Cloverdale spends lengthy amount of time on alleys, accounting

Thursday, May 12, 2011

CLOVERDALE -- Two issues dominated the Cloverdale Town Council meeting Tuesday, taking up over an hour of a marathon two hour, 15 minute meeting.

The two issues in question -- one involving a number of accounting issues with the town's police department and the other involving the blocking of alleys within the town -- had the council going back and forth.

Clerk treasurer Cathleen Monaco brought up the police accounting problem, which involved a variety of different accounting issues, many relating to equipment orders.

One part of the problem involved bills for equipment ordered by reserve police officers from U.S. Uniform Supply. The town has resolved to not pay for equipment orders for reserve officers. There was some confusion as to whether the company had billed the town or not.

Another issue was an equipment order on the police department's credit card for $1,834.06, which violates an ordinance.

"Anything over $1,000 has to be approved by council," Monaco said.

This also brought up the sometimes high end equipment the department can order. The council resolved to pay the $1,834.06 bill, with board member Don Sublett voting against it, but alter the guidelines for what can be ordered.

Monaco also brought up the need for her to receive bills and checks in a timely matter. She referred to a check from Lexus Nexus for accident reports dated Feb. 14 that she didn't receive until May 2.

"There's an Indiana code .... that says I can't have any monies or checks in my posession for more than 24 hours. They have to be deposited. When the auditors come in and see that I deposited it May 2, they're going to question me," Monaco said.

Monaco said it was important she receive bills in a timely manner.

"I realize (town marshal Jon Chadd) is very busy, but when these come in and they're given to him, he has to check them out and give them to me, not sit on them or wait," she said.

The council resolved to have a meeting to discuss these issues with the marshal.

Interim utility manager Rich Saucerman brought up stakes that a homeowner has put into some right of way alleys around the town, restricting the access to them to varying degrees. The alleys run between Grant Street and Main Street and Lafayette Street and Main Street, though the second may not go all the way through.

"The people that use the alley to get to their house are swinging out a little more off the alley and getting closer to his barn. He said he wanted to protect his property," Saucerman said.

The council said the alleys have been a source of confusion and frustration for the town before, and it was hard to track where exactly property lines were.

"Everybody and their brother has had that surveyed over there, and I don't know whose pins are whose," said board vice president Dennis Padgett. "There's been five people that have come in to survey that."

Town attorney Alan Yackey suggested that the town could forfeit the alley, which would allow the alleyway to revert to the two properties that surround it. Yackey also mentioned this was not the first time the alleys have been an issue for the town.

The council eventually decided to try and get the parties involved to work together and compromise.

While the discussion of alleys dominated his time, Saucerman did discuss some other projects. The council approved $480 for gutters on the new pole barn. Saucerman gave an update on two culvert projects, which should cost around $3,000.

Saucerman also pointed out that the wording of the employee handbook should have given his employees time off for a recent primary election, which they did not receive. The wording currently follows the days off schedule of state employees, who received the day off. There were not any elections in Putnam County.

The board voted to give the employees the time off as an additional personal day, but change the wording in the handbook.

After two lengthy discussions, the council was keen to move in a speedy manner.

Don Gedert with the redevelopment commission said an offer to purchase the horse arena had been withdrawn, meaning the arena is on the market again.

The council asked building inspector Mark Cassida to look into the barbeque being sold on the old Holiday Inn property.

"I'd really like to find out who gave him permission to use the old Holiday Inn lot," Cassida said.

There was a quick update on the grant application for repairs to the number four lift station, which is progressing, with a CCR form being longest hurdle still remaining, according to board president Cathy Tipton.

The Indiana Downtown Revitalization project is also moving forward, with a proposed timeline in place.

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  • I thought Chadd was brought in as the "interim" town marshal...(???)

    -- Posted by ProblemTransmission on Thu, May 12, 2011, at 12:42 AM
  • Mark Cassida is Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector.

    -- Posted by CdaleResident on Thu, May 12, 2011, at 1:54 AM
  • And Mark does not even live in Cloverdale.Hmm?

    -- Posted by Nit on Thu, May 12, 2011, at 7:38 AM
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