Permit fee changes and street closings for the Treasure Hunt discussed

 
CITY COUNCIL
The Washington City Council looked at a couple or ordinances last night.
Final approval was given to an ordinance vacating a never developed section of Wilson.  According to state law the property will be divided between the adjoining property owners.
The Council then heard the introduction of an ordinance revising the fee structure for permits from the Building Commissioner’s Office.  Building Commissioner Brian Sergesketter told the Council the proposed ordinance was a step in moving the Building Commissioner’s Office from a tax-based to a fee-based office.  Sergesketter said there has been an increase in the administrative costs of processing permits.   The permits for new fences, reroofing, and signs will now cost $25.   Most other current fees will remain the same.   Sergesketter says the permit fee structure in the proposed ordinance matches that of most other communities.
Washington Mayor Joe Wellman told the City Council last night that discussions are on-going with the State in regard to the condition of Business 50 through Washington.  Wellman said INDOT officials have talked with federal officials about the highway.  And the Mayor has a meeting scheduled with the Commissioner of INDOT.  Wellman said he was not ready to make promises, but he said quote “they are listening, and they are talking.”   The mayor added INDOT is starting to take core samples along the route of the old highway.
Prior to the meeting, Mayor Wellman proclaimed March as MS, or Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month in Washington.  He presented the proclamation to MS Awareness members, Fran Neal, Cindy Kalberer, and John Richardson.  MS is a disease of the central nervous system in which the immune system attacks the protective sheath that covers nerve fibers causing communication programs between the brain and the rest of the body. Over 400,000 Americans have MS.
BOARD OF WORKS
At Monday’s meeting of Washington’s Board of Public Works and Safety two bids were received for asphalt for the 2017 paving season.  The bids were taken under advisement until the next meeting.  In other business, the Board heard a request from the Knights of Columbus to close Main Street for the renewal of the club’s popular Treasure Hunt drawing which starts up again next month with the first jackpot amount of $200,000.  The City agreed to close Main Street from 4^th to 3^rd.  3rd Street will also be closed from VanTrees to the alley between Main and South Streets.  The K of C tent will be on Main Street and vendors will be located on the Jay Myers parking lot.  Unlike last year,  Main Street from State Road 57 to 4^th Street, East 4^th Street, and South Street will be open to traffic.
In a separate request the Board also agreed to close East 2^nd Street for a half block between South Street and the old German American Bank Building on April 1st, for a special event for Mischler’s Tavern.
 
 
In city street department news….the department has had two chippers working every day since the recent storms in the city.  Residents who’ve had limbs brought down by the storms which haven’t been picked up are asked to call the Street Department.  The city won’t pick up limbs and trees felled by professional tree services.