The North Judson Town Council met Monday morning for a very short agenda. Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry explained the council met to review two resolutions concerning fund transfers that needed to be addressed before the end of the year.
Henry said some of the funds transferred within the general fund totaled $7900.32, and $2348.21 within the Motor Vehicle Highway fund. The council also made a number of transfers within the Parks Fund totaling $2662.97.
North Judson Town Superintendent Marshall Horstmann told the town council this week that brush pickup has been completed for the town, and leaf pickup efforts will begin around Nov. 1. He said that’s just a preliminary date and depending on when the leaves start dropping at a steady rate, the date could change.
The North Judson Town Council this week received a report from Town Superintendent Marshall Horstmann, who informed them that the water tower inspections have been completed for both water towers in town. He said that although he is currently waiting on the final report, a number of maintenance issues will eventually need corrected. However, Horstmann explained that until they receive that final report, they will not know how much the repairs will cost. He will present the council with an update when he receives the final report.
Horstmann also told the council that he is currently reviewing a number of local streets that may be in need of paving this season. He said he is currently gathering quotes on paving the roads, and he will present a final list of roads to be paved and an estimated cost on that in the future.
The town of North Judson’s golf cart ordinance is nearly solidified after the town council this week approved its first and second readings. Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry said two people in the audience expressed their objections to a part of the ordinance requiring child restraints.
Henry said the ordinance will require a safety restraint be used by any golf cart passengers that weigh less than 48 pounds, and two people objected to that requirement. The council noted their objections but proceeded to approve the first of two readings of the ordinance.
The town of North Judson’s no-tobacco ordinance is now in effect, prohibiting smoking or any other form of tobacco use in municipal buildings or properties, including parks. Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry says the ordinance prohibits smoking and tobacco use on the premises of municipal properties or within eight feet of their entrances.
The ordinance also prohibits smoking in town parks and their park shelters or within 15 feet of the shelters.
The North Judson Town Council held the first and second readings of the no-tobacco ordinance at their meeting on Aug. 20, and Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry says the council held the final reading on the ordinance at their meeting on Sept. 4.
The ordinance is more restrictive than the state’s Smoke Free Air Law, but only applies to municipal properties.
The North Judson Town Council continued their discussion this week regarding the proposed golf cart ordinance. Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry explained that this seems to be a rather hot topic between communities, as Marshall County and several other communities have recently passed golf cart ordinances restricting their use.
However, Henry says that the ordinance they have in mind defers to the state law on most points, but does allow golf carts to be operated on municipal streets. Henry says the operators of the golf carts must be licensed and have insurance coverage on the vehicle, and it will also need to be registered with the clerk-treasurer’s office.
Councilman Tim Cummins presented a draft copy of the proposed ordinance to the council this week, and provided copies for audience members interested in reading it. The council will review the draft and note any necessary revisions, and Henry says it’s likely they will have their first and second readings of the ordinance at their next meeting on Sept. 17. However, if there are several revisions necessary, the readings may be postponed until the following meeting.
The North Judson Town Council this week continued discussion regarding the proposed golf cart ordinance. According to Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry, the town board is still researching a sample ordinance from the state governing golf carts, and she says the council will likely have an ordinance drafted by the next meeting for review.
The town is currently considering the idea of joining several counties, cities, and towns throughout the state that have adopted ordinances regulating where golf carts can and cannot be driven. Henry says that as of right now, the council is unsure as to whether or not golf carts are regulated in North Judson, but this ordinance would rectify that and define clear requirements for their use.
The North Judson Town Council at their meeting Monday night held the first and second readings of their no-tobacco ordinance. Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry says the council will likely hold the final reading on the ordinance at their next meeting on Sept. 4.
The ordinance prohibits not only smoking, but the use of any tobacco – including chewing tobacco, cigarettes, cigars, and other methods of tobacco use – and applies to all municipal property. This includes buildings, places of employment, and parks. Henry says this ordinance prohibits smoking and tobacco use “inside” all municipal buildings, and within 8 feet of municipal buildings. Ordinance prohibits smoking and tobacco use “inside” park shelters, and within 15 feet of the shelters.
The ordinance is more restrictive than the state’s Smoke Free Air Law, but only applies to municipal properties.
Henry says the next meeting of the town council is on Tuesday, Sept. 4, because the regularly scheduled meeting date of Sept. 3 falls on the Labor Day holiday.
The town of North Judson is considering the idea of joining several counties, cities, and towns throughout Indiana that have adopted ordinances regulating where golf carts can and cannot be driven. According to Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry, the town board is reviewing a sample ordinance governing golf carts to determine whether or not they want to draft an ordinance based around those recommendations.
Henry says the council is unsure as to whether or not an ordinance is currently in effect regulating golf carts, but she says it’s more likely that the board has mentioned something in the meeting minutes prohibiting golf carts from operating on town roads. However, if that is the case, the board would like to have something more concrete on record specifying requirements for golf cart operation – such as an operator’s license, insurance on the vehicle, registration, or other necessities.
The board also discussed their no-tobacco ordinance, and have sent it to be publicized. Henry says once it has been advertised in the paper, the board can move forward with the first reading of the ordinance and proceed with its enactment.
The North Judson Town Council this week discussed what some council members are referring to as the “urban chicken” issue. Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry explained that because the town does not have an ordinance regulating farm animals within town limits, the council will be reviewing information concerning domestic and farm animals in the town. The town currently has an ordinance for domestic animals, and Henry said they may revise the ordinance to regulate urban farm animals as well.
One North Judson resident had to deal with a smelly situation Sunday night after a lift station pump plugged up, causing sewage to seep up into their home. North Judson Town Council President Wendy Hoppe commended Town Superintendent Marshall Horstmann and his three-man crew for their quick response and diligent effort in rectifying the situation, which was reportedly caused by a North Judson resident who had flushed an item down the toilet that had clogged up the sewer system.
The lift station pump was permanently damaged from the clog, and Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry emphasized the fact that nothing should be flushed down the toilet except for human waste and toilet paper. She says that while an item may be labeled as “flushable,” that’s not always the case. The item may flush down the toilet, but it’s not unlikely that it will get stuck in the sewer system and cause further problems down the line.
A special meeting was held at the North Judson Community Center last week regarding the industrial park, and while nothing definite was decided, the meeting brought together members of the community to share ideas and gather information.
The industrial park has been dormant for quite some time, and the Starke County Economic Development Foundation wanted to work with the North Judson Town Council to put their heads together and come up with some potential possibilities for the development of the park. The meeting also reviewed any current issues with the park.
Two important meetings are scheduled to be held this week in Starke County.
The first, the Knox City Council will be meeting on Tuesday to discuss their proposed water rate increase. Discussion will be held over Umbaugh and Associates’ recommendation to increase the water utility rate by $6.70 a month and the council will vote on whether or not to approve an ordinance increasing the water rate. A public hearing will also be held, and the meeting will take place at Knox City Hall at 7 p.m.
A special meeting for the North Judson Town Council will be held on Thursday at 4 p.m. CT to discuss the North Judson Industrial Park. According to Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry, expected attendees include Town Superintendent Marshall Horstmann, Charlie Weaver and Larry Wickert of the Starke County Economic Development Foundation.
The Town of North Judson has announced that it is in compliance with the new smoke-free air law as required by the state, but the town board has announced plans to draft their own, more stringent no-tobacco policy.
Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry says that the ordinance would not only prevent smoking, but all use of tobacco where smoking is prohibited. She says the ordinance would include park shelters because they are currently not covered by the state law, which only applies to enclosed structures. The board is interested in including these shelters in the no-tobacco policy because they feel the shelters are there for people to enjoy, and the board feels they have the right to enjoy them without having to tolerate tobacco smoke close to them.
The board will soon have the ordinance drafted and then read for approval at an upcoming meeting.
Henry says the board also commended the town’s street department on the good job they did over the weekend in cleaning up brush and debris from last weekend’s storms.
The North Judson Town Council last week discussed the possibility of putting up signage prohibiting smoking near shelters in the town park. Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry says that matter was tabled because, as of July 1, House Bill 1149 would take effect– a bill preventing smoking in many public areas. The council will investigate whether or not parks are included in that bill.
