Council clarifies rules for mobile homes

REDKEY — The ordinance relating to mobiles and modulars is being modified.

Redkey Town Council voted Thursday to amend the town’s mobile and modular home policy to include more specific instructions for obtaining a permit.

Council members also decided which police vehicle to put up for auction after meeting in an executive session earlier that day.

Council was informed that a new mobile home was being set up in town and that utilities were being installed for the trailer. However, council members then realized that the owner had not obtained a permit for the mobile home.

Homeowners must pay $100 for a permit and seek permission from the town council before setting up mobile homes. The instructions were missing from the ordinance given to those planning to set up a mobile or modular home.

The topic prompted a discussion of whether the town should continue to allow mobile homes to be set up in the town limits.

“If somebody tears down a junky house, which we have plenty of here in town, and sets a trailer in there, it looks nicer than the house they tore down,” said council member John Pierce. “That’s an improvement.”

However, there were also concerns about upkeep of the homes.

“The bad thing about trailers is they fall apart faster,” said council member Erik Hammers.

Ultimately, council decided to only change the ordinance to include clear instructions for obtaining a permit and council’s permission to set up a home.

Also on Thursday, council decided to auction off the town police department’s 2013 Ford Explorer.

At its March meeting, council discussed selling one of its surplus vehicles and using the money to fix up another vehicle. In an executive session Thursday, council members discussed the prices they would accept for each vehicle.

Council voted to sell the department’s 2013 Ford Explorer, with sealed bids to be accepted until noon May 19.

In other business, council members Dottie Quakenbush, Gary Gardner, Randy May, Hammers and Pierce:

•Heard that the majority of residents whose downspouts were connected to the town sewer system had removed the infiltrations after receiving a letter from the town. The town is working to get full compliance from the remaining residents.

•Agreed to change the sewer installation fee from $500 for residential homes to the actual cost of the installation. Town employee Randy Young told council that for more extensive installations, the town was losing money with the flat rate.

•Discussed possible detours for construction work slated to take place next spring on Indiana 67 on the west side of town. Indiana Department of Transportation suggested the town use Main Street from Indiana 67 to Indiana 1 as the detour, but council members instead suggested using Indiana 28 as the detour through Albany. Pierce will contact INDOT to discuss the issue. (INDOT determines the official detour that large vehicles such as semis must follow. It typically follows state and U.S. highways. The town is in charge of setting the detour for local traffic.)

•Voted to seek bids to cut down a dead tree at the corner of Railroad and High streets.

•Tabled a discussion of the holiday schedule for town employees.

•Approved three underground leak adjustments of $171.98, $306.96 and $550.

•Heard that golf cart registration stickers are now available at the clerk-treasurer’s office for $15.

•Paid claims of $134,198.07.