The Culver Town Council will be discussing their next steps in the path to be awarded the Stellar Communities designee during their regular business meeting tonight. The town was named a finalist in Division 2 at the end of May. The name of the winning community will be announced at the end of this summer. Culver was placed in Division 2 that recognizes towns with a population less than 5,999. The Town of Culver will be competing with the Town of Churubusco in Whitley County and the City of Union City in Randolph County.
Culver Town Council and CRC Forming Mobile Home District Committee
Even though the Sand Hill Farms project is moving forward, the Town of Culver and the Culver Redevelopment Commission (CRC) are keeping housing options open.
The Sand Hill Farms project is a workforce housing development project that will include a proposed 24-unit apartment building on Jefferson Street. The town council and the CRC are funding the infrastructure to the property. If the town wins the Stellar Communities designation, more funding could be available for a low-income based housing development.
Culver Police Chief Hiring Officers
Culver Police Chief Wayne Bean is looking to hire officers for the department.
He told the Culver Town Council during their last meeting that one officer resigned the previous day and he will replace that officer. He is already reviewing applications for another vacancy in the department. As he reviews the applications, Chief Bean said he may go ahead and hire two in this round. He may choose to re-advertise for officers to gather more applications.
Culver Redevelopment Commission to Meet in Special Session Today
The Culver Redevelopment Commission (CRC) will meet today to discuss the Sand Hill Farms workforce housing.
The Culver Town Council members made their decision on two resolutions this week and the CRC is expected to discuss the same resolutions during their meeting today. The town council members voted 4-1 to approve a resolution to authorize funding of the project. A separate resolution was approved 4-1 to enter into an agreement between the Town of Culver and Sand Hill Farms, Inc. for the development of the project.
Town of Culver to Update Website
The Town of Culver’s website will be getting a facelift.
The Culver Town Council approved a quote from Satellite Software to update the town’s website.
The quote of $1,859 will allow the company to reformat the website to a WordPress template. Clerk-Treasurer Karen Heim, Town Manager Jonathan Leist and Park Superintendent Anna Campbell will be trained on how to use the program to easily update the site.
Culver Town Council to Interview EMT Candidates, Advertise for Ambulance Purchase
The Culver EMS staff is busy interviewing candidates for the full-time position available in the department. Three candidates have expressed interest in the paramedic position.
EMS Director Kathy Hart will set up an interview session with the town council members in the next couple of weeks in order to get the paramedic position filled.
Culver Town Council Approves Resolutions for Workforce Housing Project
The Culver Town Council opened their public meeting last night to members of the community to discuss opinions on the proposed workforce housing development project on Jefferson Street. The building would include 24 apartments with one, two or three bedrooms. A two-bedroom apartment rent pricing example was estimated at $850 a month. If the town wins the Stellar Communities designation, there would be funding available for Phase 2 which includes a second apartment building for income-based housing.
Culver Town Council to Gather Opinions on Housing Project Tonight
The Culver Town Council will hold a public input session tonight to gather opinions on the proposed Sand Hill Farms workforce housing project. Public comment will be taken at 6:30 p.m. prior to the start of tonight’s regular meeting agenda.
Town Manager Jonathan Leist explained that the project has been in the town’s comprehensive plan since the plan’s adoption in 2014. The lack of housing was identified as one of the main issues in the plan. Leist said a committee was formed to look into the project. It is part of this year’s Stellar Communities grant application. Culver town officials should know Wednesday, May 24 if Culver is a finalist in the application process.
Culver Town Council to Hear Public Input on Housing Project
The Culver Town Council will be opening up a public input session for discussion of the Sand Hill Farms workforce housing development project.
Town Manager Jonathan Leist explained that the project has been in the town’s comprehensive plan since the plan’s adoption in 2014. The lack of housing was identified as one of the main issues in the plan. Leist said a committee was formed to look into the project.
Stellar Communities Finalists to be Announced this Month
Culver Town Manager Jonathan Leist updated the town council on the Stellar Communities application when they met Tuesday night.
The letter of intent and supporting documents were turned in by the April 28 deadline. The town council members will learn if the town is a finalist on May 24.
Culver Housing Development Financing on Hold
The Culver Town Council and the Culver Redevelopment Commission met in a long joint meeting on Tuesday night to discuss a housing development agreement between the entities and housing developer Kevin Berger and funding for the project.
Council President Ginny Bess Munroe stated that they are at the stage of approving financing for the project. The Culver Redevelopment Commission would finance $400,000 for the project with nearly the same financial obligation from the Culver Town Council. The town hopes to use Regional City Northern Indiana money that the county won last year. A housing dollar amount of $270,000 was set aside for this venture and a presentation in order to appropriate that money is set for June. If the town is awarded the Stellar Communities designation, funding would be used toward that project.
Culver Town Council to Meet Tonight, Special Session Called
The Culver Town Council will meet in a specially-called meeting with the Culver Redevelopment Commission tonight at 5p.m. ET. The members of each government entity will discuss an agreement as part of a housing development project on Jefferson Street as outlined in the Stellar Communities application.
Clerk-Treasurer Karen Heim explained that the town wants to enter into an agreement with the housing developer that specifies responsibilities. The town will do the infrastructure work and the housing developer will be responsible for building the homes.
Communities Scrambling to Maintain Restrictions on Small Cell Towers
Indiana communities are worried cell towers could start popping up without their permission, under a measure recently passed by the state legislature, unless they take action by this Sunday. Now, municipalities around the state are scrambling to meet the deadline. The North Judson Town Council will meet in special session this morning at 7:30, while the Culver Town Council met yesterday afternoon. Continue reading
Culver Town Council Approves Park Maintenance Quote
Culver Park Superintendent Anna Campbell presented a quote for maintenance at the Culver Town Park.
Sellers Maintenance will grind down areas where tree roots are causing a tripping hazard and fill divots in the grass. The workers will also fertilize the grass and apply seed in areas. Campbell said the west end of the park will be rehabilitated as it is a heavily used area and work was lacking last year.
Culver Library to Delay Marking Accessible Parking
Officials with the Culver-Union Township Public Library asked the Culver Town Council members to delay marking spaces for accessible parking as required by the American Disability Act. Town Manager Jonathan Leist presented the information where he explained the library board is waiting for the final design for the courtyard before designating areas for accessible parking.
Culver EMS Looking to Fill Full-Time Paramedic Position
Culver EMS officials sought approval from the Culver Town Council to hire a paramedic for the third full-time ALS position.
Interviews are being conducted to backfill the full-time spot as the current paramedic will be filling a part-time paid position.
Stellar Community Letter of Intent Due Friday with Changes
The Culver Town Council and the Stellar Communities Committee have made some focus changes to the plans for this year’s application.
Town Manager Jonathan Leist told the council members Tuesday night that the committee revisited the proposed lighter, quicker and cheaper project. The committee has decided to go with five or six-foot letters that spell C-U-L-V-E-R rather than the historic story walk as that particular project. Utility Superintendent Bob Porter is researching the cost for this project, but Leist believes it will fall within the $5,000 requirement for that part of the application.
Culver Town Council to Hold Work Session, Regular Meeting
The Culver Town Council will hold a work session tonight to discuss the housing project for the Stellar Communities grant. It is just one of many aspects the council is looking at to include in the letter of intent which is due on Friday, April 28.
Several lighter, quicker and cheaper projects will also be included. A story walk and the installation of recycled benches along a proposed bike trail will be listed within the town’s goals for the application.
Town of Culver Working to Update Website
It’s a tool that Culver residents have appreciated over the years and the Culver Town Council hopes to improve its overall appearance.
The town’s website will soon be getting a facelift. Town Manager Jonathan Leist and Clerk-Treasurer Karen Heim have been working to find a solution to make it more user friendly. Leist told the town council last week that only one person can input information to the website from one desktop. Ideally, it would be more efficient for all department heads to have access to the website to upload information for convenience.
Town Action Lowers Credit Card Convenience Fee
The convenience fee to pay for items through the Town of Culver has been slashed.
Clerk-Treasurer Karen Heim told the Culver Town Council members this week that she met with a representative from PayGOV to make the changes to the convenience fee. The previous agreement included a $2.50 convenience fee on a minimum charge and anything over $25 customers were charged a three percent fee.
