Ordinances are approved

REDKEY — Several new ordinances are now on the books.

Redkey Town Council on Thursday approved a list of ordinances concerning abandoned vehicles, electrical box tampering, sidewalk obstructions and parking.

Also Thursday, a change order for the sewer separation project was signed, a new internet service provider was chosen and the town marshal asked residents for help battling the local drug problem.

When the new ordinances go into effect, abandoned or non-operable vehicles on private property without a current license plate will have to be removed within 72 hours of receiving a written notice by town officials.

The other ordinances are as follows:

•Parking on sidewalks, in front of public or private driveways, within 15 feet of a fire hydrant, on a crosswalk, opposite the flow of traffic or where signs are placed prohibiting parking or stopping is prohibited.

•Signs will be placed on electrical boxes at the town gazebo and other public areas noting that they can only be opened by authorized personnel. A $250 fine will be assessed to anyone cutting the lock to get into the box.

•The use of golf carts, motorized bicycles and scooters, mopeds, ATVs and motorcycles on public sidewalks and rights of way is prohibited.

Council members Charles “Red” Coons, Dave Dudelston, Ted Friddle and Doug Stanley, absent Mike Wright, approved the various ordinances, which have to be published in a local newspaper before going into effect 10 days later.

A personnel policy ordinance was tabled until the March meeting.

At the request of Mitch Hansel of Fleis & Vandenbrink Engineering, a change order for the wastewater treatment plant project was approved. The order eliminates the sludge holding tank and mixing system and makes a substitution for electrical conduit materials, which will result in a savings of $92,342.

Council chose Comcast as the new internet service for all town departments, replacing Frontier. The new service will charge an activation fee of $59.90 for each department, but will result in a savings of $60.70 per month.

Redkey Town Marshal Todd Miller asked council and residents to report any unusual activity that might be drug related.

“We can’t do it on our own. We need our citizens to be our eyes and ears,” Miller said.

In other business, council:

•Were invited by town attorney Wes Schemenaur to the “Connecting the Links” event at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Jay County High School auditorium. It is focused on issues relating to drug abuse.

•Heard the city’s American With Disabilities Act sidewalk project may change from being federally to state funded making it easier to regulate.

•Approved not to exceed $1,000 to repair cosmetic damage to a police car. Miller will contact Barnum-Brown Insurance to inquire about the best way to pay for the repairs.

•Scheduled an executive session for 6 p.m. Monday to discuss personnel.

•Agreed to advertise for bids for sanitation and mowing of town properties.

•Discussed developing a zoning ordinance based on Pennville’s ordinance. Schemenaur plans to send a copy of Pennville’s ordinance to council members to review before the next meeting and check on the cost of having a zoning ordinance maintained by the county.

•Approved sewer separation claims for Brackney and Fleis & Vandenbrink for $361,804.67.

•Approved town claims of $87,961.31.