Fillmore ordinances slowly moving forward

Saturday, August 20, 2011

FILLMORE -- A pair of ordinances that have remained in limbo for months may soon be moving forward.

The Fillmore Town Council did not discuss in great detail either the nuisance ordinance or the water and wastewater collection policy at Thursday's meeting, which had been rescheduled from Aug. 4.

The three members did, however, set a date and time for a special meeting to review two topics the town has revisited frequently. The board will meet at Town Hall at 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 27 to review the drafts of both documents.

Clerk-treasurer Wanda Seidler told the council the new, state-approved accounting software has arrived and is installed. It now awaits the data entry phase.

Once entry is complete, Seidler said reports on the 2011 and 2012 reports will be much easier to generate.

Marshal Darrel Bunten introduced new Deputy Marshal Nathaniel Lien to the board. He said Lien, who also works for Operation Life Putnam County, is about to complete his Indiana Law Enforcement Academy pre-basic course and then will be ready to serve the community.

"I'm looking forward to getting him going," Bunten said.

Finally, Council President Wes Terhune took a few moments to remind residents of the work -- both seen and unseen -- performed by Seidler.

"I don't think people in this community quite understand the importance of the town clerk," Terhune said. "We have cleaned up more mess and modernized things more than they have been in years. The things that have been done -- Wanda deserves most of the credit."

Terhune went on to commend Seidler for the work she does outside the town office. He has heard complaints from residents that she is not in the office enough, but he assured them she was hard at work, even then.

"People don't understand what the responsibilities are, and the good people of this town don't say anything," he said. "The building is taking in more money than it ever has since Wanda's been here. She's put in a whole lot of time and things are getting better.

"Wanda's the backbone of this and people don't get it."

Terhune continued by making an appeal for residents to take more pride in the town by becoming involved in such matters as the utility board the council is currently trying to form.

"If we don't get a handle on this stuff and form these committees to work things out, we're no better than Washington -- and look at the mess they're in," Terhune said.

He also cited the sewer infiltration problem -- notably the discharge of sump pumps into the system -- as an example of people taking advantage of the town.

"It's not just shoddy work -- we're shooting ourselves in the foot."

The Fillmore Town Council regularly meets at 7 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month at Fillmore Town Hall, 2 N. Main St.

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