Approves statement of benefits, receives update on park plans
By SYDNEY KENT
Greg and Deborah Adams, residents of Ossian, spoke to the Ossian Town Council Monday evening regarding concerns with an encroachment.
The Adams’ requested to be allowed to keep a new shed they built in the same location of their previous shed. The couple was advised the structure is an encroachment of easement restrictions, and that a fence they would like to build would present the same issue.
“If you go by this,” Deborah Adams said as she referenced a copy of the Geographic Information System, “then every shed in Roseanne Heights is going to be on restrictions.”
Council President Josh Barkley explained the town has encountered this issue before and now has a standard process. Residents have the option to sign an agreement with the town that a structure may be approved so long as it is understood by residents that the town has the right to remove it if needed. As per the agreement, the structure would then need to be fixed or replaced at the residents’ expense.
In other business, the council members approved a compliance of statement of benefits for tax abatement for Perma Column and Peña’s Mechanical Contractors. According to Wells County Economic Development Executive Director Chad Kline, Perma Column is looking to expand their facility and add an additional warehouse at just under one million dollars, as well as four new employees. The expansion is needed in order to avoid missing sales and meet current demands.
Kline explained the area the warehouse will be built on is a Tax Increment Financing, meaning any new investment earned from real estate can be captured into that TIF. This will ultimately allow for higher financial profitability in the future.
Jay Esparza and Jeff Osborn with the Ossian Parks Department were present at the meeting to update the council on their plans with maintaining the parks in Ossian as well as the recent concert. Esparza commented that though the town received overwhelmingly positive feedback from the concert, it did show some areas for improvement with technology and reviewing song lists. Osborn explained each park board member has been assigned a specific park to be in charge of in Ossian. The board is working on accessing the signs at the parks to list names and numbers for any issues the public may encounter.
The council also:
• Learned from Police Commissioner President Caleb Chichester the department interviewed an officer with over 25 years of experience, 16 of which were spent as a child abuse investigator. The department intends to offer him a 5-year position with two weeks of vacation time per year. This is different from the current policy of one week of vacation time per year, however, the candidate has initially requested three weeks per year. Council member Stephanie Tucker stated she would not support or entertain the officer promoting to three weeks of vacation time after only two years of employment.
• Heard from Ossian Fire Chief Ben Fenstermaker that the part-time position, approved last October on a temporary basis, has been helpful to the department and effective in increasing response times. Fenstermaker told the council that because the funds for the position were temporary, he has added the cost of the salary to the 2024 budget.
• Approved an extension of the contract with Republic Garbage Services until Oct. 31, 2027.
• Approved the first contractor’s payment to Ottenweller Contracting LLC in the amount of $60,325 for work at the wastewater treatment plant.
• Approved assignment of the industrial building reimbursement agreement to Ossian Spec LLC.
• Approved paying the Sheriff’s Department for hours worked in June in the amount of $912 and July in the amount of $2,115.
sydney@news-banner.com
