By Jackie Gorski
Times-Union

BURKET – Burket Town Council heard from three interested parties for the street superintendent position Thursday, Aug. 10.

Former Street Superintendent James Marshall left the position effective June 30 due to responsibilities at his other job.

Council President Bill Rayburn said Indiana code states the town could employ an out-of-town resident if needed, but his preference was to hire someone who lived in Burket.

He said the salary for the position is $4,000 annually. The work includes plowing and salting streets and there’s small areas of town they do mow.

Thursday, Brad Bibler, Gary Wagoner and David Webb talked about their experience.

Webb said he’s always wanted the position, but hasn’t had the opportunity to fill the position yet. He has plowed for the city of Warsaw and has also plowed for someone else.

Wagoner said he moved to Burket about seven months ago, and he works at Gulf Stream Maintenance. They are required to plow and his work covers everything from a shovel to a skid loader and he takes care of equipment.

Bibler said he works for SDS Communications, has done work for the city of Warsaw and currently mows five yards in town.

Rayburn said all three applicants have good experience.

Rayburn asked Councilwoman Lena Ball if she wanted to table the decision so they could digest the information and perhaps Councilwoman Cindy Warstler could be at the next meeting as Warstler was absent Thursday. Ball agreed to table the decision.

Also during the meeting, the topic of plowing was further discussed.

One woman said it was appreciated when Marshall plowed her driveway because she was unable to do so. She also believes, at some point, the council approved an ordinance stating after town property was plowed, individual driveways could be plowed if needed.

In June, Vickie Scott complained about private use of town equipment, stating private use of the equipment was against the law. Rayburn said the town would do better.

Thursday, Rayburn stated unauthorized use of town equipment is against the law. He went through 50 years of ordinances and couldn’t find anything in regards to being able to plow people’s driveways. He said the proper thing to do is to rewrite the ordinance and approve it again to make sure elderly people who may possibly need the help get it.

Also during the meeting, Wagoner brought up  some recent break-ins in the area. He asked if the town could get some law enforcement presence in the area.

Rayburn said in order to do that, the town would have to pay another town like Mentone to help with that. He stated Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office deputies do drive by on occasion. If it becomes necessary, the town could pay someone to help in law enforcement presence. He said his best advice is for people to ask if they can help someone if they see someone who does not belong in the area, like in scenarios where they see the same car drive by a couple times.

In other business, the council heard:

• The property at 216 W. Broadway St. was mowed and a copy of the invoice will be sent to the homeowner.

• Rayburn talked to a representative from Phend & Brown about the street paving project for the town.

Rayburn was told the project was pushed back to September. It would take a few days for the streets to be cut out and an additional few days for the paving to be completed.

The town received a Community Crossings grant to get 80% of the town’s streets paved and Rayburn said it would take less than two weeks of work to get all the work done. He said he was told the work would be done this year so the town doesn’t lose the grant money.