Cloverdale council passes new ordinances, resolutions

CLOVERDALE ­— Part of a session in which it addressed various agenda items, the Cloverdale Town Council passed multiple ordinances and resolutions Tuesday evening.

The council first adopted Ordinance 2021-4 establishing the rate for purchasing bulk water from the town at two cents per gallon. Town Manager Jason Hartman noted that the change, an increase from one cent, did not mean a water rate increase for the general public.

The council then adopted Ordinance 2021-6, which stipulates purchasing a wastewater backflow flapper from the town for $150, as well as obtaining a sewer permit fee for $100. Clerk-Treasurer Kelly Maners provided that the prices were set so the town cannot sell these at a loss.

The final ordinance the council adopted was Ordinance 2021-8 to allow for additional appropriations of $12,600. Maners said this was to outline money from the Putnam County Prosecutor’s Office, as well as expenses for training for reserve Cloverdale police officers and sending one officer to the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy.

The council waived second readings for the three new ordinances.

The council also passed Resolutions 2021-10 and 2021-12 denoting transfers within the General Fund and the Motor Vehicle and Highway (MVH) funds.

For the General Fund, the transfer was to go over to the Cloverdale Police Department to cover PERF and FICA requirements. For the MVH Fund, $2,500 was to be transferred from operating supplies into capital assets. Maners specified that this part of the town’s purchasing a Trimble R2 GPS receiver needed to be a line item.

The council also passed Resolution 2021-11 reducing the budget between the MVH (both regular and restricted) and Local Road and Street funds by $120,000. Maners said this was meant to free up more money to pay for grants through Community Crossings next year.

Without waiving a second reading, the council also approved an amended Ordinance 2021-1, which was passed last April to create a fund for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money. Maners said it required language referencing a plan for expenditures, as well as a statement that the money would be spent by ARPA’s deadlines.

Funding through ARPA must be obligated by the end of December 2024 and, subject to remaining money being recaptured afterward, spent by the end of December 2026.

In other business:

• The council approved refunding $2,381.88 to a resident in the Stardust Hills community for a water meter error. Hartman said the issue started in October 2020 and was discovered last month, and that potential penalties and interest were figured into the refund.

• The council approved redesignating Funds 631 and 632, which have held water and sewer tap fees, as revenue items. Maners referred to them as “dead-end funds,” in that fees are deposited but are not used for anything related. She said the current balance in the sewer tap fees was $15,250 with the water tap fees being $34,602.

• The council and Council President Rick Dearwester made several appointments to different boards:

— Council member Cindy Holland and James McKee reappointed to the Cloverdale Planning Commission;

— John Berry reappointed to the Cloverdale Park Board;

— David Fish, Scott Bailey, Brian Maners, Council member Larry Fidler and Dearwester reappointed to the Cloverdale Redevelopment Commission;

— Jerry Peters reappointed to the Cloverdale Stormwater Board;

— Steve Fouty reappointed, and Kathy Morgan appointed replacing Mark Wingler, to the Putnam County Convention and Visitors Bureau

• Subject to Town Attorney Richard Shagley’s approval, the council adopted a memorandum of understanding and an agreement for recouping uncollected debt through the state’s Tax Refund Exchange and Compliance System (TRECS) program. Maners explained that debts would be collected through state tax refunds.

• The council gave permission for Hartman or Maners to sign a quit claim deed selling the private drive from Beagle Club Road to the old Holiday Inn site to the town. Hartman said he had legal descriptions for the road, and that the sale had to be complete before December for it to be listed in the town’s road inventory.

The council has discussed applying for a Community Crossings grant to repair the road. The road’s easements have been owned by McDonald’s/Jedele Enterprises, Days Inn and Ralph Lee.

• The council approved a quote by Jackson Contracting for $6,400 to replace a tin shake roof on the log cabin at the Cloverdale Community Park. Hartman provided that it could be installed by winter, and that money to cover it would come from different funds and a donation by the Heritage Preservation Society of Putnam County.

Filling in for Town Marshal Steve Hibler, Cloverdale Police Sgt. Adam Hull joined Hartman, Maners, Shagley and the entire council for the meeting.

The next regular meeting of the Cloverdale Town Council is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. in the Cloverdale Town Hall.