Chris Staley, far left, with the Pierceton Youth League speaks at the Pierceton Town Council meeting on Monday, March 11, at the Pierceton Community Building. Seated are clockwise from left Town Attorney Tammy Keirn, Town Clerk-Treasurer Myra Mast, Council President Glenn Hall, Council Vice President Eric Trump and Council Member Matt Brubaker. InkFreeNews photo by Leah Sander.

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

PIERCETON — The Pierceton Youth League needs volunteers and more.

At its regular meeting on Monday, March 11, the Pierceton Town Council heard from Chris Staley with the PYL.

He asked the council if it could waive the rental fee for the league to use Pierceton-Washington Township Park for the year and the indefinite future.

“It’s in the negative (financially) every year. Businesses don’t want to donate,” he said, adding it was difficult to get volunteers.

Staley said in turn the league would give leftover funds to the town to better the park.

Council Member Matt Brubaker vouched for the league having financial issues, noting it was so when he used to volunteer with it.

“It’s not a moneymaker, though everyone thinks it is,” said Brubaker.

The league and Whitko Community Schools are working on a partnership, said Staley, with the schools paying for background checks for league coaches as well as equipment.

An audience member noted the league should work on fundraisers, which Staley said leaders are working on.

Staley said more league coaches were needed.

Brubaker said the league is “doing wonderful things for the community,” by helping kids.

Thus he said he wanted to waive the rental fee.

Council President Glenn Hall and Vice President Eric Trump agreed, with the council voting unanimously to waive the fee for the foreseeable future.

Hall noted after the vote people should get the word out that the league needs volunteers and help with fundraising. People may reach out to the league by emailing [email protected] or messaging the Pierceton Youth League 2.0 Facebook page.

In other business, the council:

• Approved a Fair Housing ordinance for the town. Pierceton had already one in place, but Pierceton Town Attorney Tammy Keirn created an updated one to mesh with state and federal rules.
• Appointed Elaine Baughman to the Pierceton Public Library Board.
• Approved Borden handling the town’s recycling at a cost of $45 per quarter.
• Approved a road closure for Third Street between Market Street and Tower Street for First Baptist Church of Pierceton on Sunday, June 9. It’s for a kids’ event from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Heard that a special public meeting to discuss the town’s sidewalk project is at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 14, at the Pierceton Community Building.

The council’s next regular meeting is 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 8, at the community building.