Government & School Board

A rust-filled pool, a street beautification project, new ticketing systems for police vehi-cles and modification of the town's budget were all major items discussed at the Roanoke Town Council meeting on June 2.

Karen Baker, of Oak Park Drive, requested to have her pool filled by the Roanoke Fire Department earlier in the year.

When the request was granted, at a cost to her of the local water rate, the fire department filled her pool with 10,500 gallons of water last week - but the water that ended up in her pool was filled with rust.

Huntington County property owners can expect to receive their property tax bills in the mail in mid-June, Huntington County Treasurer Brenda Hamilton says.

The "spring" payment will be due July 20, she says, more than two months later than the normal May 10 deadline for payment.

The fall payment dead-line will continue to be Nov. 10, the same as in past years, Hamilton says.

The Huntington County Community School Corporation Board of Trustees made a difficult decision Tuesday night, ending a source of contention between the Huntington County Wrestling Club and the Huntington North Varsity Singers.

Each group had hoped to secure facilities at the high school on the same weekend next March for its most significant event of the year.

The board, overruling school policy and the HNHS principal's decision, gave the weekend to the wrestlers.

Thursday, May 28
Huntington County Drainage Board, 8:30 a.m., Commissioners' Room, first floor of the Huntington County Courthouse.

Monday, June 1
Huntington County Solid Waste Management District Board of Trustees, 8 a.m., Commissioners' Room, first floor of the Huntington County Courthouse.

Huntington County Board of Commissioners, 8:30 a.m., Commissioners' Room, first floor of the Huntington County Courthouse.

Huntington Board of Public Works and Safety, 9 a.m., mayor's conference room, third floor of the City Building.

A recently passed ordinance raised questions about enforcement and practicality at the Roanoke Town Council meeting on May 19.

The Town of Roanoke had put into effect an ordinance requiring zoned businesses to provide off-street parking made of either asphalt or concrete, with spaces striped and clearly marked. Each business must have one parking spot for every 200 square feet of building space.

But Rick Hartley, of the Roanoke Board of Zoning Appeals, says a new antique store at 138 First St. has not yet complied.

The Huntington Common Council is being asked to consider instituting a fee on every property in Huntington that would help pay for the management of storm water.

Dave Schoeff, the city's director of engineering, told council members on Tuesday, May 12, he'd like to study such a fee, which would give the city a dedicated fund to spend on storm water management.

A new fire station will become a reality in Mt. Etna, thanks to a $500,000 grant.

Mt. Etna Fire Chief Mark Sale learned Wednesday, May 13, that his department has been awarded a Community Focus Fund Grant, funded by the federal Community Development Bock Grant program and funneled through the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs.

It's the second time the Mt. Etna Volunteer Fire Department has applied for the grant. The first application, Sale says, was turned down.

The Huntington County Community School Corporation Board of Trustees approved the adoption of new social studies books for all grade levels during the May 11 School Board meeting.

The board approved the adoption of all books recommended by a committee of teachers and parents from each education levels - elementary, middle and high school - that reviewed various textbooks, narrowed the choices and then voted on those remaining.

A listing of those textbooks was posted to The TAB's Web site on April 29 titled "School board hears list of recommended textbooks."

The Huntington County Community School Corporation Board of Trustees approved several requests during the May 11 school board meeting.

They include:
Field trips
• Huntington North High School (HNHS) French III classes were given permission to visit the Art Institute and French Creperie in Chicago on May 19.

• HNHS AP Spanish classes were given permission to visit the Mexican Fine Arts Museum in Chicago on May 23.

Classified employee resignations
• Sharon Biehl, food service at Flint Springs Elementary.

Monday, May 11
Markle Park Board, 7:30 a.m., Markle Municipal Building, 155 W. Sparks St., Markle.

Huntington County Board of Commissioners, 8:30 a.m., Commissioners' Room, first floor of Huntington County Courthouse.

Andrews Town Council, 6 p.m., Andrews Town Hall, 66 N. Main St., Andrews.

Warren Town Council, 6:30 .m., Warren Assembly Hall, 131 N. Wayne St., Warren.

Huntington County Community School Corporation Board of Trustees, 7 p.m., Administrative Service Center, 1360 N. Warren Rd.

The town of Andrews will hold its annual spring clean-up on Friday and Saturday, May 8 and 9.

Residents can bring their unwanted items to the Andrews Town Lot on the west end of Terrell Street beginning at 8 a.m. each day. No hazardous materials will be accepted. Residents must bring their most recent water bill for proof of residency.

For more information contact the clerk's office at 786-3848.

On Wednesday, April 29, Huntington Mayor Steve Updike signs a proclamation, declaring the week of May 4, as Cancer Awareness Week. Also on hand for the signing was Al Sims, president of Cancer Services for Huntington County.

Residents who would be affected by a proposed road renovation on Etna Avenue are invited to attend a City Council meeting on Tuesday, May 12, to provide their input on the project.

The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on the third floor of the City Building, 300 Cherry St.

The road work would affect Etna Avenue from the London Street area to the Wabash River. It would include new sidewalks, curbs and gutters, paving and oversized storm sewers.

Several area people recently earned their GED (general education development) diplomas.

Tests were taken in February and March at sites in Huntington and Columbia City.

Don Martin of the Huntington County Community School Corporation is the testing coordinator for both sites. This information was provided to the HCCSC Board of Trustees on April 27.

The dates of testing, individuals who passed the test and their hometowns are:

Members of the Huntington County Community School Board of Trustees approved several requests at their April 27 meeting at the Administrative Services Center.

These include:

Classified employee resignations
• Diane Johnson, Special Services paraprofessional at Salamonie.

• Stephanie Richards, noon recess at Northwest.
Classified employee retirement

• Dianna Folk, administrative assistant for Huntington-Whitley Special Services (HWSS).