Town Council members Frank Kessler, John Hart and Viv Sade discussed various options for a possible site for a community swimming pool after hearing a presentation from the Muller Memorial Pool Committee at its Sept. 17 meeting.

Pool committee members have asked the council for a donation of two acres of land on the northwest side of the Churubusco Community Park for the pool, which is still in the planning and fundraising stages.

Hart - who also works part-time for the street department - said some of the available acreage in the park was unsuitable because of drainage issues.

Burnworth Pool in Columbia City. Photos by Jennifer Romaro Zartman of talkofthetownwc.com.

Frank Kessler said he needs more information before making a decision and would like to hear more from the park board on the issue.

The Council agreed to check with park board members to see what their thoughts were and how their plans for future expansion would be affected by a donation of park property.

Council members agreed that if a donation of land is made, the property will be deeded over to the pool committee so that any possible financial implications or obligations would not impact the town or taxpayers.

Committee members have said the project would fall in the $400,000 to $500,000 range for a simple community pool, with more elaborate plans falling in the $500,000 to $1- or 2-million range.

Clerk-treasurer Gerri Johnson said she had talked to the clerk of Columbia City, who provided financial statements showing that Burnsworth Pool in Columbia City had lost thousands of dollars each year for several years.

In other business:

• Charles “Chuck” Ransom said an earlier conflict with a water billing situation had been resolved to his satisfaction by the council and town supervisor Jeremy Hart. Ransom owns a building and lives in the upstairs apartment at 121 N. Main Street. For years the downstairs has been zoned and used for various businesses - most recently Pit Stop Pizza - but Ransom said it is no longer being leased as a business space. At an August meeting Ransom had asked to be billed only one residential fee for water and sewage instead of two. The council agreed to install a separate water meter for the downstairs which can be shut off when no tenant occupies the building.
• Noble County resident Jeff Schenher, who has several rental properties within the town limits, questioned the need for four police cars. He also asked if the town had any goals or maintenance programs in place. “These are hard times,” Schenher said, “Do you have a plan (for a shortfall in funding) or are you just going to wait and see what happens?” John Hart, who is on the Churubusco Police force, said the vehicles were actually better maintained and were lasting longer now that each officer has his or her own car. “They take ownership and take better car of the squad cars than when we had two or more sharing a vehicle,” Hart said. Jeremy Hart said the town maintains and regularly reviews a maintenance program and established goals. Sade said that she has always kept an eye on the police department’s budget, especially with soaring gas and energy costs. ”But the police department has not ended up in the red in the years I’ve been on this Council - they live within their budget ,” Sade said. She added that the town will see a shortfall from the property tax cap, a smaller one in 2009 and a larger one is expected in 2010, she said. “But because this town has always been fiscally responsible, it will not hit us as hard as it will many other smaller cities and towns who have a lot of debt. We do not.”
• Sade announced the closing of Cuno, and said that 3M - who owns Cuno - said the business will be completely closed by the end of the year. “There’s not a whole lot we can do about it, since they are located just over the Whitley/Allen county line, in Allen County,” Sade said. She added that Whitley County Economic Development Director Alan Tio had contacted WorkForce Development, and had already organized an emergency job training and career counseling workshop for Cuno employees who will lose their jobs. Somewhere between 35and 50 employees have lost their jobs at Cuno in the past year, Sade said.
• Council member Sade, town supervisor Hart and clerk-treasurer Johnson announced that they will be attending the annual conference of the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns (IACT) Oct. 12-14 in South Bend.

Members of the Muller Memorial Pool committee pitched a plan for a new community swimming pool in Churubusco and asked the Town Council to consider donating two acres on the Northwest side of Churubusco Community Park.

About 40 people were present at the Sept. 18 Town Council meeting, which was held in the Boy Scout building at the park.

Paul Muller was a lifelong resident of Churubusco, and when he died in 2003, he left $361,000 to Smith-Green Community Schools for the construction of a swimming pool.

The school decided they could not undertake such a project, said Liz Schemm, president of the pool committee, and the funds were turned over to her committee.

Committee member 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 range for a simple community pool, with more elaborate plans falling in the $500,000 to $1- or 2-million range.

Burnworth Pool in Columbia City. Photos by Jennifer Romaro Zartman of talkofthetownwc.com.

Muller was an electrician by trade, Schemm said, but had a passion for swimming. “Our mission is education, recreation and health,” Schemm said. “Our vision is to build a well-designed pool for our community.”

Schemm introduced other members of the committee in the audience including Konger, Don Page, Muller’s brother-in-law, Cathy Petrie, Tanya Young, Gina Ramsey and Mike Snyder.

The key employees and training requirements would include a pool manager, who would have a college degree or a background in aquatic facilities, according to Snyder, director of Northwest Allen County Schools’ natatorium.

Snyder, who attended the USA Swimming “Build a Pool” conference in Las Vegas Sept 2-9, 2008, added that the pool also would require a pool assistant manager with a background in aquatic facilities, and ten lifeguards or swim instructors.

Possible services of the pool would include lifesaving classes, school accredited courses, water aerobics and water therapy.

Looking at the financial setup of the of the Auburn community pool, Snyder said the Churubusco pool would charge about $200 a year for a family membership and $75 a year for a single membership. Eight private swim lessons would cost approximately $65. Lane or pool rentals also would be available.

“Northwest Allen County Schools (pool) is very successful,” Snyder said, “and, of course, we looked at that.”

The Columbia City Burnsworth pool lost $18,000 in 2006 and had a profit of $2,000 in 2007, Snyder said. “Keep in mind that 2006 was a cold, rainy summer and 2007 was hot and dry,” Snyder said.

The Garrett community pool made a profit of $17,767 in 2007, while the Columbia City YMCA operated at a loss of $46,434. Operating costs were $91,213 and the total income was $44,779, according to the committee’s analysis.

“Keep in mind that when you talk about an inside facility you add a lot of extra costs,” Snyder said.

Within a ten-mile radius, Schemm said the pool could potentially draw 42,000 people. “Based on data obtained from www.stats.indiana.edu/profiles, Schemm broke down the projected customer base of a community pool as follows:

Churubusco - 1,775

Columbia City - 8,202

Green Township - 5,297

Smith Township - 5,297

Etna Troy - 1,948

Perry Township - 19,654

 Eel River Township - 3,999

The total population of Whitley County is 32,655, Schemm said.

“Do you have a specific bottom line you can show us?” Council member Frank Kessler asked.

“Yes, we do,” Snyder said. “There are approximately 4 1/2 acres on the back end of the park” he said, and the pool would use two of those acres. The land would house a pool, deck and concession and locker facilities.

Council member John Hart clarified that the northwest corner would require some prep work, such as fill dirt.

“Thank you for coming,” Hart said. “You’ve certainly done your homework. And you’re right - we do not want it to become a tax burden to the people of Churubusco as other things have. People of Churubusco have to pay enough taxes now.”

“Who would be responsible if the pool is built and there is a shortcoming (of finances)?” Hart asked.

Snyder said they hoped to get private corporate sponsorships. “Our goal is to not operate in the red,” he said.

Kessler asked if the group was a not-for-profit organization.

That’s still in the discussion stage, Schemm told him. “We’ve talked about forming a committee of local representatives to oversee finances,” she added.

Churubusco Park Board President Pat Stanford wondered if the suggested property were to be leased to the pool committee, would that reduce liability on the Town’s part.

“Probably not,” said town attorney Ron Felger. “If something was to happen or a someone drowned, the town carries the liability insurance.”

According to a survey conducted by the pool group, Schemm said 267 people said they were in favor of the pool, one said he/she was not. The same number said they were in favor of having the pool located in the park, she said.

Jeff Schenher, a resident of Green Township who owns several rental properties in Churubusco, asked Schemm who was involved in the survey the group is using to promote their proposal. “Was this passed out to high schoolers?” Schenher asked.

Schemm said yes, some teens did participate in the survey, but so did adults of all ages.

Schenher also asked if the committee had surveyed other communities for liabilities imposed by community pools.

Snyder said the NWAC pool had experienced one incident during his tenure. Schemm said her son had worked at the Columbia City pool for the past five summers and the pool had documented three ambulance runs during that time.

Konger estimates the cost of building the pool will vary according to what type of facility is constructed. An outdoor swimming and recreational pool would be approximately $960,488, Konger said. An outdoor lap swimming and recreation pool would be $826,088, while an outdoor 50m competition (Olympic size) and diving pool was estimated at $2.9 million.

Stanford asked if the third plan showing four lanes was excessive.

“That’s an Olympic style,” Snyder said. “These are just estimates.”

Snyder said other pools offset the operating costs by hosting swimming competitions. He said he recently attended school swimming competitions at events in  Fishers and Noblesville. Fishers cleared $29,000 in entry fees and Noblesville, $25,000, he said.

“That doesn’t include what they took in from concessions, food and merchandise,” Snyder said.

He added that a community pool has the ability “to bring in lots of local commerce to area businesses.”

Don Page said the community is ready and the majority want a pool, and the Town cannot afford to let the opportunity pass.

“We also hear that no one wants this pool run and operated and financed by taxes,” Page said. “We have formulated a stand-by plan and have looked at the service companies in this community.”

Page said the community hopes to offset any operating deficit by splitting equally the cost (up to $10,000 each) between Indiana Michigan Power, Verizon, REMC, NIPSCO, National Serv-All, Fed-Ex, Media Com, Parkview Health and other such service companies. 

Page said while they have no definite commitment, they have talked to four of the companies and the response  was very positive.

Another plan is to have a financial partner who would match all or a portion of the funds raised by the group, Page said.

The committee hopes to leave enough money in the Muller Memorial Fund to continue to grow as an endowment to support the pool after it is built, Page said. In June, the original gift of $361,000 had grown to over $421,000, Schemm said.

Page ended by talking about the life of his brother-in-law, Paul Muller, and asking for the community’s support in making Muller’s dream a reality.

“We know that it’s a workable plan,” Page said. “And we are asking you to help us and encourage us in this effort.” 

The Churubusco Town Council has moved its Wednesday, Sept. 17 meeting to the Boy Scout Building at the Churubusco Community Park in anticipation of a large crowd to view a proposal for a new community swimming pool.

The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. 

Council president Viv Sade said she hopes to return from a 2-day news conference in Chicago in time for the meeting, but if she does not, fellow council members Frank Kessler and John Hart have agreed to preside over the meeting.

“I am very interested in this proposal and project, but unfortunately have a conflict in my schedule,” Sade said, “and if I do not make it back in time, I plan to stop by the Town Hall Thursday or Friday to listen to the tapes of the meeting.”

Liz  Schemm will lead the presentation on behalf of the Muller Memorial Pool Committee.

Following is the Council agenda:

Call to order and welcome of visitors
Pledge of Allegiance

Approval of minutes: Sept.3, 2008 meeting
Approval of claims and payroll vouchers

Public comment:
(This is the allotted time for public input and questions. Please limit comments to 3-5 minutes. Thank you.)

New business:
Liz Schemm, presentation, Muller Memorial Pool Committee

Old business:

Department reports:
€ Park Board member or representative
€ Town Supervisor, Jeremy Hart
€ Waste Water Treatment Plant Supervisor, Bob Hyatt
€ Churubusco Police Department
€ Ron Felger, Town Attorney

Council reports: John Hart, Viv Sade, Frank Kessler

Clerk/treasurer report: Gerri Johnson

Adjournment

If the Town of Churubusco succeeds this time around in obtaining a grant from the Indiana Office of Rural Affairs, they expect to break ground next spring for a new $2.5 million water treatment facility project, which includes renovating and updating the town’s water system. The project would include re-coating and painting the town’s existing 400,000-gallon water tank.

Community Focus Fund (CFF) grants are awarded on a point system basis. Although Churubusco scored enough points to move to the top third of the priority list — thanks to the number of citizens and businesses who sent letters to the state about their dissatisfaction with the cloudy, discolored and often rusty condition of the water — the town did not get a grant in the first round awarded earlier this year.

Jim Atz of Region 3-A was present at the council meeting to outline the process of the grant application process.

The town has applied for a $500,000 CFF grant, and would add to that an Indiana Department of Environmental Management State Revolving Fund for $1.7 million, as well as $262,500 in cash that the town has on hand, Atz said.

The application must be submitted by Sept. 11 and the town should hear in November whether or not it will receive the grant.

If the town receives the grant and begins construction next spring, the project would most likely be completed in less than 12 months, Atz said.

In other business:

• Turtle Days officials asked for the town’s okay before they move forward with a fall fundraiser, scheduled for Sept. 26 and 27 in downtown Churubusco.

President of the festival board, Kirk Gray, along with vice president Robin Ramsey and treasurer Vince McEntee told council members Frank Kessler, John Hart and Viv Sade that they wanted to host the fundraiser in order to raise money to pay for a fireworks display for next summer’s festival - which will be the 60th anniversary of the popular summer event. 

The fundraiser will include a beer tent with live entertainment both Friday and Saturday nights, Gray said. Other events include a motorcycle poker run, an afternoon barbecue and  televised football Saturday, including the Notre Dame vs Purdue game.

The tent will be located in a parking lot immediately west of Valero gas station and Pit Stop Pizza, just off of Whitley Street (S.R. 205), Gray said.

Gray said the festival did remarkably well with its first-ever beer tent and live band performances during this year’s Turtle Days.

“We made a profit and we were able to donate $2,000 to the community park,” Gray said. “We hope to continue this success and give the park even more next year.”

Churubusco Town Marshal Chad Fulkerson told the council that he was surprised and pleased that everything ran smoothly with the beer tent in June. “It went well and we had zero incidents,” Fulkerson said. “Everyone was well-behaved and incident-wise, there was just nothing to report.”

Gray also asked if the beer tent could have two extra hours to close on both nights. The bands will play from 9 p.m. until midnight, as they did last time, Gray said, but he and the other officials would like to give everyone time to visit and “slowly close it down and clean up” from midnight until 2 a.m.

“We would not have any loud music after midnight, but would play some quieter background music as people were leaving,” Gray said. “It just seemed like (at this year’s event) the band quit p,laying and we had to quickly get everyone out. And, many of them stood outside the tent, visiting and talking with each other.”

Sade asked if they had contacted the neighbors surrounding the parking lot and Gray said all had been contacted.

Hart, Kessler and Sade all agreed they had no problem with Turtle Days board members hosting the event, in light of Fulkerson’s positive report on the last one.

• An employee at the wastewater treatment plant, John Forker, was given a favorable recommendation by his supervisor, Bob Hyatt, and the council agreed to end Forker’s standard 90-day employment probation. Forker started last year at the plant on the school’s ICE program while a senior at Churubusco High School. He is employed in the  minimum wage or Class 4 position of part-time employee, according to the town’s salary ordinance. Hyatt said with the jump in the minimum wage in July, Forker received a pretty good raise and that he will get another one next summer, when minimum wage is expected to again increase.
• The council briefly discussed a request by Charles Ransom, who lives in an upstairs apartment at 121 N. Main Street. For years the downstairs has been zoned and used for various businesses - most recently Pit Stop Pizza - but Ransom said it is no longer being leased as a business space. At an August meeting Ransom had asked to be billed only one residential fee for water and sewage. Ransom said he is now occupying the bottom half of the building, as well as the top, and did not want to be charged for two separate utility bills, as it is currently set up. The council agreed to review a copy of the water and sewer use ordinance as it pertains to business and residential and revisit  the issue at a future meeting.
• 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
  

  Pool committee members ride the float in the Turtle Days parade.
  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.

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.

The agenda for the Churubusco Town Council meeting Wednesday, Aug. 20, at 6:30 p.m. is as follows:

6:30 p.m. Public Hearing (Adoption 2009 Budget)

     Call to Order

     Public Comment

     Adjournment

Public Hearing (Trash Contract)

     Call to Order

     Public Comment

     Adjournment

 Regular Council Meeting

     Call to Order

     Pledge of Allegiance

     Approval of August 6, 2008 Minutes

     Approval of Claims and Payroll Vouchers

Public Comment: (This is the allotted time for public input and questions. Please limit comments to 3-5 minutes. Thank You.)

 New Business:

 Old Business:

 Department Reports:

     • Rick Krider or Park Board member

     • Town Supervisor - Jeremy Hart

     • Waste Water Treatment Plant Supervisor - Bob Hyatt

     • Police - Town Marshal Chad Fulkerson

     • Ron Felger - Town attorney

 Council Reports:John Hart, Viv Sade (on vacation), Frank Kessler

 Clerk /Treasurer Report: Gerri Johnson

Please note: The community swimming pool proposal and presentation has been moved to the Sept. 17 meeting. That meeting will be held at the Boy Scout building in the Churubusco Community Park at 6:30 p.m. For more information call Liz Schemm at 693-2377 or Viv Sade at 693-2473.

Town Council members - John Hart, Frank Kessler, Viv Sade

Clerk/Treasurer, Gerri Johnson

Trash rates will go up - the question is how much.

The Churubusco Town Council spent much of Wednesday night’s meeting debating exactly how much the rates should increase. 

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. 

Town Council President Viv Sade Rosswurm said she was against adding to the increase established in the new contract, and in favor of keeping the new rate at $10.76 a month.

“I’m very reluctant to increase any rates,” Sade Rosswurm said. “I know all the utility companies are doing it, but it’s hitting people hard.”

Council members John Hart and Frank Kessler said it was necessary to add the town’s administrative costs to the contract amount so that the town does not go “into the red” on garbage collection.

Hart suggested $2 or $3 above the contract rate, but Sade Rosswurm said she would not agree with that amount.

Kessler suggested going halfway, or adding $1.50 to the $10.76 rate, which Sade Rosswurm and Hart were able to agree upon.

“If we find that the $1.50 is too much, we can always drop it or adjust it next year,” Hart said. “But I don’t think that will be the case.”

Sade Rosswurm said she wanted it noted in the garbage ordinance that the contract rates must be revisited every year. “I don’t want (the Town) to make money on this,” she said. “I just want them to cover their costs.”

Kessler said that the rates Churubusco residents pay for garbage collection and recycling were low compared to the town’s rural neighbors. “In the country they pay three times - or more - for garbage removal,” he said.

A public hearing regarding the new fees will be held at 6:30 p.m. prior to the next council meeting on Aug. 6. 

In other council business:

• President Viv Sade Rosswurm asked if fellow council members, Frank Kessler and John Hart would be in agreement if she contacts several engineering groups to ask about submitting bids for proposed walking/fitness trails in and around Churubusco. “We’ve been talking about this for five or six years,” Sade Rosswurm said. “I’d really like to contact a professional engineering firm about getting the ball rolling.” All council members were in agreement. Sade Rosswurm will draft a letter and send it to engineering firms that the town has had contact with in the past.

• The Churubusco Town Council decided to move ahead with a proposal for annexing a portion of land on the East side of U.S. 33 (Main Street) between Mahle Corp. (formerly Dana) and running south to C.R. 375. The annexation could not take place until early 2010 due to state laws that prohibit annexation during the year before a census. “I definitely think we should move ahead with this and we’ll be ready when the time comes,” Kessler said.

• The council approved a budget proposal for 2009 which included $688,149 in the General fund; $66,200 in the Park Fund; $180,193 in the Motor Vehicle Fund; $10,000 in the Local Roads and Street Fund; $14,000 in the Cumulative Capital Improvement Fund. Pending two public hearings on the proposed budget, it could be approved by Aug. 20.

• The Council tabled a discussion on the Smith Township Fire Protection agreement for 2009. The proposed agreement called for a payment of $31,185, with half due in June of 2009 and the remaining half due in December. The cost compares to $29,500 for 2008. Township trustee Don Amber said the increase in costs are “due to increasing fuel costs,” according to Gerri Johnson, clerk-treasurer.

• The minimum wage law will result in an increase for some town workers as of July 24, Johnson said. That’s the day minimum wage increases from $5.85 to $6.55. She said the amount allowed for mileage reimbursement also had increased.Effective July 1, Johnson said, the state’s recommended rate for reimbursement will increase from 40 cents a mile to 44 cents a mile. The federal reimbursement rate is increasing from 50.5 cents a mile to 58.5 cents a mile. The Town uses state guidelines in calculating mileage reimbursement for town employees.

• Council members agreed to move $300,000 from the water fund account into a CD at Star Financial Bank, which had the highest interest rates of three banks who submitted quotes.

• The council approved a revised cost analysis for the proposed water treatment plant and water system improvement project, adding about $200,000 to construction costs, bringing the total to $2.1 million. The town is currently in the process of trying to obtain a state grant to fund a portion - $500,000 - of the project. Recipients of the grants are announced in November.