Jasonville Council agrees to buy new fire truck

The $300,000 vehicle will be financed with a 10-year loan through the Bloomfield State Bank at four percent interest.

The council approved the purchase by a 4-1 vote. Councilman Stephen Lee cast the opposing vote.

"I don't know what is going to happen to the fire department and don't want to jump in and buy it right now," Lee explained.

Assistant Fire Chief Darren Sluder told the council last month the fire truck, which is a demonstrator, would come with a new warranty.

Sluder said that the fire department anticipates collecting at least $18,000 a year from the insurance billing company for payment of emergency runs, which would help toward the payments.

Continuing with business, the council made a decision with a 3-2 vote on the request made by Nancy Caddell for a mobile home application.

Caddell's request had been tabled at the October council meeting because there was a question whether or not the home was on a permanent foundation.

After conferring with Attorney Jeff Hawkins, it was decided that the mobile home met requirements.

However, councilmen Kent May and Doug Hudson opposed the vote. May questioned the location of the driveway saying it might be on city property.

Hawkins noted that if the driveway is on city property it is an issue, and it should be moved.

A representative from AFLAC insurance explained how city employees could purchase individual insurance coverage. There would be no charge to the city as insurance premiums would be deducted from employees' payroll.

However, before a decision could be made on the purchase of insurance, Mayor Roy Terrell said department heads would have to be notified and a meeting would have to be scheduled for further discussion.

Terrell also announced that Jasonville will be the site of a recycling drop-off location by the Greene County Recycling Center. No location for the facility has been established.

In department reports, Clerk-Treasurer Charlotte Thomas said she is still working on additional appropriations.

Police Chief Rick Van Horn reported that his department made 32 arrests in October: 19 traffic arrests, four outstanding warrants, two child molestations, two operating vehicle while intoxicated, two illegal possessions of alcohol by a minor, one trespass, one strangulation, and one under age tobacco use.

The police department investigated three illegal possessions of alcohol, two child molestations, two thefts, two battery cases, one runaway, one intimidation case, one harassment case and one strangulation.

Van Horn also reported that the department issued eight traffic warnings, issued four repair orders, seven title checks and assisted other departments eight times.

Van Horn announced that Danny Keller is leaving the police department for another position and asked the council if they would take applications for a new patrolman.

Also representing the police department, James Gadberry asked if the city attorney could review an amendment to the city code in order to raise the fees for case reports, title checks, accident reports, background checks and fingerprinting.

"We would like to bring in some revenue and implement this before the first of the year," noted Gadberry." We don't want to be a burden on taxpayers. We hope to have the blessing of the council after the attorney looks it over."

Fire Chief Harold Keller reported that the fire department made seven fire runs and 16 EMA runs during October.

Keller noted that the street department installed four-way stop signs on Sallust Street, cleaned culverts, hauled rock, and winterized equipment.

The street department also replaced a beam at the Boy Scout building and installed handicapped fixtures at the Senior Citizen building.

Utility Superintendent Troy Fougerousse reported that FEMA reimbursed the city $65,000 for flood damage.

Darren Sluder announced that there would be a National Incident Management System workshop Dec.13-14.

Sluder said it is required that everyone who is in charge of a disaster attend the meetings including financial officers, the mayor, town board members, etc.

Councilman Brad Duncan said that the Christmas Baazar, sponsored by the Jasonville Chamber of Commerce, would be at Shakamak High School from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. on Dec. 6.

The Christmas parade is also at 6 p.m. on Dec. 6.

Duncan also announced that the Chamber is sponsoring a turkey and dressing dinner Tuesday at the Senior Citizen building.

In other business, the board:

*Approved a mobile home application submitted by Wendy Sexton.

* Heard the Emergency Service Code Reimbursement Ordinance read by Mayor Terrell.