SILVER LAKE — Nonpayment of ordinance citations and the status of condemned houses were discussed at the Silver Lake town council meeting held Wednesday, June 12. 

“Have we started taking the ordinance citations to court now for lack of payment? Is there a certain time frame we’re going on that,” Chief Deputy Marshal Cody Mangun inquired. “We can write ordinance violations all day long, but if there’s never any end result…”

“I think it is something we should do. If you’re not taking them to court, then they don’t care,” said SL Town Council President Chad Miner

“If there’s no repercussion, they’re going to keep doing it,” Council Member Dana Owens agreed.

Council Member Phil Shalley raised the topic of condemned houses.

“We need to sit down and start talking about an ordinance. We’ve had the board of health come in and condemn houses. Once they do that they pretty much wash their hands of it,” Shalley said. “We’ve had two of them that have turned into dog houses and we need to be able to say ‘no animal, no human.’ If the house is condemned, they can’t be in there, period.”

“I don’t think we need an additional ordinance necessarily,” said Miner. “I think we just need to take a look at how we’re using the ones we already have.”

Town Attorney Karin McGrath stated she will check with former SL Town Council Attorney Scott Reust regarding a list of ordinance citations.

SL resident Teresa Howell sent a letter to the town council regarding water in her basement. According to Silver Lake Street and Sewer Superintendent JT Prater, Howell feels this is a result of stormwater backing up from Walnut Street. 

“She’s the only one that is complaining on that road,” said Silver Lake Water Department Superintendent Joey McNeal. 

Prater said, “I think what it is, is she has a sump pump and a pit and they have the tiles around the outside of the house, they come in the basement so every time it rains a lot, of course, she’s gonna be caught in water.”

“It kind of sounds like the bottom line is that we don’t necessarily know exactly what’s causing the problem, but it doesn’t sound like it could be anything that we’re doing,” said Miner. “I don’t think there’s anything for us to do if it’s not a problem that we’re causing.” 

The Medication & Dental Assistance mobile office, which provides vouchers and financial assistance for prescription medications, medical supplies and emergency dental assistance will be at the Silver Lake Town Hall building between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Thursday, June 13. This will be an ongoing service, offered at this location the second Thursday of each month. 

Alan Tio, chief executive officer of Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation, gave a presentation. Tio told council members about a recent collaboration with AgriNovus Indiana, to assist the corporation in promoting the county’s agri-business.

“We’re the first county in the state to join a statewide organization called AgriNovus,” said Tio. “We want to be known for how we support agri-business.”

Other News:

• SL Fire Chief John Conley will obtain quotes for solar panels at the fire station. Conley will also be ordering more fire hoses.
• The fire department auction held last month raised over $800. This money was donated to Wheels On Fire Cancer Crusaders, a ministry outreach of Beaver Dam United Methodist Church in Akron.
• Ordinance 06-01-19 was adopted. This is regarding salary for the new seasonal employee.
• Carl Shepherd qualified for a water credit of  $51.88 and a sewer credit of  $1.62. Chad Miner qualified for $129.94 in water credit and $57.57 in sewer credit.
• The town has been approved for a grant in the amount of $41,000 for a new dump truck.
• Town garage sale will be held July 12-13. 
• The next regular meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 10.