Trustee donates siren to town

Ownership of the tornado siren and the 2007 election contract with the county were quickly approved during the Bainbridge Town Council meeting last Wednesday.

Monroe Township Trustee Richard Pronckus informed the council during Wednesday's meeting that he wanted to give the town ownership of the tornado siren.

"I didn't know I could do this," said Pronckus.

Pronckus told the council he learned about relinquishing ownership of the siren to the town after the Franklin Township trustee gave ownership of its siren to the town of Roachdale. "You've got the insurance on it. You're taking care of the electricity, you might as well own the thing."

Utility Supt. Jim Nelson informed the council that he and his employees go and read the meter on the siren every month.

Town Clerk-Treasurer Jason Hartman asked Nelson if the siren had its own separate meter or was it hooked up to the meter for the street lights. Nelson said the siren had its own meter.

Hartman told the BannerGraphic Monday the meter reading for the siren has never been billed because it was such a small amount and it was marked in the meter book as "do not enter."

"We're going to start billing it next month," Hartman said.

Pronckus said he would like to go through the paperwork and give the siren to the town.

Hartman asked Pronckus if he had a lease with Jack Rabbit Studios Inc., 112 S. Washington St., to have the siren on their property. Pronckus said that Jack Rabbit Studios Inc. had no lease with him and told him to put it up.

"We'll take it," Council President Mike Smith said.

The council also took a look at the 2007 election contract with the county. This contract is for the 2007 municipal elections.

Hartman informed the council that it could either contract through the county or it could conduct its own elections.

"But if we have our own, we would have to have pollsitters and officials," Smith said.

Hartman reminded the council that it was not just the election itself, but includes registering voters and having a current list of registered voters.

"I think their fee is outrageous, but I don't think we can do it," Smith said.

The fee for having the county conduct the election is a divided total between all the towns that participate.

The council approved signing the contract with the county for the 2007 elections.

In other business, the council:

* Approved the organization of the officers. The 2007 council president is Mike Smith and the 2007 council vice-president is Naomi Barker.

* Reappointed and approved park board member Marsha Burns to another term.

* Learned there has to a public hearing for the park grant. Park Board President Jamie Tennis informed the council that she wanted something between both the park board and the town council. The council decided to have the public hearing on Wednesday, Jan. 31 at 7 p.m.

* Received another estimate quote from Marshal Rodney Fenwick to fix the dent in the Chevrolet Impala.

* Learned there was an updated version of the recodification book. Town attorney Laurie Hardwick currently has the book and will review it before talking with the company's lawyers to make sure the recommendations are what the town needs.

* Learned there were some minor changes needed to be made to the employee handbook. Hartman said they are really close to having a final version.

* Approved Ordinance 2006-5, animals running at large, on its second reading.

The council meets regularly every second Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. in the community center.

The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 14.