Geneva racing clock (1/7/03)

GENEVA — Town council members here are racing against the clock to submit a grant application to the state by Jan. 23 to fund a drainage and road project on the town’s southwest side.

Several variations of plans for the project were presented to the council for the first time at Tuesday’s meeting by John Dufek and Vince Sommers of Clark Dietz Inc. of Indianapolis. Following the presentation, council members Mike Schwartz, Jim Timmons and Lew Wingler selected the route for the storm sewer project will and chose to add sidewalks and reconstruct Winchester Road, rather than repave it.

The selected plan, estimated to cost $600,000, slates the new storm sewer project to begin at the intersection of Winchester Road and Spring Street and travel south on Winchester Road. The sewer line will then travel west on Harrison Street to Richfield Lane. The sewer will then curve southwest on Richfield Lane, travel around Brenda Stump’s property, located at 206 Richfield Lane, and continue south under West Line Street where it will connect with a proposed open drain and an existing storm drain tile.

“(The town) has two shots at (applying for Indiana Department of Commerce grants) this year,” Sommers said, adding that the first application is due on Jan. 23 and the second in July. “We’re running against the clock on this ... The key is making the (Jan. 23) deadline.”

Sommers added that a public hearing also will need to be scheduled before the Jan. 23 application deadline.

The sewer project is designed to alleviate drainage problems for residents living on Winchester Road.

Also Tuesday, the council approved a request by Geneva clerk-treasurer Doug Milligan to continue to retain Rhonda Moser as the town’s deputy clerk-treasurer and utility clerk while the council reviews its policy for residency requirements for the deputy clerk-treasurer position.

Moser, a town employee for approximately four years, was not re-appointed to the deputy clerk-treasurer position on Tuesday, but will continue to perform those duties. She is planning to move by early February to a new home located approximately one-half mile into Wells County.

At the council’s Dec. 30 meeting, Schwartz said he feels that the deputy clerk-treasurer should be a Geneva resident.

“There is no job description (for deputy clerk-treasurer). We need a little time to develop that position,” Milligan said, adding that the council will review the situation at its next meeting on Feb. 3.

According to information from town attorney Chris Harvey, Moser was hired by the town as the town’s utility clerk and is appointed to the deputy clerk-treasurer position by Milligan.

In other business, council members:

•Denied a request from Geneva resident Deloras Shepherd, 435 Williams St., to house a miniature horse at her residence. Shepherd said she moved to Geneva from Evansville in November.

Housing a horse inside town limits is against a town ordinance, Timmons told Shepherd.

•Heard town manager Steve Hampshire report that he purchased a $9,800 used portable generator for the town’s wastewater plant and lift stations.

•Heard town marshal Rob Johnson report that he recently ordered three new shotguns and holders for the department’s three police vehicles for approximately $1,000.

•Approved a $3,500 reimbursement to the Geneva Park Board for reseeding grass in the two baseball diamonds at Kofax Field following the July flooding. The money given to the park board was included in the $30,000 recently given to the town by the Federal Emergency Management Agency for flood damage.

•Reminded those present at Tuesday’s meeting that the dedication at the Pyle Building will be held Saturday, Jan. 10, at 1 p.m.[[In-content Ad]]