By Deb Patterson
InkFreeNews
ETNA GREEN — Etna Green town officials will begin enforcing violations of several town ordinances, which could include fines if matters are not rectified.
Town council members discussed a number of violations within the town limits at the town council meeting Tuesday, June 11. These included a mobile home, unkept grass and property along with junk vehicles.
Violators of ordinances relating to unkept grass, property and junk vehicles will be receiving letters stating violations and a time limit to rectify the violations before fines are assessed.
A lone violator of a mobile home in the Etna Green Mobile Home Park will be given 10 days to have the mobile home moved and properly placed. Failure to do so will result in a $10 per day fine. The council had denied a permit to move the trailer to a larger lot. The trailer was moved into the park without a permit. It is said to have been improperly placed on a lot and appears as if the mobile home was just dropped off along the side of the road.
Enforcement of the ordinances followed a brief discussion on codification of town ordinances. Heath Roberts, council president, stated he did not want to take action on codification until members had an opportunity to review all ordinances. “I don’t want to approve them (the ordinances) the way it is now,” Roberts stated. He noted there were little things needing changed and handwritten notations added. He suggested a work session be called to go through the ordinances, adding if it could not be done this month, then it could wait until next month.
During other business the town approved an agreement on a GIS locator and service contract for $600 per year. This will help Brian Long, town supervisor, locate water, sewer and electrical lines. “I think we need it,” stated Roberts. Without the locator “we can’t find anything.”
Patti Cook, clerk-treasurer, will be checking with the State Board of Accounts if funds from the town’s American Rescue Plan Act could be used. The funds have been earmarked for infrastructure work in town and it was felt this could be considered infrastructure. The town has $32,224.88 in ARPA funds remaining and must be used by the end of 2025.
Roberts reported he will be meeting with Commonwealth Engineers and Astbury Water Technology regarding a response to Indiana Department of Environmental Management, on noncompliance issues. Roberts stated he will be addressing the details and plans to start working on staying in compliance. This includes ordering backup equipment and flow meters.
One of the matters is the amount of grease found in a lift station. An official letter will be sent to the two restaurant owners in the town regarding installation of grease traps. Robert feels it has to be caused by the restaurants, “unless we have residents pouring grease down the drain,” state Roberts.
Additionally, the board discussed use of Invoice Cloud for residents to receive bills and make payments through emails. No decision was made as Roberts indicated he needed more information. Clark noted the town would absorb the 3% fee for the use and like the Cloud credit card system it uses for payments, the more who use it, the less the fee will be. Because Jason Hanes, councilman, was not present, Roberts felt all board members needed to be present for the decision.
The next meeting of the council will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday July 9, in the town hall.
