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.
Culver Town Council Discusses Sidewalk Reimbursement Request
The Culver Town Council discussed an issue concerning a participant with last year’s sidewalk replacement program.
Clerk-Treasurer Karen Heim explained to the council members that a resident applied for the sidewalk program last year. As the season wore on, the applicant found that the project could not be completed in 2016 and asked if the same request could be considered in the 2017 application process. Utility Superintendent Bob Porter confirmed that all of the specifications were complete for the cement to be poured, but another construction project at that location delayed the sidewalk installation.
Culver Stellar Communities Committee Projects Gaining Community Support
The Culver Stellar Communities Committee recently chose a lighter, quicker and cheaper project for this year’s Stellar Community application and the project is gaining support of community entities.
As a lighter, quicker and cheaper project, the committee chose the installation of recycled plastic benches and a story walk featuring Culver history along a proposed new bike trail in the Culver Town Park. It is the hope of the committee to build partnerships as part of the application process.
Culver-Union Township Public Library to Work on Building Improvements
The Culver-Union Township Library will soon be getting some American Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant renovations to the exterior of the building along with other improvements.
Library Board member Bill Clevenger explained to the Culver Town Council Tuesday night that the board recently hired an architect to do an envelope study of the library. That study entails an analysis of potential facility modifications to bring codes up to standards or to improve operations.
Culver Town Council to Meet Tonight
The Culver Town Council members will have several items up for discussion when they meet tonight.
Bill Clevenger from the Culver-Union Township Public Library will appear before the council with information. The council will receive an update on the Stellar Communities application and letter of intent. The deadline for the letter of intent is set for April 28.
Culver Park Department Preparing for Summer Season
Summer is right around the corner which means activities around the Culver Park and the Culver Beach will be winding up for the season.
Park Superintendent Anna Campbell told the Culver Town Council members last week that she recently hired a new maintenance employee and she is currently taking applications for lifeguards. Five lifeguards are returning this year and one new lifeguard was recently hired. For more information, call (574) 842-3510.
Culver Receives Grant for Public Fishing Project
The Town of Culver is the recipient of a Marshall County Community Foundation grant to help fund an opportunity for residents to participate in public fishing.
Town Manager Jonathan Leist told the Culver Town Council members this week that a platform will be installed at the end of a pier for public fishing.
