Town Marshal turns in resignation

The Roachdale Town Council will be saying good-bye to its Town Marshal effective Friday, Aug. 25.

During Tuesday night's meeting, Marshal Heath Kerns handed the council his letter of resignation.

Kerns has been the Town Marshal for the past five years, and believes his rewarding experiences as the marshal will help him in his future position.

Some of Kerns' training has included not only police training, but firefighting and emergency medical training.

Kerns informed the council that he was recently hired by the Indiana State Police as a trooper and will start at the academy on Monday, Aug. 28.

Council members Bill Long, Jack Jones, and Barbara Scott accepted Kerns' resignation by a vote of 3-0.

"We wish you good luck," said Long.

Long informed the council that after talking with Chief Deputy Marshal Rick Keifer, the council should hold off on receiving any resumes for the marshal's position until after Kerns' last day.

Long also suggested upping Rick's hours since he would have more responsibilities until the position is filled.

In other business, the council:

--Learned from Brian Pohler of Hannum, Wagle and Cline that they will be performing a field study on Indiana Street before they begin construction, which is scheduled for March 2008.

The town received a grant from INDOT to work on Indiana Street from the highway to the railroad tracks.

--Learned about Tracy McBride's water issue. Every time there is a storm, rain water runs from the curb down to McBride's house.

The council approved removing the curb in front of McBride's house.

--Reviewed the cleanup notices that were sent out to town residents.

The notice informed residents that they must control their property within the town. Controlling the property includes taking care of garbage, tall grass and weeds, abandoned vehicles, and machinery.

Residents who received the notice have 30 days to clean up their property, or the town will clean it up at the owner's expense or it will be added as a lien to the property at the auditor's office.

--Will be amending the gun permit ordinance to comply with the new permit law that took effect last month.

Keifer will be providing the council and clerk/treasurer Jennifer Archer the new price listing to assist in amending the ordinance.

--Approved two out of three building permits.

The council tabled the third permit until they can receive more detail about the job.

--Learned there was a water line break on the highway. The water department was working to fix the problem.

--Learned about an issue with a house on Washington Street. Keifer told the council that in his opinion, the back half of the house has collapsed into the basement.

"Its a severe hazard," he said.

--Learned that Keifer has been going around and informing residents about the notices and the junk vehicles. Keifer is waiting for the council to decide where the vehicles will be taken to.

--Learned about the Avian and Pandemic flu from Putnam County Health Department representative Steve Walters.

--Approved taking people who have not paid their bills to small claims court.

The next regular scheduled meeting will be on Tuesday, Sept. 12 at 7 p.m. in the town hall.

The meeting is open to the public.