BOURBON – During Tuesday’s Bourbon Town Council Meeting, Brandon Chapman was reappointed as fire chief.
According to Council President Les McFarland, the fire department is allotted 24 volunteers. Prior to the meeting, McFarland said they continue to seek volunteers and that the town provides training.
During the meeting, Chapman said he will begin offering a weekly report on the activities and projects of the department. He said, “This will give everyone a better understanding of what we do as a group.”
After Chapman outlined a number of projects proposed and some details of needed repairs to engines and other equipment, it was decided to have Bourbon Clerk-Treasurer Kim Berger meet with the treasurer of the Bourbon Township Board to review their budgets before proceeding.
The officers of the department include: Assistant Chief Nic Lindsey, Captain John Gomola, Secretary/Treasurer Tate Chapman; training officers Chad Stepp and Matt Stevens; Board of Directors Derek Gross , Paul Martin and Mike Chapman.
The town could see savings of about $15,000 as they switch from a private health insurance carrier and purchase an Anthem policy through iPEC. Berger informed the council of the change and then requested that dental coverage available with the new policy be offered to employees. The council voted 3-0 in approval.
Berger said the 2017 town budget of $1,450,191 was approved by the Department of Local Government Finance as it was published.
Bill Keyser, Zoning and Building Department, told the council that a house in extreme disrepair has been torn down and the lot cleared. The council and town attorney Mark Wagner had worked through lengthy legal battles to get the dwelling at 308 E. Center St. torn down. The clearing included cutting down six trees and removing the stumps. Keyser indicated that he would be working with the county planning board to have the property designated residential.
It was noted that there have been several inquiries into the purchase of the lot. Keyser will be obtaining appraisals prior to any offers being taken.
Current Bourbon Public Library Director Heather Barron introduced Nick Treber to the council as the new Bourbon Public Library director. Barron will be moving to the Plymouth Public Library as the director there.
Treber is a 1998 Triton High School graduate. He has been with the Allen County Public Library for the past eight years.
Treber said, “I enjoyed going to the Bourbon Library growing up.”
He has relocated back into the Bourbon community and is pursuing a degree in library science.
Police Department Chief Bill Martin submitted both his December activity report and the year-end activity report to the council. Among other items, the year-end report shows a total of 38,863 miles traveled on patrols and other duties.
During the meeting, Martin suggested increasing the fines for repeat offenders who disregard town ordinances. After much discussion, the council concurred with Martin’s recommendation and will have Wagner prepare amendments to be presented at the February meeting.
(BY CAROL ANDERS, TIMES-UNION CORRESPONDENT)
