Trash bids higher than expected for Flora
Susan Scholl Editor

Flora Town Council opened bids for the town's trash contract at Monday night's meeting.

Submitting bids for the two-year contract were: Allied Waste for $270,336; Indiana Waste Systems, Inc., $401,940; Waste Management, $290,928; and Clinton County Disposal, $235,189.

Clinton County Disposal has the current contract for $98,000 per year. That contract expires Dec. 31.

Clerk-Treasurer Joretta Tinsman explained that she knew that costs for trash pickup would be up significantly, so she raised the budgeted amount for 2009 to $130,000. She said she thought she had built in enough funds to cover the expected increase, and had not anticipated this much of a jump in costs.

A decision will be made before the end of the year.

A public hearing on the water rate increase was held. With no objections being made, rules were suspended and Ordinance 2008-5 passed on second and third reading by title only.

Residents will see a gradual increase in water rates over a four-year period, topping out at 27.61 percent. Based on usage of 5,000 gallons per month, the increase would amount to $7.08. The ordinance becomes effective Jan. 1.

A new stand-by truck for the Utilities Department will be purchased from Mann Chevrolet at a cost of $17,351.The half-ton, while Silverado pickup will replace a 1994 model with 130,000 miles.

Council President Josh Ayres said the manufacturer's suggested retail price for the truck is $24,680 but with all the incentives being offered by General Motors the price is reduced over $7,000.

The truck will be paid for out of the Electric Depreciation Account. There will be no trade-in; the old truck will be put up for bid.

Tinsman announced that the park department has ordered six trees to plant in the park. She said a seventh tree will also be purchased to plant in memory of the late Milton Graham Sr., who was a former part-time town employee. His family will be consulted on what variety to choose.

"We did not have the first call during Halloween," said Town Marshal Paul Redmon. "The two-hour trick-or-treating time is really working out. Nobody had any complaints and there was no teepeeing or soaping. It was a really good Halloween."

Redmon reported his department's activity statistics for October as: 11 arrests/ misdemeanors, 1 felony, 20 citations, 43 warnings, 114 calls for service, 7 accidents, and 1 warrant served.

The wastewater department has been working with T-Bird Engineering & Surveying of Lafayette on flow monitoring and locating any hidden structures and any unsure sewer lines.

Utilities employees have been checking out and working on Christmas decorations as time permits. The decorations will be hung before the Christmas parade.

Town employees will have the option to take either a paid vacation day or an unpaid day off on Dec. 26 when the town office is closed for an extra day at Christmas.

The office will be closed Nov. 11 in observance of Veteran's Day and on Nov. 27 and 28 in observance of Thanksgiving.

Residents are reminded that trash pickup will be the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Pickup will also be on Saturday the week of Christmas and New Year's.

The next meeting will be Dec. 1 at 6 p.m. in the town office.