Spencer Council hears park project update

Working in the absence of councilman Jon Stantz, Spencer Town Council members Evan McKalip and Mike Spinks met in regular session Feb. 18, along with clerk-treasurer Cheryl Moke, town manager Hunter Stogsdill and town attorney Richard Lorenz.

Following approval of the Feb. 3 meeting minutes, the council heard from Colleen Minnemeyer, a member of the Spencer Parks and Recreation Committee, regarding the committee’s plan to develop a vacant lot on the northeast corner of S. Main and E. Cooper Streets into a pocket park.

Typically, a pocket park occupies one to three municipal lots and is smaller than one acre in size. The committee envisions public restrooms, a full-size basketball court and two pickleball courts occupying the currently unused space.

Minnemeyer presented the council with a progress update, including a proposed site development plan prepared by architecture firm Rundell Ernstberger Associates (REA). She noted REA’s original plan was divided into two phases in the event the entire project could not be funded at once. The Spencer Parks and Recreation Committee is actively applying for grant funding, Minnemeyer said, and feels strongly that they will be able to secure a sizable portion of the overall project cost.

Although completing the entire project in one phase would be more cost-effective, Minnemeyer said the committee is willing to undertake the project in separate phases as funding allows.

In other business, the council voted 2-0 to approve three invoices from Commonwealth Engineers related to wastewater system improvements and extensions, including Wastewater Improvements Phase 1, $11,400; Wastewater Improvements Phase 1, $686.83; and MCSP (McCormick’s Creek State Park) Project, $15,665.15.

Spencer Police Department (SPD) Chief Richard Foutch later addressed the council, reporting he had posted an employment ad on the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy website. Foutch said the department aims to hire at least two additional officers due to impending changes to his department and officers attending the academy.

Foutch also presented the council with a quote from John Jones for the purchase of a new police pursuit vehicle. The quote was for $62,043.50, with additional police radio system costs bringing the grand total to $65,608.55.

Councilman Spinks made a motion to approve the purchase of the vehicle for the SPD. McKalip seconded the motion, which passed 2-0.

In addition, Foutch publicly thanked the Owen County Health Department for donating a ZOLL manufactured automated external defibrillator (AED) to the Town of Spencer. Towns are required to have an AED in case of emergencies. AEDs are described as life-saving tools that deliver critical care to someone experiencing sudden cardiac arrest before an ambulance can arrive. The AED cabinet has been installed on an interior wall of the Spencer Municipal Building.

Sewer department superintendent Ryan Klaassen provided an update on the sewer plant and collections, explaining that a damaged sewer line on James Drive needed to be replaced. Tree roots, he said, have caused a 100-percent blockage of the sewer line. He presented a quote from DuBois Excavating for $7,800.

Spinks made a motion to approve the sewer line replacement quote from DuBois Excavating. McKalip seconded the motion, which passed 2-0.

Klaassen also presented the council with two quotes from Brown Equipment Company (BEC) for the purchase of a hydro-jetter trailer, both of which were lower than quotes obtained two years ago for similar equipment. The council took the quotes under advisement until its next meeting.

Lastly, Klaassen presented the board with a quote for the purchase of a new service vehicle from Curry Auto Center. Again, the council took the matter under advisement until its next meeting.

Regarding the Owen Valley Fire Territory, clerk-treasurer Moke reported that a new attorney was recently hired by the fire territory board – Christine Bartlett with Bloomington-based Ferguson Law. Bartlett also serves as an attorney for the Spencer-Owen School Board, Moke explained.

The council met again on March 3 with all three council members in attendance, along with clerk-treasurer Moke, town manager Stogsdill, and town attorney Lorenz.

Following acceptance of the Feb. 18 meeting minutes, the council voted 3-0 to approve an ABATE of Indiana memorial ride event request for May 25, from 10 a.m. to noon. The SPD will provide a police escort out of town at the conclusion of the event.

Under departmental reports, the council learned the SPD received eight applicants for its open police officer positions. Plans call for interviews to be conducted within two weeks.

Street department superintendent Tony Floyd told the council his department had focused attention the previous week on sweeping town streets of sand and salt left behind from treating streets over the winter months. Their efforts help prevent excess salt and sand from being washed into storm sewers and surface waters.

Floyd also provided the council with an update related to the Community Crossings Matching Grant (CCMG) program. The program provides funding for cities, towns and counties across Indiana to make improvements to local roads and bridges, with Spencer prepared to again apply for funds to repave select streets.

The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) holds two CCMG Call for Projects each year, one in January and one in July. Floyd said he and the Town of Spencer will apply for the next round in July.

Floyd also requested council permission to supply and spread a single load of stone at the Brad Harris property located off Hyden Road, just outside of town limits. Floyd said the department utilizes the drive as a turnround when plowing snow.

“Every four or five years we’ll bring them a load of stone and utilize one of our tractors to spread and grade the drive,” Floyd said. “It’s just a friendly thank you for letting us use their drive.”

Councilman McKalip made a motion to approve the request, which was seconded by councilman Spinks and approved 2-0-1. Stantz abstained from the vote, noting a family connection to the property owner.

Klaassen, superintendent of the town’s sewer department, provided the council with an update on the ongoing sewer line issue on James Drive. He noted the line was to be replaced later in the week. He also requested and received council permission to purchase a new 28 horsepower pump for a lift station located along Beem St., not to exceed $2,500.

Lift stations are mechanically operated and designed to move wastewater, sewage waste or excess stormwater from a lower elevation to a higher elevation to prevent problems from developing.

Returning to quotes provided at the council’s Feb. 18 meeting for the purchase of a hydro-jetter trailer and a 2025 Chevrolet Silverado service truck, the council voted unanimously to approve both purchases for the sewer department. The trailer quote was for $84,000, and the service truck quote totaled $80,073.

The council also voted 3-0 to provide up to $325,000 toward the Spencer Parks and Recreation Committee’s plan to develop the vacant lot at the northeast corner of South Main and East Cooper Streets into a pocket park. A large portion of the funding will come from the town’s Rainy Day and Riverboat funds.

Councilman McKalip noted the base bid for the plan, which only includes the bathrooms, all concrete work, one pickleball court and a half basketball court totals $303,687. The committee, working in collaboration with the Owen County Community Foundation, remains focused on fundraising to support the construction of a second pickleball court as well as the installation of a full basketball court rather than a half court.

In other news, the council spoke with Owen County Humane Society Board President Becky Brown, who was in attendance to discuss the local shelter’s capacity and funding issues. Although the shelter is often unable to accept stray animals due to limited housing capacity, she emphasized the shelter will always respond to calls received from the town and county related to animal neglect, abuse or hoarding, regardless of the shelter’s ongoing limitations.

The Spencer Town Council will meet again on March 17 and April 7. Both meetings will begin at 6 p.m. in the Spencer Municipal Building, 90 N. West St.

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