By David Fenker
NORTH MANCHESTER, Ind. – With the recent and upcoming winter weather, two North Manchester residents voiced concerns about snowy streets and sidewalks at Wednesday’s town council meeting.
Main Street business owner Bob Sklar addressed the council regarding Main Street sidewalks and angled parking during the first visitor comment section.
“It seems like the town does it sometimes… our property line actually ends at the doorway; it doesn’t extend to the street, or the sidewalk for that matter,” Sklar, who owns Grand’s Ice Cream Shoppe, said.
“Overall, who’s responsible for that, to make sure that it’s clear for pedestrians, especially for the people that are trying to come to the downtown businesses?”
He also asked if the council has considered an ordinance requiring property owners to clear sidewalks adjacent to their property elsewhere in town, and said that his children walked to the bus stop on icy streets due to uncleared sidewalks.
Manchester University Professor Elton Skendaj broached the subject again near the end of the meeting, noting that his children also walk on icy, snowy streets to get to their school bus stop.
“I don’t think [the streets] are salted and plowed enough,” Skendaj said.
“I’ve lived in other towns, even small towns in upstate New York… within a few hours of the snow, the streets are cleared.”
He continued, “I love our new town, I’m happy that we’re here… but I’m wondering whether it’s unreasonable to expect that the streets are kind of clean as opposed to just some sand and not really salted.”
As is the council’s usual policy, the council took both men’s questions to research and answer at the next meeting, scheduled for Feb. 7.
The council also elected new officers, selecting Chalmer “Toby” Tobias as the new town council president and bringing Laura Rager back as vice president.
Additionally, the council made various board appointments, including:
New business handled by the council included approving a memorandum of understanding with Wabash County United Fund to provide nearly $2,000 of funding for the 2-1-1 call service. The service provides information on a variety of local community resources, and has been funded in part by North Manchester since 2009.
The council also heard a funding request from the Wabash County Animal Shelter, which hopes to get $12,000 from the town to help continue its services. The request was tabled.
Old business included passage of General Ordinance No. 10, 2017, permitting the serving of alcohol at the Town Life Center for a Trivia Night fundraiser by Junior Achievement.
Town Life Center Building Manager Anne Myers noted that the council’s agenda made it appear that the ordinance was for rental of the center. The ordinance only permitted the serving of alcohol; facility rentals are handled through Myers’s office.