Building demolitions delayed in Cloverdale

CLOVERDALE -- The town has been working for a little more than a year to have three vacant and unsafe structures razed.

During the January town council meeting, sealed bids for demolition were opened and read. Council members agreed to accept the lowest bid from Spiker Excavating for all three properties.

However, Spiker has not returned contracts to the town, leaving it in limbo. Town council president Kathy Tipton asked for permission to send a letter by certified mail to Spiker, giving the contractor 10 days to respond.

"If we hear nothing, we will move to the next lowest bidder," she said.

Since the structure at 203 S. Lafayette St. is under litigation, council members agreed to have approximately 36 pictures taken of the property before demolition by a local professional photographer.

Its owner Jeff Everman is contesting the home has been appraised at $50,000 and should not be razed. He approached Board of Zoning Appeals in March 2009 and was given six months to bring the structure into compliance with building codes.

Everman failed to make any changes requested by the BZA -- boarding up doors and windows -- or have the house demolished within the allotted time. So, it will be torn down along with the structures at 4 S. Lafayette St. and 270 Downboy Way.

In addition, town attorney Alan Yackey will take action on the finishing details on the demolition of the sale barn on W. Robert Weist Road. He will contact the contractor about getting the demolition completed.

In routine approval of claims, town council members voted to pay a portion of a claim for police uniforms totaling $1,648.89. During last month's meeting, the council chose to hold the claim until further investigation could be done.

Clerk-treasurer Patti Truax told council members she discussed the claim with Charlie Hallam with the police department and was told he was given verbal approval for the purchases.

"We were told in September or October by the police department uniforms were not needed, so we didn't budget for them," noted Tipton during the discussion.

After a review of the purchase order, it was found roughly $265 of the claim was for items for a reserve officer. Council member Terry Puffer made the motion to pay the claim minus the $265, which will be the responsibility of the reserve officer.

"We need to specify a clothing allowance for each officer," Puffer said before his motion.

The police uniform claim brought about a discussion regarding the town's purchase order. Some discussion on revising the ordinance and adding a proper procedure took place. Ultimately, council members agreed to table the item.

"There are a lot of verbal agreements, but nothing in writing," Puffer said.

In other business:

* A panic button will be put in place in the utility office. Council members approved to purchase the wireless button, which will ring into the 911-dispatch center in case of an emergency, for $619.73 from HOP.

* Don Gedert approached the board for consideration on taking over the recycling bin currently located at the elementary school. He asked the council if the bin could be placed on town property.

The board agreed something could possibly be looked at and asked for a representative to speak at the council meeting on March 9.

* People are still needed to fill vacancies on two town boards. There are two slots on the plan commission and one on BZA. It has been more than a decade since either of the boards has been full.

Yackey suggested making them paid positions per meeting. He said it would help if people were compensated, especially if someone had to hire a babysitter to attend the meetings or it would even help with gas.

Tipton will share the suggestion with Plan Commission president Jerry Acrea.