Culver Officials Discuss Improving Internet Capabilities in Town

Improving internet access for residents and businesses owners in Culver is a project that town officials are looking into.

The Culver Redevelopment Commission recently met with representatives from Marshall County Fiber LLC about the possibility of installing fiber optic cable to improve access to the internet in the area.

At the last town council meeting, CRC member Rich West shared that the Redevelopment Commission has been working on finding a good fit for Culver for several years and noted that it is an issue that needs to be addressed. Continue reading

Culver-Union Township Fire Chief Asks About Adding Town Employees to the Fire Department

Culver-Union Township Fire Chief Terry Wakefield came before the Culver Town Council in May to ask members if there was an existing policy about hiring town employees as volunteer firefighters.

Chief Wakefield explained that being a town employee is one factor that makes someone eligible to work on the fire department. However, he said that the current salary ordinance is keeping him from hiring anyone on, despite the fact that there are a few people who completed the necessary testing and would be able to assist with in-town fires during the day. Continue reading

Culver-Union Township EMS Gains New Employee, Prospective Buyer Looks at Ambulance

Culver-Union Township EMS gained a new employee after town council members approved a hiring request from EMS Director Kathy Hart at their final meeting in May.

Director Hart asked the council to consider hiring Stephen Kobitz as fulltime employee. Council President Ginny Bess Munroe asked the director to state the rate for the record. She said that the new hire would be making $16 per hour and would be required to work 36 hours per week. Continue reading

Dual-Generational Playground Equipment Idea Presented to Culver Town Council

Three Culver Academy students presented town officials with a project idea during the last town council meeting in May.

One of the students, Alan Yang, told council members that after discussing the importance of responsible citizenship in one of their classes, the students brainstormed some ideas of ways they could assist the community.

Yang said they decided to do something at the park since that is an area that is utilized by individuals of all ages and it is one of the major focal points of town. Continue reading

Culver Town Council Approves Donation for St. Joseph Regional Medical EMS Fund Raiser

Culver Town Council members considered making a donation to the St. Joseph Regional Medical Center EMS Fundraiser when they met last Tuesday.

EMS Director Kathy Hart explained that there are a few pieces of equipment that the hospital is interested in purchasing.

She said nothing is finalized but they’ve discussed getting laptops for the rigs as well as an automatic chest compression device. Continue reading

Culver Town Council Establishes Special Summer Schedule for Town Employees

Special summer hours have been established for Culver Town Hall and town officials will be trying out a new summer hour schedule as well.

During the summer season, Culver Town Hall will be open to the public from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. At last week’s Culver Town Council meeting, a new employee schedule was proposed.

President Ginny Bess Munroe said she collaborated with Clerk-Treasurer Karen Heim and Town Manager Jonathan Leist about a “morale-boosting” schedule that will give employees a chance to enjoy their summer. Continue reading

Culver Town Council Holds Second Reading Over PUD Rezoning Ordinance, Additions to Developer’s Agreement Discussed

The property for a potential Planned Unit Development in Culver is one step closer to being rezoned, after Tuesday night’s Town Council meeting.

Council members held the second reading over the ordinance that would rezone the parcels located on State Road 17 and State Road 10, where developer Thomas Beste has proposed the construction the Culver Meadows housing development as well as gas station.

Town Council President Ginny Bess Munroe said that she spoke with Beste about adding a few things in the developer’s agreement to make sure a few of plans that have been discussed will be spelled out in the document. Continue reading

Culver Officials Break Ground on Housing Project

Culver town officials, county representatives, Housing Developer Kevin Berger, and other dignitaries helped break ground on the Sand Hill Farm workforce housing development in Culver Wednesday afternoon.

The housing development includes 24 apartments that will feature affordable one, two and three bedroom units at 540 W. Jefferson Street with hopes of the project complete in 2018. Elkay, one of Culver’s largest employers, will provide the cabinetry for the units in an extensive project partnership. Continue reading

Culver Town Council Receives Stellar Update as Site Visit Approaches

Town administrators and community members in Culver have been preparing for the upcoming Stellar Communities Designation Program site visit. On Wednesday evening, the Culver Town Council received an update about what has happened so far and what is yet to come.

Culver is one of three finalists in District 2 of the program, competing to be designated as a Stellar Community. In an effort to ensure they are aptly prepared, the Stellar Committee has been meeting on Tuesdays during the month of September. The night before the town council meeting, the committee met and did a practice run for the site visit. Continue reading

Culver Town Council, Stellar Committee Prepare for Site Visit

The finishing touches are complete on the Stellar Strategic Investment Plan for submission to the Stellar Communities Designation Program committee for the Town of Culver.

Culver Town Manager Jonathan Leist said Union Township submitted a letter of support toward the project along with a $40,000 contribution toward the effort. The Marshall County Community Foundation, in coordination with the Vonnegut Fund through the organization, contributed $80,000 toward the bike and pedestrian trail project and Elkay Manufacturing is partnering with the town to provide cabinetry and plumbing fixtures for the proposed Sandhill Farm workforce development housing project.

Continue reading

Town of Culver Awarded Grant Funds

Culver Town Council President Ginny Bess Munroe announced Tuesday night that the town is the recipient of $270,000 in Regional Cities grant funds.

The council plans to use that grant money toward solving a lack of housing for potential residents of Culver. The plan is to build the Sandhill Farms workforce development housing facility on Jefferson Street. The building would include 24 apartments with one, two or three bedroom units. The town will fund infrastructure to the proposed housing development which includes water and sewer lines and sidewalks.

Continue reading

Marshall County Council Supports Culver’s Stellar Communities Projects

Culver Town Council President Ginny Bess Munroe and Culver Town Manager Jonathan Leist went before the Marshall County Council to ask for a letter of support to include in their application for the Stellar Communities Designation Program grant.

Munroe mentioned that the town is attempting to show that the town is working with the county and that the county can benefit from the projects that are proposed in the Stellar Communities plan. The commissioners have already approved an in-kind donation of the installation of one mile of the walking/biking trail through the Culver Town Park and around Lake Maxinkuckee. The township is also putting forth support of the Cavalier Sports Center for upgrades and additions to the facilities at the Culver Community School Corporation. Several local and county organizations have offered grant match money for the various projects in the plan as well as in-kind donations and volunteer efforts.

Continue reading

Marshall County Commissioners Approve Contribution toward Culver Stellar Project

The Marshall County Commissioners approved an in-kind contribution to assist the Town of Culver in a quest to become a stellar community.

Culver Town Council President Ginny Bess Munroe explained to the commissioners that other Stellar Communities Designation Program Grant candidates have included supporting documentation from partnerships with county and town entities in their applications. Munroe asked the commissioners for support of the bike/pedestrian trail around Lake Maxinkuckee that lies within their plans for the Stellar Communities grant.

Continue reading