The council approved the following as appointments for the year 2012:

The council was presented with its Board of Finance investment balances as of Dec. 31, 2011, as required each year. This report consists of each CD, the amount, where it is invested, the interest rate, and the date of renewal.

Park manager Don Thompson reported he has been cleaning up flood debris. The back portion of the park is still locked. Council member Tom J. Murray suggested keeping it closed all of winter and the police department agreed. The Fair Board has a key should they need to get into their buildings. Jeff Heims has installed the Leah Newman memorial block by the water fountain. Rick Dilts is working one day a week for the park department.

Water & Street  superintendent Kevin Roe completed the inventory. By 2013, the Town needs to use lead-free brass and fixed pricing is being established. The two-inch tap to the new hospital addition is complete and the alleys have been cleaned of brush. He noted the water plant concrete floor needs to be repainted, as well as the plant well houses. The pedestal has been built at the fire station. Roe also reported  the Town has one dump truck for the removal of snow, at present. It was suggested that DeSabatines could help if needed. Murray also offered a couple of his trucks for snow removal.

Police chief Mike Buchanan reported that the month of December was down in calls and cases. The new squad car is in and being stored at the complex. The Operation Pull-over Grant is being reviewed to see if the grant can be used to purchase the light bar and/or decals for the car.  Buchanan said that at present, the three police cars are operating fine and the plan is to wait another month or two before using the new car.

Wastewater superintendent Brad Zellers reported there will not be a claim for the sewer project this month. There are mistakes on the LGS invoice, and he requested that no payment be made. LGS will review the pay request. The Town still has the punch list and retainage funds. A plug was put into the tile on a residence at the southwest side of town. The tile is hooked to the sanitary sewer and should be hooked to the storm sewer and will need to be rerouted. The cost for rerouting is unknown.

In his report, Town manager Jim Conner:

• Discussed a demolition order for a house on South Monticello Street. The original order states that the building behind the house will also be torn down. Pulaski County Building Inspector David Dare has notified the homeowners and is awaiting a response. He will sign off once this is completed. It was questioned if a person can build a house on this property. It is zoned as Business 2 but is grandfathered as residential. A mobile home is permissible on this property with a concern of what it would look like on the property. It was questioned if the Town would like to change the requirements for the property. The Plan Commission will need to review what can be built on the real estate. There is a one-year deadline to put a new home on the real estate. Discussion will be continued at next meeting. The Burson Street real estate is awaiting a court date.
• Presented a manual for public tree care from the Town of Winamac Tree Committee.
• Announced that Umbaugh has prepared the first quarter 1012 IMPA tracker for the electric utility. The council approved a motion to pass this rate increase to the customers.
• Reported he has suggested a meeting with Plymouth Tube, IMPA, Nathan Origer, and the electric department to discuss the hot mill substation.
• Announced an executive session with Attorney Frank DeVoe regarding garbage dump issues is scheduled for Feb. 13, at 6 p.m., at the Town Annex.
• Announced bids will be taken for painting the outside of the water tank and will be for review in the April meeting.
• Reported two generators are being delivered to Winamac.
• Presented SPCC (Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure Rule). The Town of Winamac is a Tier 1 Qualified Facility and will need to comply with the regulations.

Councilman Richard Denney expressed concern about safety issues in the electric department and the fire department regarding have two people in the fire truck before it leaves the station and also in the electric department boom truck when called out. Plowman asked if this was a subject that needed to be brought before an executive session meeting. Murray replied, on behalf of the fire department, that any vehicle that leaves the fire station has a minimum of two people in the vehicle. Denney stated his opposition to having one person in the boom truck by himself, if called out after work hours. He said that while one person is in the lift, one person needs to be on the ground. Discussion followed and it was decided to send the other on-call person with the electric department when called out. Conner is to emphasize to all department heads of the safety issue.

Denney also expressed his belief that all supervisors should remain present for the entire council meeting.