Demolition of buildings delayed

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

CLOVERDALE -- The town has been diligently trying to clean up some unsightly properties for quite some time. It took another step forward during Tuesday night's regular town council meeting.

Council members reviewed demolition procedures used by the City of Greencastle to use as a template for its town. Town attorney Alan Yackey agreed to revise the procedures to meet Cloverdale's needs and the council will vote on it at its November meeting.

In September, the Cloverdale Town Council thought it was prepared to accept demolition bids for three properties -- 203 S. Lafayette St., 4 S. Lafayette St., and 270 Downboy Way. However, guidelines need to be put in place before bids can be accepted.

Following final passage of the guidelines at the council's November meeting, demolition can continue to move forward. Council member Terry Puffer noted the urgency of getting the situation resolved. The unstable condition of the structures is a big issue.

In other business:

* Ordinance No. 2009-10, which will change and correct the election of town council members, was passed unanimously. The council is currently on a four-year, one-year schedule, which is not permitted by state law. To get back to the required three-year, two-year schedule, one member will run for a three-year term in 2011.

* Ordinance 2009-11, which is a step in creating a town court, was passed unanimously. An ordinance had to be created before an election year to form a town court.

* Clerk-treasurer Patti Truax presented three quotes for a new copy machine. Prices ranged from $5,200 to $6,000. Council member Kathy Tipton suggested the town look into purchasing printer/fax/scanner combo machines "to save the taxpayers some money."

Truax said the current copier, which is nearly 10 years old, constantly needs repaired. The purchase of a copier was tabled until the November meeting.

* The 2010 budget, at a total of $772,521, was approved by the council.

* Trick-or-treating has been set from 6 to 9 p.m. Oct. 31.

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  • Are you going to purchase printer/fax/scanner combo for all the different departments? Right now the Police, Town, Water & Sewer, BZA & Building Inspector all us the copier. How will this work if you purchase printer/fax/scanner combo for each department with having a fax number?

    -- Posted by moo on Wed, Oct 14, 2009, at 10:17 AM
  • Get the attorney to look into what advantage a printer/fax/scanner would be for the town, with his vast wisdom and knowledge he can instruct the council on such a difficult decision that I would just about bet the clerk-treasurer already knows what is needed. Now, guidelines need to be put in place before bids can be accepted on the demolition of a structure, who would have thunk?

    -- Posted by sadNmad on Wed, Oct 14, 2009, at 9:25 PM
  • Lol @ sadNmad. Why have a complete board? Just elect one official that can call a lawyer when someone has a town related issue.

    -- Posted by Xgamer on Thu, Oct 15, 2009, at 6:02 AM
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