Council to review retire-rehire procedures

NEW BREMEN - Police Sgt. Brad Pyles' request for retire-rehire has been tabled.

After meeting in executive session for 50 minutes Monday evening, council members opted to delay their decision. The measure had been set for third and final reading.

"After much discussion, we need to come up with a plan," mayor Jeff Pape said. "We need to make it more fair for the village. It has been a very lucrative thing for people in the past."

Council members requested more study before returning to the topic, possibly at the next meeting, Oct. 24.

Visitors from the Half Moon Power Co., which develops and builds solar storage, presented information on alternatives that could potentially help the village minimize the effects of peak load power times.

"There would be no cost to the village until it is operational," spokesman Kevin Hirsch said.

Council members also,

• passed under suspension of rules a measure to allow the purchase of a Toolcat 5600 G-Series at a cost after trade-in of $28,691 and the purchase of a Bobcat S740 Skid Loader with a trade-in unit, at the purchase price of $27,464. Both items were purchased through the state purchasing program from Bobcat of Lima.

• heard first reading of an annexation request by Crown Equipment Corp. concerning 2.27 acres. The property, adjacent to Crown manufacturing facilities was formerly the Tomhafe property.

• agreed to waive the building permit fee for New Bremen student Koby Paul. He plans to complete his Eagle Scout project by constructing an elevated observation tower at the Kuenning Dicke Nature area.

• requested dog owners to be courteous and clean up after their pets. Several complaints have been received from residents concerning this subject.

• reminded residents that trick or treat will be from 6:30-8 p.m. Oct. 27 and the annual Cider Time Parade will be on Oct. 30. Parade participants are asked to assemble in the parking lot north of the Komminsk Legacy Park at 1 p.m., with the parade slated to start at 1:30 p.m.