Pictured, from left, are Claypool Town Council Member Don Miller and Claypool Council President Benny Stage Jr. InkFreeNews photo by Liz Adkins.

By Liz Adkins
InkFreeNews

CLAYPOOL — Claypool’s town marshal and attorney announced their resignations during an Oct. 15 council meeting.

Town Attorney Andrew Grossnickle told Claypool’s council he recently accepted a position at the Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s Office. He will continue his services with the town until January 2025.

Town Marshal Paul Mullins is resigning in late November.

Council said they will begin the hiring process for a part-time town marshal and look for a new attorney.

In other business, Grossnickle said he could update a town ordinance to allow for an increase to sewer rates.

“What we could do from now until the end of the year is I can update the current ordinance such that it could be introduced at next month’s meeting and then have a public hearing in December to take effect in January 2025,” said Grossnickle.

Council President Benny Stage Jr. and Council Member Don Miller both said an annual 2% rate increase over the next five years would be a good target.

Council approved amending an ordinance for this rate increase.

Stage also said the town is working on getting bids for yearly maintenance at the retention pond on the west side of town. This would include weed control and addressing stagnant water within the pond. The town has received one bid so far, but is accepting more.

Stage said an estimate the town received on making the retention pond a dry pond was too expensive.

Council also:

• Approved the town’s budget for 2025 in the amount of $297,827.
• Informed residents that leaves must be placed in paper biodegradable bags for pickup.
• Said income surveys from Kleinpeter Consulting Group LLC will be mailed soon. Residents are highly encouraged to complete the surveys for the town’s OCRA grant funding process.

Claypool Council’s next meeting is at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19.