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Cloverdale Fire to get funding boost in 2016

Thursday, September 10, 2015
By Sabrina Westfall Staff Writer

CLOVERDALE -- After several months of discussion, the Cloverdale Town Council approved a one-time additional $4,608.27 in funding for the Cloverdale Township Volunteer Fire Department in 2016.

Township Trustee Dale Monett first came to the council seeking additional funding for fire protection service in June. The department services the Town of Cloverdale, Cloverdale Township, Warren Township and Taylor Township in Owen County.

Previously, Monnett told the council just over $52,000 was brought in to the fire department through contributions made by the four entities, but the department is barely breaking even. The Town of Cloverdale annually contributes $15,000 per a contract penned several years ago.

Cloverdale clerk-treasurer Cheryl Galloway said the additional funding for the department was available through the Financial Institutions Tax (FIT) provided to the township and town.

Galloway said this additional funding will mean next year Cloverdale taxpayers are paying more than $30,000 in total to the Cloverdale Township Volunteer Fire Department.

In addition to the town's $15,000 contribution, just over $12,000 in funding from Cloverdale Township goes directly to the trustee's office to be used for the fire department.

Town Attorney Allan Yackey explained when the Town of Cloverdale disbanded its own fire department to become dependent upon the township department, it also forfeited those township funds.

"Part of the deal was the town gave up part of the fire department tax rate and moved that to the township," Yackey said.

Galloway noted while this is a one-time boost, the contract states the trustee can come back each year seeking additional funding for the council to consider.

In addition, she stressed the fire department also needs to seek out projects to raise money for necessary updates and upgrades to the equipment.

"You need to start figuring out fundraisers and things to do to start raising money for the fire department," Galloway said.

Building Inspector Mark Cassida said it appears one of the hazards on the Fresh Start property will soon be addressed. Property owner Bud Porter contacted him this week about the tires being removed from former hotel.

The town has been requesting the piece of land be cleaned up for a while and the building inspector received approval from the council last month to take action.

Porter sent the building inspector a copy of a receipt for $800 to show prepayment for the tire removal through a company out of Indianapolis. The removal schedule is at least a couple of weeks out, Cassida noted.

Cassida said the Casey's General Store will be appearing at the Board of Zoning Appeals meeting to request a setback variance. The convenience store is looking to add on 15 feet to the north, but that will encroach about 3.3 inches into the town's setback ordinance.

Meanwhile, the board informed resident Jim Coy the fencing request around Don Gedert's property at Stardust Hills is being taken "under advisement."

Coy had previously referenced a 2002 settlement in which Gedert was given certain parameters to follow when placing items on the roadside property. He alleges the "clutter" on the property violates the settlement.

Gedert said the settlement allows him to use a 500-foot circumference around the barn for his business.

Coy asked what kind of time line the town has planned to address the issue presented.

"If litigation is involved, it could take years," councilman Don Sublett said.

Business owner Scott Haywood expressed his concern about a town ordinance violation brought to his attention recently. Information was brought to Haywood Auto this week concerning vehicles sitting on the property.

The outlined ordinance says an inoperable vehicle cannot be stored on a property for more than 10 days.

"The cars in question are the cars on the south side of the building (owned by) people who owe me money. I don't know what you guys expect me to do with them. In the beginning, I used to let people leave on good faith they would come back and pay me. Last year, I wrote off $80,000. Here's $60,000 this year, so I've started keeping the cars on my lot," Haywood said.

His concern lies with the fact Indiana statute states he must hold the cars for at least 30 days before seeking a lien, then another 30 before he can sell the vehicle.

A complaint was lodged with the town about the vehicles, thus sending the ordinance violation information to the store.

Yackey said the business has a legitimate reason to seek an ordinance modification from the Board of Zoning Appeals.

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  • Well if Haywood fixed the cars and they are "operable" then there is no violation. Does the same ordinance hold true for car lots? If they don't sell it in 10 days they have to get rid of it? Its a shame a guy trying to make a living and run a business has to deal with this because some idiot has their nose out of joint.

    -- Posted by taylortwp on Thu, Sep 10, 2015, at 11:18 PM

  • What I would like to know is what Haywood is going to do if a business moves into building south of Haywood and wants their parking that goes with that building.I guess Haywood could clean out the junk in the lot behind his shop and use that for storage.

    -- Posted by becker on Fri, Sep 11, 2015, at 11:51 AM

  • The fire department used to have a budget of nearly $70,000 from the town alone to provide fire protection. That money was used to pay all of the bills including insurance on vehicles and workman's compensation. Those two bills are huge, more than what the town pays for it's share today. The township trustees of the three other townships bought the apparatus and gear. Several years ago the >Town Board of Cloverdale< made the decision to separate ties with the fire department and create their own fire department which was ultimately disbanded. Once the town fire department was disbanded the township department was brought back to serve the town. A pittance, as compared to previous contracts, was given to the township trustee to provide fire and medical services in the town where a large number of their responses come from. A fire department is an expensive business to operate. Maybe Mrs. Galloway can show the trustee how to fund raise the extra $30000-$40000, consistently every year, to keep the doors open and provide quality service. She acts as if the fireman have unlimited time to host pancake breakfasts and golf scrambles which at best only make the department a couple thousand dollars. They have their own families, personal money and resources they donate, and careers to deal with every day. That doesn't include the times when they are called out to help someone in need or train to be prepared. There are few people willing that do that in this world anymore. This community relies on this fire department for the help it gives. Fundraisers are not the solution. If they were the solution then why isn't the police department out flipping flapjacks every Saturday to raise money to pay for a police car so the public doesn't have the tax bill?

    -- Posted by CdaleResident on Sat, Sep 12, 2015, at 2:38 PM

  • AMEN Cdale Resident, funny how they forget the facts, but you are correct with what you said. Sheryl and the board should get the facts about the past finances for the dept. and what the towns part was. There is a member on the board that knows these facts, so it should be simple for the board to update their selves.

    -- Posted by becker on Sun, Sep 13, 2015, at 7:06 PM
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