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Roanoke council making plans to sell land along U.S.-24

The Roanoke Town Council is making preparations to sell property along U.S.-24.

Councilman Ryan Carroll discussed those preparations at council’s meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 5. The property, located east of U.S.-24, near its intersection with 900N, is just over nine acres. Carroll noted that he was in the process of having the property appraised. Once appraisals come in, Carroll stated that the property would be listed with commercial real estate firm Steffen Group, of Fort Wayne.

Council was informed by Brandon Taylor, chief of the Roanoke Volunteer Fire Department, that a bill to fix the department’s repeater was a few months past due. J&K Communications performed the work, which became necessary when the repeater’s effectiveness declined after telecommunications provider AT&T installed equipment atop the water tower where the unit is located.

The bill, which Taylor says is approximately $4,000, did not get paid upon receipt as council believes AT&T is liable and should pay it. While the board maintains that belief, it instructed Taylor to present the bill at the next council meeting, Feb. 19, so that a vote could be taken to pay it, with the intention of ultimately pursuing reimbursement from AT&T.

Additionally, Taylor updated council on the status of the fire department’s new fire engine, which he estimated was two weeks away from entering service, as department personnel complete training on it. He also noted that he had obtained insurance for the quint truck that the department is acquiring from St. Joseph Township Volunteer Fire Department, in Fort Wayne.

In other business:

Council directed Town Marshal Jim Wood to have the town’s legal counsel, Michael Hartburg, draft a new animal ordinance for the town, using the Town of Markle’s ordinance as a template.

The board passed Resolution 2019-2, which authorized a series of year-end transfers among appropriated funds to balance the town’s budget.