The Press-Dispatch
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A-4 Local Wednesday, May 17, 2017 The Press-Dispatch Spaghetti $ 6.99 Cheesy Garlic Toast, Side Salad and Drink.* THUR MAY 18 FRI MAY 19 M-F 8am-5pm SAT 8am-2pm *Your Choice of Regular Coffee, Tea or Coke Product. /CakesAndCoffeeCafe Like us on Facebook! In a Hurry? Call 812-354-2004! Turkey Manhattan $ 7.99 Turkey Breast Smothered in Gravy on Mashed Potatoes and Amish Bread with Green Beans and Drink * dine in or carry out Roast Beef Manhattan $ 7.99 Roast Beef Smothered in Gravy on Mashed Potatoes and Amish Bread with Green Beans and Drink * 22 MAY MON TUES MAY 23 Biscuits and Gravy $ 7.99 With Your Choice Of A Side, Fruit Cup and Drink.* Hot Ham and Cheese $ 6.99 with Chips, Applesauce and a Drink.* DOUBLE F E AT U R E SAT MAY 20 ARMED FORCES DAY Bring in your favorite active military personnel (ID required) and they will receive a free daily special with your purchase of the same. Meatloaf $ 7.99 Corn, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Roll and Drink * WED MAY 17 Chef Salad $ 7.99 With Ham, Turkey and Bacon, Baked Potato, Fruit Cup and Drink * Baked Parmesan Boneless Pork Chop $ 7.99 Baked Potato, Corn, Fruit Cup and Drink * 618 E MAIN, PETERSBURG SPECIALS DAILY LUNCH Cut Out and Place on the Fridge! 11AM 2PM Free WiFi cafe & cakes cof fee cafe DOUBLE F E AT U R E MUSIC NOTICE Tony Rothrock Silver Coulter & Don Messmer Known as the Pike Trio WILL PERFORM Thursday, June 8 • 6pm Vincennes University Jasper Art Center AT THE WBDC Country SHOW DOWN TICKETS $ 5 ADVANCE $ 8 AT THE DOOR CALL 812-634-9232 951 College Ave, Jasper, IN 47546 PETERSBURG MOOSE #1617 ( 812 ) 354-9480 KARAOKE NIGHT Guest Night SATURDAY, MAY 20 8pm - Midnight must be 21 to enter 115 Pike Ave, Petersburg, IN DINING ROOM OPEN • 5-8PM SPECIALS - Baked Spaghetti with two sides for $7.50 or 8oz. Ribeye with two sides for $9.95 OR ORDER FROM THE MENU Petersburg City Council looks at sewer rate proposals By James Capozella The Petersburg Common Coun- cil is considering several options on sewer rate increases that will rem- edy a projected cash flow shortfall of about $ 32,000 in 2017 and an ad- ditional $46,000 forecast for 2018, according to Petersburg Mayor R. C. Klipsch. Klipsch said the first option of four percent for two years would raise bills $ 3.94 and the three per- cent for three years would be a $4.57 increase. Those figures were in the study completed by Umbaugh & Associ- ates on March 30, 2017, and the rate increase recommendations were provided to Klipsch later. The two proposed rate increase structures are a four percent per year for two years or three percent per year for three years. The first option would leave the project cash short fall at $14,900 in 2017 and then be in the black with $4,300 by the end of 2018. The three per- cent increase for three years would result in a short fall of $25,500 the first year, $14,300 the second and then $2,800 to the good in 2019. Klipsch considered both those options to be less prudent than a rate increase structure of four per- cent for three years. The first two options "are not enough, I'm afraid," according to Klipsch. "I hate it" but it has to be done, "the sooner the better." He said, "The process takes time." In order to bill in Sep- tember, there is two weeks before the next council meeting where the board can present to the council a proposal. There would have to be public hearings on the matter and then about "eight weeks or so" be- fore Clerk-Treasurer Tammy Selby can update the system and get the software installed and operating. The options considered are based on operation and mainte- nance cost, debt service and im- provements cost over $ 666,700 in 2017 and $ 681,200 in 2018. Cus- tomer collections remain constant at $ 632,100 per year. Klipsch said that infiltration is a big problem for the sewer system, especially when we have rain like the most recent weather system. He said he would rather be safe on the rate increase than have to come back quickly for an additional if the rate does not cover the cash flow shortfall. The council is also ready to pass an ordinance adding a four-way stop at Spruce and Knox streets due to the hazardous condition pre- sented by speeding vehicles, and the many children and crossing ve- hicles at that intersection. City Attorney Brian Mahoney will draft an ordinance for the two- way stop intersection, changing it to a four-way stop. Presently, just the through traffic on Knox Street that crosses Spruce Street has to stop. The intersection is congested with parking and traveling south- bound on Spruce presents an im- mediate curve to the left, creating a hazard for vehicles entering the intersection northbound. In addi- tion, Spruce Street is coming off a hill at the intersection with limit- ed set back and vision obstruction. Petersburg Police Chief Chuck Baumgart was in favor of the switch to a four-way at Spruce and Knox streets. He also asked homeown- ers to eliminate the high grass and water where mosquitoes can breed. Regarding speed limits, Baumgart explained that the speed limit in the city was 30 mph unless post- ed otherwise. He personally would like to see that lowered to 25 mph everywhere. There was a discussion concern- ing 4-wheeler and AT V riding in the city. Baumgart reminded everyone that there is a $500 fine to parents for children not wearing a helmet while riding and that riding in the city is against city ordinance. That state law is in the works and will be enforced by the city beginning July 1 when passed. Council member Gary Leavitt and the mayor discussed the sit- uation on state highways like 356, where outbound traffic speed lim- its are 50 mph and directly across the road, it is 35 mph for in coming traffic. It was determined that the Indiana Department of Transpor- tation (INDOT) is responsible for the signs. Leavitt also brought up the ques- tion about traffic counts on Lakev- iew Drive, which he described as being a very busy road at school times. Council President Fran Lewis said that Region 15 conducts those traffic counts and Brian Da- vis said that they do it for INDOT. Klipsch updated the Owner Oc- cupied Housing Rehabilitation Pro- gram (OOHRP), stating that there had been 14 applications for the funding. He said there will be an- other opportunity to sign up on May 22. Klipsch said it was up to OOHRP to evaluate the applica- tions. He added that applications can be made from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday, May 22 at the Main Street Presbyterian Church's Kief- er Hall. Councilman Leavitt said he had been approached by a resident who was going to have a roof replace- ment and wondered if that proj- ect could be a part of the rehabil- itation program. Klipsch suggest- ed that an application be made and that anyone interested in the fund- ing is encouraged to make applica- tion on May 22. Regarding paving through Sen- ate Enrolled Act 67 (SEA67), Klipsch noted that the change from 50 percent local match to 25 per- cent will result in much more pav- ing taking place than this most re- cent work. City Services Manager Brian Davis said that work will con- tinue on the present paving grant on Sixth, Walnut, First and Second streets. Lewis suggested that each coun- cilman look at their own district and determine what areas need addressed. The discussion that followed between the council and Klipsch expressed the fact that even more state funding in the next round would go further and at less cost to Petersburg because of the change in matching funds. Klipsch noted that an old is- sue with a home on the corner of Spruce and Mulberry has been al- leviated by the owner, who is pres- ently leveling the structure. The mayor also discussed with the council an inoperable vehicle ordinance that addresses vehicle parking in residential districts. The model he presented was not in total what Petersburg could use but it is a guide for future control of aban- doned vehicles and addresses junk cars in drives, streets and yards. The model was comprehensive and designed for a large city, but por- tions would be ideal for controlling. Leavitt also had a comment to the council concerning dog feces in the city. He said people walk their dogs and do not pick up after them. Klipsch said that the "fire depart- ment now has power to the station and they are getting close. We are shooting for July 1" as the open- ing date. In other business, Mayor Klipsch said he and Clerk-Treasur- er Tammy Selby will be attending a budget class this week. Corporation to post Petersburg assistant principal position By James Capozella Superintendent Suzanne Blake recommended ap- proval of an elementary school assistant principal position at Petersburg Ele- mentary School beginning in the 2017-2018 school year. Blake explained that the en- rollment is at 520 students and the contract would be for 190 days with a projected starting salary of $55,000. Blake said she was ask- ing the board for approval at Tuesday's regular board meeting since the position "does not now exist." She saw the situation at Peters- burg as a frustrating situa- tion for the principal, who is spread thin due to the in- crease in students from the Otwell school closing. The board approved posting the position with Board Pres- ident David Waltz, Chris Satterfield, Ron Sharp and Steve Potter voting for and board member Chris McK- inney the nay vote. Chris Satterfield made a motion to approve posting the posi- tion and it was seconded by Ron Sharp. McKinney spoke out against the added expense, stating that the board had al- ready cut raises, programs and money in a number of areas such as middle school sports due to the recent fi- nancial situation. He said, "I don't feel at this time it is in the best interest" of the corporation, stating he un- derstood the reasoning and need behind the request from Blake and the princi- pal. He contended that the savings by closing Otwell included eliminating an ad- ministrator. Petersburg Elementa- ry School Principal Rick King addressed the board, explaining the conflict be- tween administering disci- pline and chairing case con- ferences, among other ad- ministrative work which had become "astronomical" now that the school is at 520 stu- dents. He said there are risk factors and interventions to be considered and the need to take their Individual Ed- ucation Plans (IEPs) to the next level. Ron Sharp asked how many students were in high school and middle school and was told there were 621 and 420 respectively. David Waltz said that the approval was just for posting the po- sition. Board member Steve Pot- ter told King he understood personally how "hard it is to focus" when under stress and said he saw the need to "spread the work load out." He was positive with the idea, "if we can make it work money wise." Potter said he did not realize that Peters- burg Elementary was at 520 students. Corporation funds were reported as of April 30 at: General Fund $ 361,143; Debt Service $ 95,383; Re- tirement/SB $17,043; Cap- ital PF $57,862; Transpor- tation $1,806,995; Bus Re- placement $253,115 and Rainy Day Fund $ 0. Blake said that account balances "are very small" now but the corporation will be receiv- ing a June county tax draw. Debt service was down about $700,000 from a year ago, Capital PF was down about $ 600,000 and the gen- eral fund remained near the same. Retirement/SB was down about $290,000 from a year ago. Blake told the board and those in attendance Tuesday night that next year there will be a change in school funding and that it will af- fect the way the corporation builds the budget. She said that if the enrollment stays the same, there will be an increase in funds from the state. In other updates, Blake said the teacher perfor- mance stipend has new guidelines. Other legisla- tive updates include prayer in school, employee crimi- nal background checks and budget changes as previous- ly stated. Blake plans on go- ing forward with her focus on more academics and will start with a review of the Class of 2017. Blake said that the State Board of Ac- counts are at the corporation to audit July 1, 2013, through June 30, 2015. Pike Central High School Principal Brian Holland re- ported testing is complete and that finals will start Wednesday, May 17. He said the student sponsored Pulsera project fundraiser promoted by the Spanish Club raised $470 in just one week. Pike Central is sched- uled to have an awards pre- sentation on Wednesday, May 24 at 9 a.m. Mrs. Keeker reported the fifth graders visited the mid- dle school that day and also told the board that the mid- dle school boys had won the Pocket Athletic Conference in track and field, setting seven records in the pro- cess. A Charger Spirit debit card was passed 5 -0 after a discussion by Chris McKin- ney concerning any impact on state funding. The Ger- man American Bank card will pay $ .02 every time the card is swiped and the funds See SCHOOL on 5 Flooding remains along White River Flooding along the White River makes farm ground along Highway 61 just north of Peters- burg look like a gi- ant lake on Sun- day. The White Riv- er, which has been above 20 feet since May 3, was still at 22 feet on Tuesday, but is predicted to fall below flood- stage late Thursday or early Friday.