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Warren council makes variety of purchases

The Warren Town Council made a variety of purchases at its meeting on Monday, June 8.

The biggest item purchased by the board was a new heating and air conditioning system for the town hall building. Council accepted a quote for $23,120 from Warren Service and Supply, which has maintained the building’s existing units since they were installed.

The board also bought a sequencer/switch, which will control the town’s access point for electric service from American Electric Power (AEP). Council accepted a quote for $15,370 from Sunbelt-Solomon for the unit, which will function automatically. The town’s current unit must be operated manually.

Additionally, council purchased a lawn mower and a mosquito sprayer. The board spent $7,319 on the mower, accepting a quote from Beckler Power Equipment, and $7,250 on the sprayer, accepting a quote from Mug-a-Bug. Council purchased the sprayer as the town’s current unit has not been dispensing spray correctly.

Lastly, the board spent $3,500 to complete an audit of the town’s water system, as is now required by the state in even-numbered years. Commonwealth Engineering, which recently completed a water system study for the town, will perform the audit.

Clerk-Treasurer Marilyn Morrison reviewed the annual true-up document from AEP, which catalogs how much fuel the town used during the course of a year versus how much it paid for that fuel. Per AEP, the amount paid and the amount used must be brought into balance through a bill adjustment upward or downward. Morrison stated that Warren must pay $68,499 and requested that it be done in one payment, rather than installments, to avoid interest. Council voted to make a lump-sum payment.

The board discussed wastewater issues at Golfo di Napoli Dairy. The organic cheese plant, located at 7916 S. Warren Rd., has been issued three notices of violation regarding the discharge of prohibited substances to the town’s wastewater treatment plant. The plant has also failed to implement pre-treatment measures, as required in its permit with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, plus the town’s permit with IDEM.

Council learned that IDEM would be inspecting the plant on Tuesday, June 9. The following week, on Monday, June 15, council members, along with the town’s engineer and compliance manager, will meet with plant officials.

Town Marshal Dennis Spitler reported on a pair of issues. Spitler announced that 20 feral cats had been removed from town by Huntington County Animal Control, which had resulted in a reduction in sightings and no new citizen complaints. He also relayed that he had worked with the owner of a property on Hendricks Street to remove semis from their land. Two semis had been taken out, said Spitler. While a third semi remains, it is situated entirely on the owner’s property and does not block the roadway, he stated.

Spitler also fielded a question about the speed limit in town, noting that it was 30 miles an hour in residential areas, in accordance with state law. Councilman Tavis Surfus asked the question as part of a larger inquiry about the possibility of posting a speed limit sign at the entrance to Langton Estates. Aside from a sign, putting in a speed bump or a three-way stop in the addition was considered. Ultimately, no action was taken so that input from residents could be solicited.

Morrison informed council that town hall would be re-opening to the public on Wednesday, July 1. Town hall is located at 132 N. Wayne St.