Roachdale police to further training

ROACHDALE -- We never stop learning.

That was the mentality of the Roachdale Police Department during the town's monthly board meeting Tuesday.

Heading to Brownsburg on Oct. 17 will be Chief Mike Mahoy, Lt. Michael Parks, Sgt. Levi McCloud and Toby, the town's ever-watchful canine officer.

Unfortunately for Capt. Jason Woodall, he drew the "short straw" and won't get to go as he stays behind to ensure the town's security. Putnam County Sheriff Scott Stockton will be assisting Woodall while the other three officers are away.

"Active shooter, grant writing" and "SFST" (Standard Field Sobriety Test) training will be offered to officers from around the state at the Brownsburg Police Department.

Chief Mahoy, who was seeking approval for the conference, also informed the council that Sept. 20 will mark "qualification day" for his department, saying they would "get that taken care of."

Mahoy also sought approval for a new light-box for his police vehicle. Qualification day, the new light-box and the conference in Brownsburg all passed by unanimous decision.

In other news

* Sheriff Stockton was present for the meeting, as well as guest speaker Steve Egly of Battleground, Ind.

Egly has seen success in the digitization of older documents in Tippecanoe County, and has now taken to offering this process to similar communities such as Roachdale.

"I first got on the council in Battleground in 1992," Egly said. "I haven't been full-time since then, but that year we had a clean sweep with all five new council members and a new attorney.

"After a short time we realized that we didn't know anything about what was in our ordinance book," Egly continued. "Burning trash, barking dogs ... we didn't know where that was or what it said. When we finally found that, we realized there was an amendment to it in the 1980s, and then both were repealed in the 1990s. What you can do is digitize these documents and link all of these things together. So as you're reading one, it takes to you a link for the other."

Egly's services were unanimously approved by the town of Roachdale and will be utilized in the coming months, especially when it pertains to the aging ordinances.

* A first reading of 2016's budget, quoted at $708,000, was approved.

* Ken Smith reported that "smoke testing" for the sewage lines is now complete and that he has identified the drainage problems; 50 percent of the checks needing to be done at the waste water treatment facility are now complete; and the Board of Zoning Appeals will soon receive an outline and a map of areas concerning tax increment financing districts.

The first Planning Commission meeting for the TIF districts will be held Oct. 1, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at Roachdale's town hall.

* A tree threatening a home at 210 E. Forrest Home Rd. was discussed and action was tabled until further checks can be made.

* Town Superintendent Woodall requested and received approval to purchase a new skid-steer and lawn mower from Plainfield Equipment in an amount around $18,000 and $12,000, respectively. The purchases are seen as investments for decades to come.

* Joe Spiker Construction was selected and approved to repair multiple curbs and sidewalk edges throughout the town in the tune of $10,671, $10,000 less than the next bid.

The next Roachdale Town Council meeting will be held Oct. 13 at 6 p.m.