Culver Town Council to Meet Tonight

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The Culver Town Council members will hold a public hearing tonight to gather comments on an amendment to the Culver Zoning Ordinance.

The proposed changes include lowering the number of parking spaces for general commercial businesses in the C2 district, changing the sign ordinance to allow lighted signs, changes to the height and visibility requirements for fences in the L1 district, also changes in the side yard setback area in the L1 district. Additionally, the ordinance creates permit requirements for solar power systems and building permits for roof and shingle replacement. Continue reading →

Culver Officials Break Ground on Housing Project

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

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 Approves Increased Pay for Advanced Paramedics

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The Culver Town Council approved an ordinance amendment that increases the hourly wage for a new advanced paramedic to a range from $10.00 to $15.50 an hour beginning Nov. 1.

EMS Director Kathy Hart thanked the council and noted that the increase will help attract advanced paramedics to the department. She said several applicants have turned away from the position after learning that the wages aren’t comparable to other area departments. This will allow Culver EMS to be more competitive when seeking applications. Continue reading →

Culver Town Council Discusses Request from Southwest Conservancy District

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The Culver Town Council discussed a request from Southwest Conservancy District Representative Kathy Clark to expand the district in order to hook up two properties to that sewer system.

The agreement that the district has allows 175 hookups to the system and 168 are already connected. One family has petitioned to connect to the line as their septic system has failed. The property is contiguous to the district’s system that runs along West Shore Drive. The family plans to combine two lots with one house and request an easement on one parcel to allow a lateral line through the vacant lot on West Shore Circle. Continue reading →

Culver and Lake Maxinkuckee Visitor Center Relocation Discussed

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The Culver and Lake Maxinkuckee Visitor Center may soon have a new place to call home.

Becca Pazin asked the Culver Town Council if she could move the visitor center office from the bank to the top floor of the Culver Beach Lodge. She noted that she only has a few items to move. The display of activities on a computer screen will be moved to the Culver Beach Lodge as well. A large, more permanent display will stay at the bank.

Continue reading →

Culver Stellarbration Set for Nov. 8

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The state recognition of the Stellar Communities Designation Program designees is set for today from 10 a.m. to noon ET in Indianapolis. Officials from the Town of Culver and the City of Madison will attend today’s festivities as a Stellarbration of becoming stellar communities.

Culver’s local Stellarbration will be held Wednesday, Nov. 8 at the Culver Beach Lodge. Town Manager Jonathan Leist told the Culver Town Council Tuesday night that Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch will attend the local event that begins at 3 p.m. with an open house from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. ET. The public is invited to attend.

Continue reading →

Culver Town Council to Meet Tonight

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The Culver Town Council will meet tonight where an update will be given on where to go now that the town was named a Stellar Community that will be followed by Jonathan Leist’s report on town activities.

Becca Pazin from the Culver and Lake Maxinkuckee Visitor Center will present information during tonight’s meeting and Kathy Clark will have a contract request on behalf of the Southwest Conservancy District.

Continue reading →

Culver Town Council Considers Resolution for Residential Tax Abatement

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The Culver Town Council members conducted a public hearing Tuesday night concerning a resolution to deem the Sand Hill Farms property an economic target area and an economic revitalization area per state statute for purposes of residential tax abatement. The abatement would be 100 percent for 10 years.

The Sand Hill Farms property will be home to a workforce development housing project offering 24-unit apartments.

Continue reading →

Culver Town Council to Meet Tonight

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The Culver Town Council will meet tonight where the members will conduct a public hearing on the Sand Hill Farm residential tax abatement. The council will then consider a adopting a declaratory resolution designating the real estate containing the housing development as an economic target area and within an economic revitalization area for purposes of property tax abatement

The town council members will also consider second and third readings on the 2018 budget ordinance as well as an ordinance that establishes fees or costs for the Town of Culver Park and Recreation Department. Continue reading →

New Sign Going Up for Culver Community Schools

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

Culver Community School Corporation is currently in the process of installing a new sign that better represents the school corporation. Back in September, the Culver Community School Board discussed the design of the sign.

At the Culver Town Council meeting last Wednesday, Superintendent Karen Shuman alerted the board that the old sign was taken down that day and they are planning to have the new one up within the next week. Continue reading →

Town of Culver Awarded All Requested Community Crossings Funding

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

Culver Town Manger Jonathan Leist informed the board last week that the town is one of the few communities in the area who received all the Community Crossings grant funds they requested this year. He said the $206,000 received will go a long way to assist with projects they have in the works.

Leist mentioned that work on College Avenue, parts of Jefferson Street and the entrance at the Sand Hill Farm are the three priority projects. He told council members that in their grant proposal they utilized estimates that came from E&B paving. However, since those numbers were calculated several months ago, Utility Superintendent Bob Porter is looking into quotes. Leist said he is expected to present those quotes at the next town council meeting. Continue reading →

Culver Town Council Held Public Hearing and First Reading over 2018 Budget

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

A public hearing was held over the proposed 2018 Budget at a Culver Town Council meeting on Wednesday. Council President Ginny Bess Munroe acknowledged that the council held a number of work sessions and departmental meetings over the budget. She handed things over to Clerk-Treasurer Karen Heim who provided a basic synopsis of the budget to the public.

Heim said the proposed general fund is at $1,840,530 and the expected income is set at $1,815,437. She continued that with the proposed tax caps coming in at $29,135 that leaves a deficit of $54,228. She advised that she low-balled the income and the difference will not be as substantial. Continue reading →

Culver Town Council Receives Stellar Update as Site Visit Approaches

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

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 →

Economic Growth Anticipated As a Result of Resolution Approval from Culver Town Council

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

An area in Culver known commonly as “Sand Hill Farms” located at 540 W Jefferson Street received economic revitalization area and economic target area status as a result of a resolution passed by the Culver City Council Wednesday night.

Town Manager Jonathan Leist explained that the recently created Culver Economic Development Commission is permitted to grant tax abatement for residential property under state law. Earlier this week, the Culver EDC met for the first time and passed a resolution recommending that the city council classify this entire parcel on Jefferson Street as both an economic revitalization area and an economic target area to allow for future residential tax abatement.

Leist added that the approval of this resolution would only grant abatement on phase one, on the personal property investment of approximately $2.7 million that is listed in section one of the resolution. He said if they receive any applications for future tax abatements, the whole process would need to be completed again. Continue reading →

Culver Town Council to Hold Public Hearing at Meeting Tonight

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

The Culver Town Council is scheduled to hold a public hearing and the first reading for their proposed 2018 budget. Council members will also receive an update on the Stellar Communities Designation Program plan when they meet tonight at 6:30 p.m. EDT in Culver Town Hall.

Council members will address an ordinance that will amend and restate a past ordinance which establishes fees or costs for the Town of Culver Park and Recreation Department. Continue reading →