Geneva council OKs Hanni work

GENEVA — Upgrades are coming for the Hanni Building and the town’s emergency warning siren.
Geneva Town Council approved Tuesday leveling the floor of the Hanni Building to allow for better use by the fire department and purchasing a new emergency warning siren. But it decided to take a wait-and-see approach on a request for funds for the proposed Connect to Careers organization.
It also heard about the hiring process for a new school resource officer and acquiring military surplus computers, and said goodbye to an outgoing board member.
Clerk-treasurer Bill Warren told the board the fire department asked that the floor in a section of the Hanni Building be leveled to allow more room for vehicle storage and other uses. The building, which at one time was a movie theatre and has a sloped floor, was purchased by the town and became part of the fire department in 2012.
Board members Dick Clutter, Doug Milligan and Jim Timmons unanimously selected a bid of $5,850 from Taylor Made Exteriors for the work. Money for the project will come from the 2015 budget.
Other bids were $6,100 from Schwartz Construction and $8,965 from Limberlost Construction.
The board also unanimously approved replacing the emergency warning siren in downtown Geneva on the recommendation from John August of Adams County Emergency Management.
August told the board six sirens in the county — three in Decatur, two in Berne and one in Geneva — need to be replaced because of their age. Adams County Council had already agreed to pay two-thirds of the cost to replace each siren.
The new sirens will cost $1,948, with the Town of Geneva paying $649.34.
Clutter, Milligan and Timmons also heard a request from Trois Hart of Connect to Careers for a $4,000 per year commitment for five years. The new non-profit organization has a goal of facilitating connections between residents and workforce resources, such as those provided by Work One.
While expressing support, the board decided to wait for Adams County’s decision before discussing its own contribution. The county has been asked for $50,000 per year, which would cover 40 percent of the Connect to Careers annual budget.
Marshal Rob Johnson told the board he has received seven applications for the school resource officer (SRO) position at South Adams Schools. Agility and written tests are scheduled for Saturday, and interviews will be Dec. 13.
The need for a new SRO came after Connor Bonesteel, who has served in the position for about a year, failed to pass the entrance exam for the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy. Johnson hopes to have a new officer in place by January.
Johnson also noted that he is in the process of acquiring four military surplus laptop computers. He plans to use the new devices in police vehicles, and the old devices will be offered to other town departments.
Milligan also said goodbye to the board, which he will be leaving after six years of service. The former Portland resident’s final meeting will be the year-end wrap up scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Dec. 30.
“We’ve truly enjoyed working with all you great people in our town,” said the former clerk-treasurer of he and his wife, Judy. “We’ve appreciated the opportunity to be of service to our friends and neighbors.”
In other business, the board:
•Learned from Warren that an engineer’s study is needed before Indiana Department of Environmental Management will allow the town to change to a chemical treatment system at its wastewater treatment plant. Commonwealth Engineers is working on the study. Council had approved the change in November.
•Asked city attorney Dave Baumgartner to begin the process of platting the alley that runs east-west between High and Railroad streets north of Bradford Street. Most of the alley is not currently platted, and the town would like to take control of it for the convenience of all residents in the area.
•Learned from Warren that the town spent $3,050 removing two trees that were dead or rotten. He also informed council that drain tile was added at the youth baseball/softball field.
•Set its 2015 meetings for 6:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month.
•Heard Geneva Proud will hold a senior citizens’ lunch at 11:30 a.m. Dec. 16 at town hall.