Pierceton Town Council President Glenn Hall asks the other council members a question during a Feb. 8 special council meeting. InkFreeNews photo by Liz Shepherd.

By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews

PIERCETON — The Pierceton Town Council held first readings for two ordinances and approved a change in how paid hours for the Pierceton Police Department work during a Feb. 8 special meeting.

At the meeting, Council President Glenn Hall read an ordinance which would allow for Washington Township to provide fire service to the town without a contract in place between the township and town.

The council also had a first reading for an ordinance regarding the rezoning of the former Welch Packaging location, near Dollar General on SR 13. During the council’s January meeting, Gail and Kevin Shepherd told the council they wanted to rezone the property for commercial use in order to put in a beauty salon and machine shop. If approved, the ordinance would rezone the property from an industrial II district to commercial district.

The Shepherds’ request was given a favorable recommendation by the Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission during a Feb. 7 meeting.

In other business, council members discussed allowing the town’s police officers to work up to 86 hours of straight time per pay period. Any additional time worked past 86 hours would be paid as overtime.

Town Marshal Jim Bumbaugh said an issue the department is currently experiencing with hours involves officers having to burn any extra time worked after the end of a shift, leaving the department short-staffed.

“Once (officers) exceed 40 hours, they’ll have to take the time off to burn that, so then that leaves us short, if they have to keep that comp time under 40 hours,” said Bumbaugh.

Bumbaugh said all the town’s officers were okay with the proposal. The council approved allowing this change for the police department.

Council also changed language in a written letter of approval for Kaleidoscope Weddings and Events regarding a liquor license. The language would change from allowing the business to seek a supplemental Type 210 liquor license to seeking a general alcohol permit in order to give them easier access in obtaining a permit.

Hall also inquired about travel expenses for council members attending events related to their council service being covered by the town, citing his upcoming trip to the Accelerate Indiana Municipalities legislative dinner.

Town Attorney Tammy Keirn said coverage for those expenses would be appropriate.

Council approved the town getting a credit card solely for council members to use for business expenses, such as trips to conferences.

Following the special meeting, Pierceton’s redevelopment commission met to organize for the year. The commission voted to have Matt Brubaker serve as president, Eric Trump as vice-president, and Brian Harman as secretary.

Brubaker suggested the commission contact Baker Tilly, an advisory firm, to further discuss tax increment finance matters, including the potential to expand the TIF area and projects Pierceton could possibly take on through TIF monies.

The council’s next regular meeting is at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 12.