September deadline for Argos Town Council to approve 2020 budget
ARGOS — argos Town Council (ATC) held a budget workshop Wednesday prior to the regularly scheduled town council meeting. ATC will approve the 2020 budget in September. argos Clerk-treasurer Lisa Mullaney cautioned the council that she will need a quorum attending the next two meetings. If unable to meet with a quorum to approve the budget, the Town of argos will be required to adhere to the terms of the budget for 2019. President George Null cannot vote on the budget because he is on the argos Fire Department. Vice President Randy Snead, Robert Byers, Shawn Harley and Suzanne Umbaugh will need to attend the next two meetings to meet the requirement for a quorum.
The council held a public hearing prior to
the council meeting to explore a rezoning petition submitted by the argos Community Development Corporation to rezone property located south of the school on Yearick St. from business (B-1) to residential (R-1) to accommodate hous
ing. Attorney Derek Jones confirmed that the Argos Plan Commission gave a favorable recommendation to the board to approve the request. No input was given by the public in favor of or against the petition. During the regular session, member Harley made a motion suspend the rules and pass ordinance 2019-16 on all three readings. The council unanimously approved.
Attorney Jones detailed concerns about a contract submitted from the Troyer Group for the Marshall County Regional Stellar Communities grant effort. His main concern about the contract was that it did not specify which municipalities would pay which portions of the totals requested in the contract. “I certainly think that cost allocation needs specified.” A motion was made not to Harley not to accept the contract and seconded. All members approved except Umbaugh who opposed. Umbaugh preferred to see the contract tabled for amendment. Jones agreed to reach out to President of Culver Town Council who also works for Troyer Group for direction upon Umbaugh’s recommendation that she could be of help.
There are board openings on the Board of Zoning Appeals and Redevelopment Commission. Interested parties should contact Mullaney at the Town Hall located at 201 W. Walnut St. Earlier this week the Marshall County Commissioners appointed Kevin Overmyer to serve on the Economic Development Commission for Argos.
Mark Vanderweele provided a financial statement of the Argos Kick Off Summer Festival 2019 to the council. Umbaugh requested a balanced financial statement on the $200,000.00 that was provided by the town to Argos Community Development Corporation and the Summer Kick Off Festival.
Attorney Jones said that a more detailed report could be requested though the council could not require it. He said it would be a gesture of goodwill for the organization to provide details of accountability on a monthly or quarterly basis.
Member Byers said that if a more detailed account was required from the Argos Community Development Corporation, that all organizations receiving funding from the town should be required the same transparency, regardless of the amount contributed.
Vanderweele agreed to follow-up with a more detailed financial report. He confirmed that the event brought in a little more than enough to pay expenses.
Complaints were cited during citizen’s input of groundhog activity coming from the former and vacated saw mill. According to testimony, ground hogs are starting to cause damage to surrounding homes and are not responding in fear to humans as they approach. Other concerns were cited regarding some of the unkept homes in the vicinity of Memorial Park including overgrown tree limbs impeding upon neighboring properties. Snead indicated that he did not believe groundhogs could be trapped to be released elsewhere. The council agreed to consult Marshall County Building Commissioner Chuck Dewitt regarding the reported concerns.
Snead wanted to remind the community that the final ’TGIF Argos’ will be held Friday, September 13. Member Umbaugh said she would be unable to manage the table for the Town of Argos at the event. The event will be held from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Michigan St. in Argos.