The board is working on a five-year master plan with Katie Bierrum. With this master plan, the board will be applying for grants with the help of CDC director Nathan Origer. The swimming pool is the main focus of the parks and recreation board.

Councilmember Judy Heater said that there are several people with references for grants, and Poor asked that she direct those individuals to him. Poor invited the council members to attend the park board meetings. An advisory committee consisting of eight individuals has been established for public input and ideas. The committee will meet with the parks and recreation board no less than two times a year to address the public ideas and input.

Council member Dan Vanaman asked if the transition of the park was okay with the park board, and Poor said yes. The board and park manager are discussing the budget and a meeting has been scheduled for Aug. 22.

The board has decided the members will not ask for a salary, but as a board, they are asking that the council consider paying the parks and recreation board’s secretary $30 per meeting. The council voted to designate the park board set the secretary salary at $30 per meeting. Councilman Alvin Parish abstained from the vote.

In other business, council president Tom Murray welcomed new council member Alvin Parish to the council. Parish was recently selected to fill the remaining term of Ken McFarland who passed away earlier this summer. Parish is a former town council member.

Murray asked the town manager to contact the fire chief in regard to adding members to the volunteer fire department. Currently there are 12 active members.

Murray also asked that surrounding towns be contacted to learn if they pay for dispatch with their county sheriff’s department. Currently, Winamac is the only town in Pulaski County that pays the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department.

The council discussed and agreed that the Town will take over providing the Independence Day fireworks. It was suggested to advertise now through June 1 of the following year to raise money for the fireworks and purchase only what monies were donated.

Department reports:

Electric superintendent Doug Shorter reported to the council that his department has cleared lines at the south end of town; will replace poles at the south end of town; set the transformer at the Eagles’ building; has hooked up Standard Industrial; helped with electric at Power From the Past; set a transformer pad for Matt Rausch; fixed lightning damage on a pole; used the bush hog on some easements; and cut back brush. Murray asked about an incident at the West Winn housing addition, and shorter said a squirrel got into the lines, blowing the fuse.

Water and street superintendent Jeremy Beckner reported to the council that his department continues to pick up brush; the water line to the Eagle’s is operational; has installed three  taps on Keller Street; mowed parkway property this month; prepared the town’s parking lot for Glen White to install the ADA ramp from Pearl Street; cut back the brush on Adam’s Street; mowed at the old sewer plant; and said the tractor needs to be repaired.

Town Marshal Mike Buchanan provided his monthly report stating they had over 200 calls this month. Buchanan asked if the council members would like to see any additions to the report and they all agreed what they are provided is fine. The new car is working fine. They have not used the bike as much due to vacations. The police and fire department received an additional tax, and there is a list of items that the police department would like to purchase using the fund.

Wastewater foreman Waylon Burke stated his department sprayed the sidewalks, curbs and alleys for weeds; completed a sewer project on Riverside Drive; kept up with the mowing at the sewer plant; his department mows the parkway the month of August; repaired some sink holes; performed daily lab work; landscaped the fire station with help from Shorter; Brad Zellers helped with the lift station at the 4-H Fair grounds; and plotted George Street for a new road.

Town manager Bradley Zellers reported on the following:

• Provided the council with the consignment settlement from Olson’s for the sale of vehicles. The Town has not received the check yet.
• The ramp on the north end of the Town parking lot has been prepped for the installation of a 40 x 12 ADA ramp. There will be a four-foot retaining wall which will be constructed from concrete. Funding for this project is through the RTP Grant. There is enough money that there will be new signs installed. DNR will be in touch on options at the intersection on SR 14.
• Instead of having a 50/50 program for sidewalk replacement,  Zellers asked if the council would approve a 50/50 program for curbing. The council agreed.
• After the last bids were opened for paving, it was decided to add to the list of streets. New bids will need to be received. The project also updates 42 ADA sidewalk ramps. A public hearing has been scheduled for 7 a.m., Aug. 29, at the Winamac Town Hall to open bids.
• George Street has been mapped. This will be a new paved road the paving project this fall.
• The ash trees that need removed from the highways was discussed with members from INDOT, Dan Vanaman, Doug Shorter and the town manager. INDOT will provide trucks to haul the debris and handle traffic control. The Town will need to have the trees removed.
• Bushes will be planted at the fire station.
• On really hot days, the town manager asked the council for their approval allowing employees to wear shorts. Employees would still need to wear their boots and the shorts would have to be respectable. The council approved.
• The bush on the corner of Huddleston and Riverside Drive was removed.
• There is a bill from Peerless Midwest for the repair work on Well # 2 for $18,489; a bill from NAPA for $38.49 and Rochester Concrete for $75 that are not on the docket that need approved. Also, the fireworks invoice needs paid but not all of the money has been received. The council voted to pay Peerless Midwest, NAPA and Rochester Concrete invoices and to pay the fireworks invoice after the entire amount has been received.

Clerk-Treasurer Melanie Berger reported on the following:

• Sewer bonds closed.
• The Main Street project is moving forward, and the hope is to have the application mailed in soon.
• At the September meeting, there will be two public hearings. One will be for the budget and the other will be for the additional appropriation. The Town started receiving LOIT B Public Safety tax revenue in January which is used for the police and fire departments.

Buchanan provided a list of items for his department which was reviewed by the Town attorney to make sure the items followed the Indiana Code for public safety. Additional appropriation to spend the LOIT B Public Safety and LOIT special distribution monies will be addressed at the September meeting.