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Government & School Board

New head of local Red Cross amid cutbacks

The Huntington County Red Cross has faced some administrative consolidations due to statewide budget cuts.

Vickie Ellis assumed the role of executive director of the Huntington chapter, effective Sept. 5, after the Indiana Red Cross was asked to cut $1 million of spending by national headquarters after a state budget review.

"The economy has affected everyone, including non-profits," says Ellis, also the executive director of Adams County Red Cross.

Voting center plan decision to be Sept. 28

The ball is rolling for the proposed Huntington County Vote Center Plan.

On Sept. 28, the Election Board -made up of Kittie Keiffer, county clerk; Lori Guy, Republican; and Michael Clements, Democrat - will come together to either approve or deny the proposal to use voting centers in the upcoming municipal elections.

According to the Huntington County Vote Center Plan, if the plan is approved, voting centers will replace traditional Election Day polling places.

Three items on agenda for BZA meeting coming up on Sept. 22

The Huntington County Board of Zoning Appeals has three items on the agenda for its Sept. 27 meeting.

The board is being asked to approve two "flag lots," where the property is connected to the road only by a long, narrow driveway. Those requesting flag lots are Rick and Lisa Fusselman, for a property at 2565E-400N, Huntington; and Paul Walton, for property at 6290W-900S, Warren.

Gregory and Victoria Dalman are requesting permission to locate a motor vehicle sales business on property at 3316N-200E, Huntington.

Tax sale Thursday for properties with delinquencies

Properties throughout Huntington County - including homes, bare ground and businesses - are scheduled to be on the auction block on Thursday, Sept. 29, as Huntington County attempts to sell properties whose owners are seriously delinquent on their property taxes.
Current owners can remove their properties from the auction by paying those back taxes no later than 8 a.m. on Sept. 29.

Markle council tightening up nuisance codes

The town of Markle is in the process of revising its nuisance codes in order to eliminate "gray areas" in enforcement, Markle Town Marshal John Markley informed Markle town council at the meeting held on Wednesday, Sept. 21.

The current codes have come under scrutiny after the town reached a stalemate with Gary Dillman, owner of a vacant property at 310 W. Morse St. Town workers will soon be sent in to deal with the property, which is uninhabited. Dillman currently lives in Fort Wayne.

Roanoke council approves proposed 2012 budget

The Roanoke Town Council approved the proposed town budget for 2012 during its meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 20.

The budget, with a proposed tax rate of $1.3335, remained mostly the same as past budgets aside from $21,000 being reduced from CEDIT funding. The council showed little concern for the reduction and the budget was quickly approved.

n police business, the Fall Festival went as planned, Town Marshal Jim Wood said. Only one conflict, involving spectators at the demolition derby, needed to be handled by officers, he added.

Improvements

Pavement is torn up at the Norfolk Southern Railway crossing on Ind.-105 in Andrews on Wednesday, Sept.14, the first day of a seven-day improvement project at the crossing. Norfolk Southern crews removed the crossing surface, repaired the track structure and replaced the surface. The road is scheduled to reopen on Tuesday, Sept. 20, at 5 p.m.

Bridge work set on I-69

Traffic will be restricted on I-69 between Ind.-218 and Ind.-124 near Warren this week while the Indiana Department of Transportation paints the CR 1000S bridge.

The restrictions will be in place starting today, Monday, Sept. 19, from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Both the southbound and northbound lanes will be restricted.

The bridge painting work should be complete by Sept. 22, weather permitting.

 

Zanesville council approves 2012 budget

The Zanesville Town Council approved the 2012 budget and a resolution listing its assets during its meeting on Thursday, Sept. 15.

The 2012 budget, prepared by Clerk-Treasurer Julie Christian, is lower than the 2011 budget. The total budget for 2012 is set at roughly $80,000, which is almost $1,000 less than 2011. The bulk of the budget is allotted for the general fund, while the remaining money will be used for services such as tree service, town truck insurance, highway and fire contracts with Allen County, and town truck repairs.

Huntington businessman gets more than asked for from common council

A Huntington businessman found himself in the unusual position of getting more than he asked for from the Huntington Common Council.

A request by Dr. Dan Host for a grant to help pay for sprucing up the building housing his downtown optometry practice went before council on Tuesday, Sept. 13.
Council members took the unusual step of awarding him a larger grant than had been requested.

Huntington, Whitley counties will dissolve special services cooperative

A cooperative special education program involving Huntington and Whitley counties will soon be a thing of the past.

Huntington County Community School Corporation Superintendent Tracey Shafer presented plans to officially dissolve the HCCSC-Whitley County Consolidated Schools (WCCS) Special Services Cooperation by Jan. 1, 2012.

The proposal was presented during the HCCSC board meeting on Monday, Sept. 12.

Andrews council backs library grant application

Members of the Andrews Town Council gave their backing to an application for a federal grant that would help pay for improvements to the Andrews/Dallas Township Public Library.

The grant, offered by the Office of Community and Rural Affairs, would make possible renovating much of the facility, including the addition of new entrances, restrooms and an elevator.

Town works with Wells County on river access points

The Warren Town Council met on Monday, Sept. 12, to tackle unfinished business tabled at the last meeting.
That business included:
• Clerk-Treasurer Marilyn Morrison reported that contact had been made with the Wells County highway engineer regarding the town's inclusion in a grant application to restore access points along the Salamonie River. The project would not be finalized until 2013.

Traffic back on Ind.-114

The Indiana Department of Transportation has announced that Ind.-114, between CR 200E and CR 700E, is now open.

While the highway was closed, five small structures were reconstructed by E&B Paving at a cost of $1.3 million.
Crews will continue with miscellaneous work including seeding along the roadway.