Ligonier — Ligonier businessman John Pettit was selected to replace Glenn Longardner on the City Council in a Republican caucus Monday evening before the regular council meeting.
Longardner, former Ligonier mayor and longtime member of the Common Council and Planning Commission, resigned from his duties for health reasons.
The process for replacing a resigning council member requires the precinct leaders of the party in office to select a replacement. In a double change, at-large member Ken Schuman resigned his seat and was selected to fill the Precinct 1 seat formerly held by Longardner.
Gary Bishop, Greg Eash, Chris Fought and John Pettit were applicants for the at-large seat.
From these candidates Pettit was selected to finish Longardner’s term.
Ligonier recognized
Operation Foundation President Chris Fought announced the receipt of an Indiana Main Street Community Impact Award in recognition of the city’s annual Operation Foundation volunteer downtown improvement week, and the downtown wall mural project.
Fought will travel to Indianapolis Friday to accept the award from the Indiana’s Lieutenant Governor Becky Skillman.
Essex Project
Mayor Patricia Fisel announced the receipt of the Jennie Thompson Foundation grant of $30,000 for the addition of restrooms and a pavilion to the former Essex Wire property.
The property, which is envisioned as city park space and perhaps additional space for a farmers’ market in the city, was donated to the city by the Pettit family, and will be called PettitPark.
For the past year, the property has been the site of the demolition and recycling of the old brick factory that occupied the land.
Three firms are expected to submit quotes on the work, which will begin with the construction of restrooms on the property.
Housing rehab
Mayor Fisel informed the council that the city has received the $171,000 Neighborhood Rehabilitation grant for the rehabilitation of houses in the city in need of repair.
The list of homes to be rehabbed has been determined, although it has not yet been released.
Rehab activities will concentrate on removal of lead-based paint, roofing improvements, window upgrades and insulation installation, emphasizing energy efficiency.
Veterans recognized
The council approved a motion by member John Lutton to recognize and thank veterans for their service on behalf of the community and the nation.
Property cleanup
Fisel reported that a cleanup issue brought to the council by resident Lou Richmond is partly resolved, although the cleanup has not been completed.
The location needing cleaned up, at an alley between the 300 and 400 blocks of East Union Street, is not city property, but is part of the Kroger property.
The debris dumped on the sit has been present for an indeterminate time, and is not the result of activities by the current owner. The site will be monitored to determine if illegal dumping is occurring and to decide on a cleanup process.
Resident Lois Rosnogle thanked the city departments for cleanup of a poorly maintained property that had been brought to the attention of the council previously.
Other business
City officials will meet later this week with a prospective new user of the communication tower in Kenney Park.
The Royal Imprints property recently donated to the city is now being advertised for lease. Bids will be accepted on Nov. 16, with a final bid deadline of Jan.13.
An internal team has been formed for the upcoming census in the city. Volunteers will later be needed to carry out the census.
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