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Markle to do two road reconstruction projects

The Markle Town Council decided Wednesday, July 20, to pursue road reconstruction projects on Novae Parkway and a section north of US-224.

Jay Stankiewicz, of engineering firm Jones Petrie Rafinski, said the town is applying for a 50/50 matching grant for the projects. The council will use tax increment funding for the town’s matching portion of the project, estimated at a total cost of $500,000.

Council President Jeff Humbarger said the improvements on Novae Parkway will benefit Novae Corporation. Complete reconstruction the road, between Tower Drive and CR 50N, will widen the road to two 12-foot lanes to better handle truck traffic. Another project on Tracy Street North in front of Hare Canvas would use local option income tax funds for the town’s half of the reconstruction, if the grant is approved.

On another matter, Stankiewicz told the council that the town’s asset management plan is almost complete, after it received a letter from the Indiana Department of Transportation indicating several deficiencies from an audit that was completed on the self-evaluation survey. The survey was to determine if the town was in compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and other related nondiscrimination laws.

JPR will assist the town in preparing a response to the INDOT audit and an implementation plan, at a fee of $5,500. If not completed, Stankiewicz said, federal funding could be withheld on projects.

The council voted 3-0 to proceed with the implementation plan to put the town in compliance. The public will have an opportunity to weigh in on the plan.

“I don’t know that we have a choice,” Humbarger said. “We’ve got to have it done.”

Councilmen also unanimously approved Ordinance 2016-3 on its first reading, which replaces the former town nuisance ordinance. Humbarger explained that the surrounding communities went together to hire an attorney to update and clarify language in their nuisance ordinances.

“Hopefully, it will make it a little easier to enforce,” said Town Marshal John Markley, noting the ordinance also covers fireworks violations.

The council approved a bid from Amor Excavating for $1,800 to take down a secondary structure on a property located at 235 Wilt St. Amor’s bid was the lowest of three submitted on the project.

Marla Stambazze, of the Huntington County Department of Community Development, said the secondary building will be removed below grade, bringing the grade back up and reseeding the property.

“I think our next step is probably to proceed with the house,” she said. “But I would kind of like to give them a little bit of time on that. They haven’t seemed to touch it and nobody seems to care whether we’re doing anything or not.”

The owners of the property are listed as Seth J. Tracy, of Fort Wayne; Fifth Third Mortgage Company, of Cincinnati, OH; and Client Services, of Huntington. The DCD sent a letter to the owners, giving them 60 days to respond to unsafe violations on the property, with a deadline of July 22.

In other action before the council:

• Approved the use of procurement cards on its first reading, which will allow the clerk-treasurer to issue the cards to department heads for smaller purchases. Procurement cards work like a credit card, Humbarger explained, but consolidate purchases and reduce the number of invoices and checks that have to be written to pay for petty cash and other small expenses. He added that, using the cards, the town can get a percentage of its purchases back through an Indiana Association of Cities and Towns program.

• Adopted Ordinance 2016-04 on its first reading, which makes changes in wording to Section 917 of the Huntington County flood hazard area plan.

DCD Executive Director Mandy Woods told the council that even though Markle is not actually considered to have much of a flood plain, the ordinance is necessary to keep consistency with the rest of the county.

• Directed Markley by consensus to purchase a speed sign and trailer that will detect motorist’s speeds, at a cost of under $5,000. The sign could be used at various roadways throughout the town that have experienced speed issues.