Town Council members bid farewell to Luann Martin and Brad Pursley
By CHET BAUMGARTNER
Ossian Town Council members Monday unanimously voted to spend $78,500 to prepare a plan to improve the town’s wastewater infrastructure — another step in a plan they hope will one day welcome hundreds of new residents.
And after voting for the expenditure, council members unanimously bid farewell to a longtime Ossian resident and longtime town employee.
Members used the $78,500 to secure the services of Engineering Resources, which will design plans to replace the near-capacity David Road lift station and implement other infrastructure improvements.
Jim Breckler of Engineering Resources said the work’s final cost could range from $875,000 to $1,050,000.
However, the town intends to use funding from the state’s Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI) as it partners with Roanoke developer Kevan Biggs. Biggs hopes to eventually create a 168-lot development just west of Ind. 1 in line with Davis Road.
Breckler said he estimates to finish the final design by July or August, and the work could take between nine to 12 months.
“It’s a sizeable project, but it will set up the town,” Breckler said.
Council member Brad Pursley made the motion to hire Engineering Resources — and later officially announced that he was resigning from the council March 31.
“Hopefully I have made a positive impact … and I thank you for the opportunity to serve the community,” Pursley said through an announcement that President Josh Barkley read.
Barkley also thanked Pursley for his leadership.
Barkley said the county’s Republican party will discuss the procedure to replace Pursley, who is moving out of the county, but Barkley said he is “99 percent” certain the council will hold a caucus to replace the departing council member.
Along with Pursley, council members said goodbye to Town Manager Luann Martin, who will retire at the end of the month after 17 years as the manager.
“A lot of projects in town would never have happened without Luann,” Barkley said. “She’s ultimately the person who took care of everything.”
“Thank you for all you’ve done for the town. I mean that tremendously,” he continued.
In recognition of Martin’s service, Barkley also showed council members a mock-up of a plaque honoring her and that the town will affix to the Archbold-Wilson Park pavilion.
“From streets, water lines, storm and sewer projects, including the development of this very park, Luann and her employees serve the Town well …” the plaque reads.
Martin’s replacement, Crystal Chapman attended Monday’s meeting and also started working that day as well.
In other business, council members Barkley, Pursley, Jason House, Dennis Ealing and Stephanie Tucker:
• Hired Indiana State Police Master Trooper Kurt Jack as the town’s chief of police. Jack, a Bluffton resident, will retire from the ISP after 40 years of service, Barkley said.
• Approved the town’s salary ordinance, though the board plans to readdress the pay matrix for officers. Barkley said he hopes to increase pay to more closely line up with the ISP’s recommendation.
• Appointed David Bass and Bill Doughty to the town’s Stormwater Management Board.
• Approved ordinances concerning restricted and unrestricted opioid funds, which are related to a $26 billion lawsuit against drug manufacturer Johnson & Johnson. The state of Indiana is set to receive $507 million from the settlement.
• Approved a special meeting at 4 p.m., Monday, March 27, to review a preliminary engineering report concerning a wastewater treatment plant. The council needs to review it before it can be submitted to the Indiana Finance Authority.
• Approved releasing three outstanding warrants totaling $216.89 in utility refunds.
• Met as the Ossian Redevelopment Commission to elect Ealing as president and House as vice president.
Council members will gather again for their next regular meeting at 7 p.m., Monday, April 10.
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