Leader Publications

By NORMA LERNER
Edwardsburg Argus

EDWARDSBURG – Assistant patrol leaders Boy Scouts John Gaunder, 14, and John Foster, 14, who are earning their Citizenship in Communities Merit Badge, a requirement toward their Eagle Scout projects were introduced to the Edwardsburg Village Council at its meeting Sept. 15.

The Scouts plan to put a finishing coat next spring to the bandstand built by Scout Eli Kloswick for his Eagle Scout project at Gunn Park.

A replacement still wasn’t named to fill the vacant trustee seat of Bill Rauch, who resigned last month.

Updating the Edwardsburg Village Council’s office computers has been talked about for some time, and the council decided to go ahead and buy two new computers.

The cost is not to exceed $2,200 from Priority Computers of South Bend, Ind. for two computers and three new 17-inch monitors, one extra to replace one old monitor.

In other updates, the water department will be taking bids on variable frequency drives for two 100-horse power pumps for the water system.

Water Commissioner Jacque Tighe said the village is looking to get stimulus money to replace the drives, but they can’t be purchased until money is received. No one has any information on when or how much money might be coming.

She added there were some problems with the alarms at the tower, but it has been fixed. Pumps one and two are working good since the valves have been cleaned.

In a report from Treasurer Mary Ann Schoenfeld of 2009 property taxes, only about 22 percent have been collected. There were a lot of delinquencies, she said. The taxes were levied at $165,258 due on Sept. 15. She collected $36,700. She is done collecting, and the amount was turned into the county. She said the balance due of $128,558 will go delinquent.

Other business the council conducted included:

• Fall cleanup day at the Ontwa Township Hall at 26225 U.S. 12 will be held Friday Oct. 2 from noon to 5 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 3, 9 a.m. to noon.

• Reported Cass County Road Commission Chief Engineer Joseph Bellina III will install a software program on village streets on the office computer.

• Approved to purchase a brush hog for $725 from Mike Smith of Edwardsburg.

• Will get a permit application to close off U.S. 12 at 1:35 p.m. for the homecoming parade on Friday, Oct. 2.

• Agreed to have a jail trustee to pick up fall leaves.

• Appointed John Brielmaier, Ontwa Township supervisor, as chief executive officer for the Corridor Improvement Authority.

The Ontwa-Edwardsburg Police Department reported 161 complaints, three drunk drivers, seven accidents and 23 arrests.