By MARGARET L. WILLIS

New, stricter regulations on resident parking stickers, parking on town roads and use of town parking areas were adopted at Tuesday’s Dune Acres town council meeting.

The council unanimously adopted the new ordinance on its second reading.

The ordinance outlines the town’s intent to limit parking, use parking permits for residents to identify their vehicles, prevent on-street parking on the town’s narrow roads and control beach parking.

A uniform speed limit of 20 mph within the town was included in the ordinance. Violators will be subject to towing and fines of $50 for each violation. Failure to pay the fine will lead to court action, whereupon the fine increases to $150 per violation.

Also, the council adopted a plan for new street and traffic signage throughout town.

New entrance signs, street signs, warnings of parking limits, beach rules and directional signage will be included in the $12,670 package designed by Mullin Design Studio.

Jeff Swoger, who chaired the sign committee, displayed mock-ups of the signs, which will include a five and a half foot by four foot entrance sign of cedar.

Some Yield signs in town will be replaced with Stop signs to help minimize the potential for accidents.

Ray Tittle and Bob Hartmann have volunteered to work on the installation of signs.

Water Problems Continue

Residents along Crest Rd. are still experiencing very poor water quality. A project to replace a water main this summer may not be quick enough, council member Ben Bolton said.

Plans are in the works to install temporary hoses from a fire hydrant to affected homes to provide water clean enough for laundry, but not for drinking.

Though the water has been slightly better recently, “It’s an emergency situation,” Bolton said.

Residents should report all water problems to the Indiana American Water Company, council members said.

Town Clean-Up May 5

Parks Superintendent Kellie Klein and Environmental Commissioner Cheryl Evans announced the Town Clean-Up effort will be May 5. Volunteers are being sought to help pick up litter, do painting and pull garlic mustard.

The parks will be getting sprayed for weeds on the soccer field and around the playground equipment. Klein got the go-ahead from council members for a weed control effort.

In other commissioner reports, Irving Call reported the town spent “quite a bit more,” than usual for snow removal this year and that the list of road repairs for this year is not yet complete.

Maintenance supervisor Mike Konapacki reported some mischief with picnic tables by skateboarders. A query as to whether the town could erect a ramp for skateboarders met with resistance from council members and attorney Alan Mandel, who warned of litigation against municipalities in case of injury to a skateboarder.

Roads Frequent Topic

The question of roads came up more than once in the evening.

Council members misinterpreted a questionnaire they received from resident Mary Ann Chuman. The questions were sent only to council members, while council members thought it was a copy of a questionnaire she’d sent to all residents.

“I was awaiting your feedback,” Chuman said.

Council members took no action on the questionnaire.

The council rejected an offer from Chuman and her husband to pay for a PASER (Pavement Surface Evaluation and Rating) report on town roads, through a donation to the Dune Acres Foundation. The project would evaluate the roads and estimate the cost to “bring them up to standards,” said council president John Wilhelm.

Council members agreed they prefer to continue with the town’s routine maintenance of the roads, with specific projects planned each year and use any donations to the Foundation for repairs and renovations to the town Clubhouse.

“Thank you for offering,” said Wilhelm

Once the Clubhouse renovations are complete, council members Wilhelm, Louise Roberts and Ben Bolton agreed, they’d be willing to reconsider major expenditures on roads and repaving.

Election Time Nearing

Wilhelm reminded those in attendance that town elections are coming up.

“I will not be seeking re-election,” he said, urging other residents to step forward and volunteer their time for the town.

Clerk-treasurer Beverly Hubbs also will not seek re-election, Wilhelm said.

Wilhelm, who has served seven and a half years as a town council member and 12 years as Fire Commissioner said residents have an “opportunity to put their hat in the ring.”

In other business, residents have begun receiving their new tax assessments. Wilhelm said if an assessment equals the resale value of a house “that’s as it should be.”

If it is less, he said “be grateful,” if it is more, he urged residents to seek an appeal.

He said he still has questions about how a ‘neighborhood’ was defined within the town. He sees three possible specific areas in town; those on the lake front, those with a lake view and those “in the woods.” He said he has so far been unsuccessful in getting a definition of neighborhood within the town from the Township Assessor.

Posted 4/18/2007