Delphi council promotes Safe Routes to School Program
By Debbie Lowe Staff writer

Delphi City Council unanimously approved a resolution to pursue Indiana Department of Transportation grants to construct sidewalks and bicycle paths on Armory Rd. at its Monday night meeting. The venture, in collaboration with the Delphi Community School Corporation, would provide safe paths for students to use to get to school. Completion of the construction would allow students to travel to school by walking or biking thereby reducing vehicle emissions and increasing physical fitness.

Funds could also be available to make improvements to pedestrian interchanges on Armory Rd. According to Delphi Mayor Randy Strasser, a bicycle rodeo would be a component of the kick-off celebration when construction is finished, which he predicted would be later this year.

Council members agreed by consensus to hear a presentation by Star Development about a low-to-moderate housing rehabilitation funding program the city could offer. According to Strasser, the grant, for owner-occupied residences, could be submitted next January.

"I think it's a really good idea," Brian Garrison said.

An ordinance to establish five members on the board of aviation for Delphi Municipal Airport was approved. Currently the board consists of four members. In keeping with the new resolution, not more than three board members can be from the same political party.

It was announced newest airport board member Andy Cougill was recently made president when former president Mike Fife stepped down.

Ordinance 2008-03 to establish fees for vehicle title checks by the police department was approved on first reading.

Ordinance 2008-02 to establish a Rainy Day Fund was approved on second reading. The rules were suspended and it was approved on third reading and adopted unanimously.

Strasser reported the city's new Web site would be up and running in two weeks. The site will host three sections with information for residents, businesses and visitors. He said a page for council members' information would also be part of the site.

Grants coordinator Jean Howell announced that a group of local individuals were interested in organizing a farmers' market on Wednesday afternoons which would be located on Market St., per city ordinance.

Council members expressed concern about the impact on local businesses, including those which currently sell produce on Washington St. and across from the jail on Main St. Strasser said he was concerned about limiting parking on Market St. on Wednesday afternoons.

Howell said the organizers would hold a call-out May 14 at 5 p.m. in the city building for all interested in discussing the value and the concerns of the proposal.

Street commissioner Aaron Lyons said 55 tons of debris was collected during the annual spring clean-up.

He said he was soliciting help to develop a street inventory which would rate streets according to their need for repair. Lyons said he did not have time to record conditions and do the rating of the 17.5 miles of streets in Delphi without help. He called the end result a "working document" for further street and budgetary planning by the city and the council.

Council members requested a list of streets scheduled for road work this summer.

Police chief Justin Darling reported a new squad car was received and will soon be painted and outfitted with lights. He said it would replace the blue unmarked car, which would become a pool car.

Darling noted a significant increase in the number of "assisting another agency" calls on the police activity report for April. He explained those calls were never adequately recorded, but given the loss of county deputies, his department was being called to assist more frequently. He further explained officers assist fire and ambulance agencies. The department recorded 44 assist calls last month.

Officers issued 14 parking tickets, investigated nine accidents, issued 20 traffic summons, made five felony arrests, took eight felony reports, and made nine misdemeanor arrests last month.

Fire chief John Patterson said his department noticed a slight increase in the number of calls requesting CPR in April. He said there were currently no trained First Responders on the department.

Strasser said he, with the help of city attorney Kurtis Fouts, is preparing an ordinance to address abandoned or deteriorated structures. He said he would be sending out a "Welcome from the Mayor" letter reminding all city residents to address junk vehicles, trash and graffiti on a timely basis.

Strasser said he would be hosting a "Mayor's Night In" every second and fourth Tuesday from 5 to 7 p.m. beginning May 13.

The next meeting will be June 2 at 7 p.m.

Delphi Board of Works approved claims for $179,670.39. The next meeting will be May 19 at 4:30 p.m.