By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews

PIERCETON — The Pierceton Town Council approved two variance requests for local business owners during a Jan. 8 council meeting.

Gail and Kevin Shepherd attended the meeting to introduce themselves to the community. The Shepherds own the former Welch Packaging location, near Dollar General on SR 13.

Gail said they are looking to rezone the property for commercial use in order to put in a beauty salon and machine shop. The Shepherds are also considering using the building for warehouse storage and renting.

Gail said she’s owned two beauty salons in Pierceton in the past. They have to go to the Kosciusko County Board of Zoning Appeals in February to begin the process.

“It’s great to hear that building is going to be repurposed and benefit our town,” said Council President Glenn Hall.

The council gave their approval for the Shepherds’ variance request.

Representatives for Kaleidoscope Weddings & Events also attended the council meeting to request support for the placement of an eight-foot residential fence along the north property line. The ordinance permits six-foot-tall fences that are three feet tall within the required setbacks from the right-of-way. Council gave their support. Kaleidoscope’s variance request will be heard at the county’s BZA meeting on Jan. 9.

In other business, Pierceton Town Marshal Jim Bumbaugh told the council Pierceton Police Department received a Justice Assistance Grant from the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute in the amount of $38,738.40. The grant will be used to upgrade the department’s video recording system for four police vehicles and at the department itself.

Council also approved placing the police department’s 2013 Ford Explorer up for bid again. The council held a public hearing on the sale prior to its regular meeting, but said the town received no bids for the vehicle.

Nathan Rhoades, Pierceton Fire Department’s new fire chief, also introduced himself to the community during the meeting. He asked about the town possibly selling a fire apparatus Pierceton has owned since 1988. Rhoades said the apparatus has not been used in fire calls for several years. Council approved selling the apparatus.

Town Superintendent Casey Boggs also reminded residents to keep vehicles, trash bins, and other items clear from the streets as much as possible to help employees while they are removing snow from the roadways.

The council also:

• Voted to have Glenn Hall serve as council president and Eric Trump as the council’s vice-president for 2024.
• Learned PPD responded to 3,424 calls for service in 2023.
• Learned the fire department responded to close to 400 calls for service in 2023.
• Approved placing Georgia Tenney on the Pierceton Recreation Board. Annie Espinoza’s seat became vacant following the end of her four-year term. Espinoza and Tenney both sent letters seeking the seat.
• Approved an ordinance for a drug-free workplace policy for town employees.
• Approved an encumbrance of $6,000 in funds.
• Approved a resolution authorizing moving forward with the grant application for the town’s sidewalk project.

Council’s next meeting is at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 12, at the Pierceton Community Building.