Published: June 19, 2008 10:02 am      

Veedersburg mulls raising trash rates

VEEDERSBURG, Ind. — The town council recently discussed raising trash pickup rates.

The town charges its customers $10 per month. Based on data from last month’s billing, trash pick up is actually costing the town $12.17 per customer, according to clerk-treasurer Laura Bennett.

The town has 855 customers for trash pick up, which means the town had to make up a cost difference of $1,855.35 last month.

“I would just like to see the town break even” said Councilman Chris Rahm.

In order to increase rates, the council will need to vote on a new ordinance at a few future meeting.

The main reason for the increase in trash rates is fuel costs. The council discussed possibly adding a fuel clause to a new ordinance that would adjust the trash rate on a monthly basis that would be determined by the price of diesel fuel.

Bennett will check the town’s billing program to see if trash rates could be adjusted on a monthly basis.

In other business, council members:

--Learned from town Superintendent Paul Keeling that two of the town’s wells need some work. Well 1A needs some work on its pump and needs to be cleaned. Well 4 needs to be cleaned. Both wells were last serviced in 2004. The council approved Keeling seeking bids on the work.

--Learned the roof at the water plant is leaking and will need to be replaced. The council approved Keeling seeking quotes on it.

--Discussed several trees that need to be taken out due to the risk they pose to electrical lines.

The council approved installing underground electrical lines behind several houses on North Sterling Avenue. The current aerial electrical lines come into contact with trees during storms and are potentially very dangerous.

--Determined the town’s animal control officer Jim Abernathy has the authority to quarantine dogs when he deems necessary.

Recently a dog bit a child at Hub Park, and Abernathy wanted to quarantine the dog for 10 days for testing, because the dog had not had any rabies vaccinations.

Sheila Sundqvist, with Fountain County Animal Welfare, did not impound the dog and allowed the owner to take it home after the incident.

The council told Abernathy he has the authority as the town’s animal control officer to impound an animal if he feels it is necessary.

--Discussed street work with Mike Bowman representing Milestone of Veedersburg.

The town still is determining which streets will receive work this year and how the town will pay for it since property tax draws will be unavailable until August at the earliest.

--Heard concerns from resident Leroy Dismore that a hole needs to be filled in where a sewer line repair was made near the Mill Street lift station.

The council promised to have Campbell’s Excavating of Veedersburg address the problem.

--Learned from Fire Chief Terry Shields that he will seek the appropriate signatures and paperwork to get at least four condemned houses burned down.

--Decided the town will seek a general laborer for the town’s street department since Adam Houser will be transferred from the street department to the town’s electric department.

--Approved the tax abatement agreements between the town and Fountain Foundry and ThyssenKrupp.

WHAT’S NEXT

The Veedersburg Town Council will meet at 6 p.m. EDT Tuesday at the Veedersburg Municipal Building.