Two residents voiced concerns to Churubusco Town Council members about a proposed rate increase for trash pickup, with one stating that it would be nothing but a burden to local residents.

Roger Bayford and Charles Ransom, both residents of Churubusco, voiced their objections at a Town Council public hearing Wednesday, Aug. 20.

According to the new five-year contract between the Town and National ServAll, trash rates will increase for the town to $10.76 a month the first year (residents now pay $9.30 a month); $11.30 the second year; $11.86 the third year; $12.46 the fourth year; and $13.08 the fifth year. National ServAll representatives said the increases were due to rapidly increasing fuel costs. 

The three-member council voted in July to add $1.50 a month to the $10.76 for the first year only to cover administrative costs.

The Council said they would like the clerk-treasurer and deputy clerk to track how much is spent on administrative duties during the next year. Adjustments will be made in the fee, even eliminating it altogether, Councilman John Hart said, if records prove that it is not necessary or can be reduced next year. On the other hand, it may not be enough, Hart said at the July meeting.

Bayford said Wednesday he understood why the trash pickup fees were being increased by National ServAll, but did not agree with the $1.50 surcharge the Town was adding to the increased price.

Charles Ransom also objected to the administrative fee, stating that he was on a fixed income and the extra charges made a difference on his monthly expenses and budget.

Hart said he had not heard from any other residents objecting to the fee and that he could not vote against the proposal if only two residents objected.

Hart and co-council member Frank Kessler voted in favor of the ordinance. Council president Viv Sade was on vacation and not present at the meeting.

In other business:

• Ransom, who lives in an upstairs apartment at 121 N. Main Street, said he is now occupying the bottom half of the building, as well, and did not want to be charged for two separate sewer bills. The bottom half has been occupied by several businesses during the past decade, most recently Pit Stop Pizza, who moved to another location last year. According to David Sewell, director of the Whitley County Planning and Building Department, there is a provision in the Churubusco Zoning Ordinance which clearly outlines permitted uses of residential and commercial property in the downtown area. “Residential uses are allowed only in conjunction with a business,” Sewell said, “according to the zoning ordinance.” Residential use of both portions of a commercial building in downtown Churubusco would not be permitted with the current zoning restrictions in place, Sewell said. 
• Council members adopted the proposed budget for 2009 after a public hearing was held and no comments were heard - either in favor of or against - regarding the the budget. Council members asked the state for a five percent increase on most line items, stating that they knew the state would come back and order cuts to much of the budget. Recent state legislation regarding property tax caps is expected to adversely affect the funding of local government entities such as cities and towns, as well as libraries and schools, within the next few years.
• The next Town Council meeting will be held Wednesday, Sept. 3 at 6:30 p.m. at the Town Hall.
• The Sept. 17 meeting will be held at the Churubusco Community Park in the Boy Scout building where officers of the Muller Memorial Pool organization are slated to make a presentation. Liz Schemm, president of the group, will outline the proposal for building a community pool in Churubusco. The pool fund started with a single donation of $361,000 from the Muller family, but had grown to over $421,000 just six weeks ago, Schemm said. Lucas Konger, a graduate architect for Vintage Archonics of Fort Wayne and a Churubusco High School graduate, said the project would fall in the $400,000 to $500,000 for a simple community pool, with more elaborate plans falling in the $500,000 to $1 million range.