The start of the summer vacation season in Culver has led to a few drunk driving arrests during the last two weeks.
Culver Police Chief Wayne Bean told the town council Tuesday night that in the past 10 days, six operating while intoxicated (OWI) arrests were executed by the Culver Police Department.
The Town of Culver is hosting a Stellar Fest this Saturday at the Culver Town Park from 10 a.m. to noon ET.
A lot of activities are packed into this two-hour event. Town Manager Jonathan Leist said Main Street designation recognition is right at the beginning of the event. Kids crafts will be offered as well as a “Choose Culver” board where residents can write down what they love about Culver. Leist added that a mock-up of a new Culver sign will be revealed and a new town logo. Stop by the Culver Farmer’s Market during the event and shop for locally grown products.
The Culver Town Council Tuesday night reviewed a resolution outlining the terms of a financial plan to purchase a new ambulance for Culver Emergency Medical Services.
The lowest bid for a 2017 ambulance came from Medix in the amount of $127,865. The Union Township Trustee and the Town of Culver will equally split the cost of the vehicle. The township will provide $63,932.50 while $20,000 will come from this year’s EMS budget. The town will complete the funding with $43,932.50 from the General Fund.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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 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.
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.
