Town council tabled a three-year, $1,800 contract with Lutheran EMS Kosciusko, formerly Multi-Township, after hearing that other options may be available.
Larry Neher, former council member and Clay Township volunteer firefighter, told council that Tri-County Ambulance Service, Wakarusa, may be planning to expand into Kosciusko County, based in Warsaw. Tri-County currently covers Elkhart, St. Joseph and Marshall counties.
Todd Rhoades, owner of Tri-County, could not be reached for comment this morning. An employee of Tri-County, who deferred official comment to Rhoades, said, “that’s the rumor” when asked about the move late this morning.
Council heard that Lutheran wanted the new contract signed by Aug. 1, and that it represents a savings from the current contract, which ends after December. But they agreed that if there is another option, they should look at it.
Council also voted Monday to proceed with building a town website and contracting with an online bill pay service.
Members voted to have a website put together and hosted for $149 a year, after resident Dawn Vanneste made the suggestion last month and showed an example site she made. She agreed to train town employees on maintaining the site, which is planned to include business and church information as well as civic data such as town officials and ordinances.
And council voted to move forward on an agreement with PayGov to facilitate online utility bill payments. The service would be free to the town but charge customers a processing fee.
Council also discussed two grants Claypool has received: Norfolk Southern Corp. provided $1,000 to the police department, which Police Chief Lou Mediano said will be used to buy two body cameras, and Louis Dreyfus agreed to match half of the $1,650 needed to replace 15 trees in town. The town will have to raise the other half, council member Don Miller noted, adding that they will have to make sure people can care for trees put in front of their homes so they don’t lose them again.
Also Monday, council approved:
• A contract with Morton Salt to purchase 25 tons of salt at $84.76 a ton, which is a savings from the salt they had to buy from Kosciusko County at close to $100 a ton last year.
• A contract with WACD Media, Warsaw, for computer maintenance. The service covers six computers at $5 a month for a yearly total of $360, which Clerk-treasurer Connie Morgan noted is less than the $700 the town spent so far this year on service on a per-visit basis.
(Story By The Times Union)
