Wetlands growth opposed (10/6/04)

GENEVA — Some residents here are bugged by the idea of adding more wetlands near the town limits.

Ken Brunswick of Friends of the Limberlost and Limberlost wetlands manager submitted a proposal Tuesday requesting the town council remove a five-acre plot owned by the group from the town’s corporation limits. The group would like to add the acreage to its current wetland area located just outside corporate limits southwest of town. By removing the area from the town limits, the group is eligible for funding from the Division of Nature Preserves. The Friends plans to build a levee to retain approximately five feet of water that can maintain a fish population.

Brunswick told council members that the new area will produce wildlife that will control the mosquito population.

But Geneva resident Todd Owens, whose property neighbors the Friends’ current wetland area, told members that every year the mosquito problem gets worse.

Council members told Brunswick that they want more information about the planned project. Council president Jim Timmons told Brunswick that the council will take the group’s proposal under advisement.

“Before I can vote I would like more information... I am not anti-wetlands but when we vote (to remove the land from corporate limits) we lose control of that property,” councilman Mike Schwartz told Brunswick.

Also Tuesday, officials from the Adams County Council on Aging and the South Adams Citizens Center, both of Berne, requested a donation of funds from the town to maintain two employment positions at the center. These employees assist senior citizens in southern Adams County that use the center’s van service.

Approximately $500 is needed by the center to pay wages for the employees who currently answer phone calls from seniors needing the van service.

“We are hoping that you see the value of these positions. We are pretty proud of the (van) service we provide to seniors of the southern part of the county,” said Sharon Tester, director from Adams County Council on Aging.

Tester also said she is applying for a three-year grant to help fund the positions and is also asking the cities of Berne and Marion for financial assistance.

In other business, Timmons told Geneva residents Sandra and John Hines that their complaint that Geneva officer Duane Booth used excessive force while arresting Sandra Hines on July 25, 2003 has been passed onto the Blackford County prosecutor Kevin Basey.

Town attorney and Adams County prosecutor Chris Harvey removed himself from the case because of a conflict of interest, Timmons said.

Also Tuesday, council members encouraged town marshal Rob Johnson to begin collecting prices for new cars for the police department. The town has $30,000 budgeted to purchase a new police car in 2005. Johnson said there may be a possibility that the department could purchase two cars with the budgeted amount plus the funds attained through the trade-in of the department’s two cars.

Also, council members:

•Approved the purchase of two pumps for a lift station and a convertor. The purchase total can not exceed $23,000.

•Approved a $10,492 quote from CLS Construction of Geneva for additional asphalt work in an alley between East Line and Shackley streets.

•Set an executive session on Wednesday, Oct. 13, at 6 p.m. to discuss job performance evaluation of an individual employee.

•Approved the third and final reading of an ordinance to set up a fine schedule for handicapped parking violations.

There are three handicapped parking spaces located on East Line and Decatur streets. The fines will total $10 to $100 depending on where in the county and how soon the fines are paid.

•Heard town manager Steve Hampshire report that two of the six fire hydrants recently purchased have been installed.

•Heard Hampshire report that clean-up day on Sept. 25 was a success and town employees sprayed for mosquitoes on Sept. 9, 10, 13 and 14.

He added that town employees will be flushing hydrants during the week of Sept. 18 to 22.

•Set trick-or-treat hours on Thursday, Sept. 28, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

•Will meet again Tuesday, Nov. 9, at 6:30 p.m. The meeting has been rescheduled because of elections on Tuesday, Nov. 2.[[In-content Ad]]