The Town of Culver reached “stellar” status late last year with the Stellar Community Designation Program designation and with that comes several large projects to increase tourism and overall appeal to the lake town.
There is a four-year timeline in which to complete the projects outlined in the Culver’s strategic investment plan.
The Culver EMS, Fire Department and Police Departments are still looking to fill positions.
Culver Police Chief Wayne Bean told the Culver Town Council last week that he received five applications for an open officer position. He will be reviewing those with a recommendation soon.
The Culver Town Council reorganized for the year when they met Tuesday night. They were unable to do this action during their first meeting of the year as President Ginny Bess Munroe was unable to attend that meeting.
Munroe was elected to serve another year as the council president and the council members voted to retain Sally Ricciardi as the vice president.
Culver’s WinterFest event is set for February, but the possibility of a beer garden was brought before the Culver Town Council Tuesday night.
Organizer Tony Sellers told the town council members that he has shortened the operation time of the beer garden to 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. There was concern about having spirits available until 9 p.m. in the Culver Town Park. Alcohol will be available during the highly-anticipated ice sculpture fights during the same time period. The vendor will also be set back from any children’s activities and other family-oriented events.
The Marshall County Council on Aging is stepping up efforts to gather funds for transportation services for the county’s veterans, disabled, and older population.
Jackie Wright from the Marshall County Council on Aging explained to the Culver Town Council members Tuesday night that the organization wants to meet the growing needs of the public and more funding can help expand routes and possibly add another route to service community members. She said that they had over 600 denials last year as not all requests could be handled due to availability.
The Culver Town Council members will meet in regular session tonight where they will hear a presentation from students on park improvements.
WinterFest organizer Tony Sellers gave the Culver Town Council an update on tentative plans for the event during the weekend of February 9-11.
The winter weather has put a dent in the Town of Culver’s road salt supply.
Town Manager Jonathan Leist told the Culver Town Council members Tuesday night that half of the town’s salt supply has been used to help clear roads in town so far this season. He assured the council members that the town’s contract with the salt supplier allows the town to purchase more at the current rate if the supply reaches a critical level.
The Culver Town Council members heard public comments concerning the proposed traffic ordinance.
Council Vice President Sally Ricciardi read a citizen’s letter into the record that discussed safety concerns for emergency vehicles and residents maneuvering around the streets that are narrow. One street mentioned was Ohio Street and portions of that street will have no parking as part of the ordinance. The resident also mentioned the noise level of semi truck idling in residential neighborhoods and parking of the tractor trailers on residential streets.
The Culver Town Council will hold a public hearing tonight to consider comments on the town’s proposed traffic ordinance.
The traffic ordinance designates a congested motor vehicle traffic and pedestrian area on Lakeshore Drive and signage will be placed between 508 Lakeshore east to 824 Lakeshore Drive. The ordinance also creates a no parking zone for 50 feet from the intersection on both sides of the street on Batabano and South Plymouth Street.
The Culver Town Council members discussed grant funds that were appropriated during the year at their meeting this week.
Clerk-Treasurer Karen Heim commented that the town was fortunate to receive several grants in 2017 that weren’t recognized in the budget. She recommended that the list be available to inform the public of all funds awarded and spent, and on the record for the Department of Local Government Finance.
The Culver Town Council members took action Tuesday night to make sure budget funds will be balanced at the end of the year.
A resolution to transfer funds within departments and department funds was unanimously approved.
An ordinance to encumber funds for 2017 was also considered. A lot of the money to be encumbered is for paving.
The Culver Town Council members approved the second reading of the proposed traffic ordinance when they met Tuesday night.
The traffic ordinance designates a congested motor vehicle traffic and pedestrian area on Lakeshore Drive and signage will be placed between 508 Lakeshore east to 824 Lakeshore Drive. The ordinance also creates a no parking zone for 50 feet from the intersection on both sides of the street on Batabano and South Plymouth Street.
The Culver Town Council members will meet in regular session tonight.
The council members will act on additional readings of the traffic ordinance and the salary ordinance.
The traffic ordinance designates a congested motor vehicle traffic and pedestrian area on Lakeshore Drive and signage will be placed between 508 Lakeshore east to 824 Lakeshore Drive. The ordinance also creates a no parking zone for 50 feet from the intersection on both sides of the street on Batabano and South Plymouth Street.
Construction of a Habitat for Humanity House in Culver could begin in 2019.
Culver Town Manager Jonathan Leist told the town council members that week that he met with Marshall County Habitat for Humanity officials about a potential project.
The Culver Town Council members opened bids for surplus equipment at the street department and the ambulance during their meeting last week.
The highest bids were approved which included $2,900 for a 1999 leaf vac machine, $2,500 for the 1964 grader, $150 for the 1993 Patchman trailer, $1,500 for the 2000 Ford F-150, and $1,500 a 2000 Leeboy 300 roller. Utility Superintendent Bob Porter was pleased with the bids as they came in higher than he expected.
The Culver Town Council members adopted two ordinances this week.
An ordinance was approved on second and third reading that allows a retiring police officer, who has served at last 20 years in law enforcement, the ability to retain his or her service weapon, badge and identification cards.
New lighting will be installed at the Culver-Union Township Fire Department.
Fire Chief Terry Wakefield told Culver Town Council members this week that he’s been working for a long time to update the lighting to include LED lights. He said the cost for the 51 lights needed for the project is $7,896.30. NIPSCO will review the work and reimburse the town $80 per light. He said it works with the lighting package they have through NIPSCO.
Construction on the Lake Maxinkuckee Amphitheater could be complete by the Memorial Day holiday in 2018.
Mike Reese from the Troyer Group gave the Culver Town Council members a timeline for the bidding process and construction.
The Culver Town Council members considered a proposal from Mike Reese with the Troyer Group to assist the town in the many aspects required within the town’s designation as a Stellar Community.
Reese said there are a lot of components to the grant and other requirements to be considered.
