive in gas tax before accepting Indianapolis' offer to hand over one-quarter
mile of Center Street to the town. The council wanted to know the how much
revenue it would receive before spending money to have an engineer examine
the road. The town did not want to assume maintenance if the cost exceeded
the benefit of receiving more gas tax revenue.
The council declined to vote on whether or not to dissolve the Clermont
Economic Development Committee. The council created the committee in 2008,
allowing Councilor Walt Miller to raise tax exempt funds to pay for Ball
State architecture students to perform a Charette. The Charette created revitalization plans for the town.
Hinshaw wanted to dissolve the group since it no longer uses that name.
"It is a non-existing committee," he said.
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