Improvements waiting in the wings for Fillmore Town Council

Saturday, February 9, 2019

FILLMORE -- After its February meeting Thursday evening, the Fillmore Town Council seemed eager to look toward planned improvements to the town’s infrastructure and clean-up of its overall image.

The council invited grant writer Amy Miller to discuss requirements for grants the town is considering through the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA). Specifically, Miller addressed the need for a master utility study, which would entail a comprehensive survey of Fillmore’s water systems.

The study would fall under the guidelines of a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), which is funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

The grant overall would cost $50,000, but that the state would cover 90 percent of the total. As such, the town would cover $5,000 of that amount toward the study.

Though she said these grants were competitive, Miller related that the town met the minimum requirements to apply and most certainly demonstrated a need for improvements. Miller also stressed the importance of the council being proactive in documenting hazards such as flooding as they happen.

Miller said these grants are due around the 15th of every month, but that the council would have to hold a public hearing before they can be submitted.

Miller has experience writing similar successful grants for Amo, Coatesville, Lizton and Knightstown, experience which was advocated by David Kieser of Kieser Consulting, who also attended the meeting to discuss improvements to the town’s streets and utilities.

Kieser presented information to the council regarding Rural Business development Grants (RBDG) funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). These separate grants would address safety improvements such as lighting and sidewalk installation, but are more broadly geared toward encouraging the development of small businesses in low-income areas.

Kieser suggested that such a grant would go a long way toward developing the central area of the town, which he said would help “transform” the rest of Fillmore into a safer, more stable community. As a first step, Kieser asked the council to approve a study which would determine the scope of those specific improvements. The study would cost $1,500, but the council unhesitatingly approved the study.

Kieser also gave an update on the upcoming road repavement project funded through the Community Crossings matching grant program. Kieser said bids for the work would be coming in through this month, with a recommendation to be expected in March.

At the end of the meeting, the council also heard a public comment from a resident concerning storage units planned to be built by local contractor Aaron Stephenson. The meat of the complaint was that he believes the storage sheds would hamper the property value of a nearby home which the resident resides.

During the council’s regular meeting last month, Stephenson approached the body for a blessing on the project, as he was concerned the units could be subject to later ordinances which could prompt their removal. The council stated that it could not make a judgment, but recommended that Stephenson consult his neighbors.

The resident claimed Stephenson had not talked with him about the plans, and also insisted that the units could attract illicit activity in the future. He also made a general comment that a lack of zoning hampered any progress to build up the town’s residences and discourages people who might wish to move into Fillmore.

Though the council understood the concerns, members reiterated that no decision could be made to discourage Stephenson from building the units. Town Attorney Jeff Boggess also provided that residents had not expressed an interest in zoning.

Council President Bill Ashcraft recommended that the resident try to communicate with Stephenson and work out a compromise between them.

Town Maintenance Director Joe Cash also relayed that an estimate from Joe Custis Excavating to perform work on a culvert pipe on Hendricks Street near the entrance to Fillmore Christian Church. Answering a recurring question as to whether the town or the church was responsible for the repairs, Cash said the work would be the town’s responsibility per an easement which applies to the site.

Council member Robin Duncan stepped in to say the council needed to consider at least two more offers before making a decision, especially if they were from local contractors. As such, the repairs were tabled further until more bids are acquired.

The council also revised an ordinance dictating voting in the town wards as being open to at-large candidates. Fillmore was forced to do so after a state statute dictated that communities of less than 3,500 residents would go to at-large councils unless the town passed legislation stating otherwise prior to 2019.

The council also amended the ordinance so that polling for town council elections would not have to take place within Fillmore.This decision was based on the county’s move to vote centers, none of which are located within Fillmore town limits.

This means that if town officials wanted to have a polling place in Fillmore, the town would have to organize and pay for the election itself, with no county assistance.

The revision will take effect beginning Nov. 7 of this year, and the ordinance must be renewed each 10 years after the U.S. census.

The next regular meeting of the Fillmore Town Council is scheduled for Thursday, March 7 at 7 p.m. in the Fillmore Town Hall.

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