School officer funding cut

GENEVA — With just enough funds to pay salaries through the end of May, school resource officers may disappear from South Adams Schools.
Geneva Town Marshal Robert L. Johnson spoke to the Geneva Town Council Tuesday to request an additional safety board meeting to discuss issues on funding the officers.
“All the grant funding that they thought was going to follow through … has basically fallen through,” said Johnson.
The marshal told the council a private donor declined to renew funding, so each of the three school corporations in Adams County could be without resource officers.
Johnson hopes to lay groundwork in talking with the municipalities involved and to speak with Berne Mayor Bill McKean before the safety board meeting.
“At that time, either something happens, or something has to happen,” said Johnson.
In 2009, Geneva police signed a contract with South Adams Schools to provide a school resource officer.
Council members Doug Milligan and Jim Timmons approved Johnson’s request for another meeting of the safety board, 2-0.
“With everything going on in the world, this is a tough one to lose, but we’ll see what comes out,” said Johnson.
Also on the agenda was the second reading of noise ordinance 2012-10.
With the addition of decibel measurements, an absence of a fine for a first warning, and a deletion of the need for a permit during parties, the council and Johnson believe this is something that can work for the largest amount of people.
“I think we actually came out with something workable and livable,” said Johnson.
The revised ordinance has added decibel standards to adhere by during the day. From 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., no more than 55 decibels of noise may be made, and from 9 p.m. to 8 a.m., a sound of no more than 50 decibels may be created. The measurements must be taken  within a boundary line of the nearest residential property.
The marshal also changed the ordinance to take the first noise offense from a $25 fine to just a warning, giving the community time to learn about the changes in the noise ordinance. They also took away the need to acquire a permit before throwing a party or event.
The town council passed the noise ordinance, which will go on to its third and final reading next month.
In other business Tuesday, the council, absent Richard Clutter:
•Heard potential solutions to the problem of the large amount of iron in the city’s water.
At the moment, Steve Hampshire, water department superintendent, is looking over options — including chemical injections of poly-ortho-phosphate or Claritas into the pipes and flushing of water pipes. Hampshire wants to speak with other cities that use injections before proposing any work.
•Looked over the financial report and bank statement.
Bill Warren, clerk/treasurer, showed that the general fund is running a bit high as expenses come early in the year, but he said that everything is balanced and on track. Total cash on hand for the city was presented at $995,146.41.
•Heard an announcement from Pam Krause, part-time director of the Geneva Chamber of Commerce, on the need for volunteers for the Adopt-a-Highway Trash Bash taking place on May 4 at 8 a.m.
She also presented the theme for this year’s annual awards reception as a 150th birthday tea in honor of Gene Stratton-Porter. It will take place on April 11 at 6 p.m. at Geneva Town Hall, 411 E. Line St.
 She told the council that the wearing of period hats would be appreciated.
•Recommended a revision to the cost of registering a golf cart with the city, taking it from $5 to $10, which would take effect in 2014.
“We need to cover our costs, and if we’re paying $4 for the sticker and we’ve got the time of the administration to write it up,” said Milligan. “I’ve spent $5 from the very beginning, but it looks to me like we need to raise it a little bit to cover our costs.”
•Planned the next council meeting for May 7 at 6:30 p.m.


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