Etna Green Council President Keith Claassen talks about the town’s ordinances with residents while Clerk-Treasurer Patti Cook takes notes. InkFreeNews photo by Liz Shepherd.

By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews

ETNA GREEN — Concerns with burning building materials in town limits and flushing non-flushable items were topics of discussion at the Etna Green Council’s June 13 meeting.

Aulbrey Jones and Kendra Stevens, both town residents, attended the meeting to ask questions about the town’s ordinances, particularly for burning items. The two said a neighbor, Bryan Moriarty, burnt building materials at his property on West Broadway Street twice.

Stevens said the state health department and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management have been contacted about the issue.

“Our concern is he’s burning a building that has asbestos…insulation,” said Stevens. “He’s burning everything in that building. It’s not healthy for any of us. All of us woke up the next day, eyes puffed shut…and we realized it was from the burn.”

Etna Township Fire Department Chief Kevin Smith II said he told Moriarty twice about not burning building materials. Indiana Code states a fire can be extinguished at any time if it creates a pollution problem or is a threat to public health.

“This is an issue all over town,” said Council Member Susan Klinefelter about burning. “People are not considerate of their neighbors.”

With ordinance enforcement, Council Member Jason Hanes said town employees are currently responsible for handling those issues. However, he noted concerns with having employees take care of that.

“It’s not easy to be that person to go out and give ordinance violations and then have to work for the town and deal with the people,” said Hanes.

The council voted to create an advertisement for an ordinance administrator, with the position being unpaid.

Jones also suggested the council look at Akron’s ordinances once the council begins updating Etna Green’s. Hanes agreed the town’s ordinances are in need of updating but that the changes would take time.

Citizens were also reminded to not flush non-flushable items. On May 27, a rotor at the town’s lift station was compromised by a towel. Repairing the station cost the town $1,889.20.

“A small thing like that can cause almost $2,000 in damages real fast,” said Council President Keith Claassen.

In other business, council was given a brief update from Town Attorney Nick Jacobs on civil action against the parents of two children who are responsible for recent acts of vandalism in town. Jacobs said he’s almost finished with the necessary paperwork and is very close to filing a lawsuit.

The children broke into Heritage Park’s concession stand and destroyed flowers at Remembrance Park.

Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation CEO Alan Tio and KEDCO Project Director Terry Sweeney also provided a brief update on the town’s tax increment financing district project. Requests for proposals have been distributed to construction companies. Tio noted there’s been interest in the project but many contractors are at capacity due to other active builds.

Council also:

• Approved Claassen as a commissioner for Etna Green’s seat on the Indiana Municipal Power Agency’s board. He takes over for former Wastewater/Street Superintendent Barry Baker.
• Approved the fire department’s request for an additional $5,000 to be added to the department’s annual contract with the town for fire services.
• Approved transferring the funds Etna Green received from the nationwide opioid settlement, in the amount of $1,810.73, to the fire department. The funds will be used for training and/or personal protective equipment.

The council’s next meeting is at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 11, at Etna Green Town Hall.