The Greentown Grapevine – 2001-05, 08:05

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Volume 8, Issue 5
Council to Vote on
Skateboard Ordinance
Responding to complaints from
businesses, pedestrians, and residents
about the difficulty and dangers of
walking the sidewalks around the
intersection of Main and Meridian
Streets due to the use of bicycles,
skateboards, roller skates, in- line
skates, and scooters on sidewalks, the
Greentown Town Council' passed on
first reading, April 3, 2001, an
ordinance to regulate those objects.
The ordinance addresses all the
wheeled objects stated above, but is
commonly referred to as a " skateboard"
ordinance, since the proliferation of
skateboards downtown prompted the
action. The Council chose to pass the
ordinance in two readings to give
adequate time for public information.
The second reading will be at the
Council meeting May 1 at 7: 30 p. m.
SUMMARY:
Stunts: No devise used to assist in
stunts or tricks may be placed on a
street or sidewalk within the Town.
Manner of Riding, . Speed, and
Parking of Bicycles: No operator of a
bicycle shall cause the bicycle to weave
upon a sidewalk or street. No person
shall operate a bicycle at a speed
greater than that which permits him or
her to bring the bicycle to a stop within
the assured clear distance ahead,
Bicycles must be parked in a manner so
they do not pose an obstruction to
vehicular or pedestrian traffic.
Where Prohibited: - None of the
objects covered in the ordinance may
be operated on sidewalks one block
each way from the intersection of Main
Street and , Meridian Street.
Right of Way: Bicycles shall yield the
right- of- way to pedestrians.
Enforcement: The Town Marshal or
Deputies shall enforce the ordinance.
Penalties: The penalties are
summarized below, however, Town
Marshall Bennet says only verbal
warnings will be given at first until the
public is educated about ' the new
ordinance.
First- Offense; The object shall be
confiscated and heM for five days, after
which time it may be returned to
parents or guardian of a juvenile.
Second Offense: The object shall be
confiscated, held for five days, and a
fine imposed not to exceed $ 25.00.
Subsequent Offenses: The object
shall be confiscated, held for thirty
days, and a fine imposed not to exceed
$ 50.00.
The complete ordinance may be seen
at the Utility Ofice, 112 N. Meridian
Street.
br the Deode" Mav 2001
What Kind of Growth
and lrnprovements $ or
Greentown are Desired?
The Town of Greentown, through its
community leaders, is currently
developing a Comprehensive Plan for
the Town. The purpose of this plan is
to create a guideline for growth and
development in and around Greentown
and to establish goals for the
Community. The Plan will help shape
the type of new developments the
Town will encourage, as well as
establish public infrastructure needs.
Greentown has been under a ban
against new construction without a
previous sewer tap. After the
Wastewater Treatment plant was
upgraded and new sewers in some
sections of town were installed, a
request was made to IDEM for a waiver
of the ban.
Anticipating that the sewer ban will
be lifted, the Council expects requests
for new housing to follow. Town
Ordinance 300, which involves zoning
and construction requirements, has not
been updated since the 1970' s. The
Town Council and Planning Committee
believe that the zoning ordinance
should be updated as soon as possible.
State law requires that every town have
a comprehensive plan. To date,
Greentown has not had one. The Town
has hired Foresight Engineering,
Indianapolis, to draft a comprehensive
plan, and update the zoning and
subdivision control ordinances.
The Council is seeking input from the
public regarding their preferences in
housing and desired improvements to
the town. The Council appointed a
committee reprelslentative of various
segments of the community to gather
this public input. The survey on page 9
has been prepared by the committee. In
addition to its placement in the
Greentown Grapevine, copies may be
found ( until gone) at the Town Hall,
the Post Ofice, and both Greentown
libraries. The survey should be
returned to the Town Hall ( 1 12 North
Meridian Street) no later than' May 15.
Members of the steering committee
are: Jeff Bennett, Ben Harris, Jim
Harris, Lou Herchenroeder, Larry
Hinesley, Rachel Jenkins, Gary Lacey,
Kevin Moss, Sally Mower, Bill Ross,
and Jolene Rule, chair.
TT fi'irernen Honored Tor 25 Years 01 Service
e
Greentown Firemen Rex Mast and
Dick Moor were given 25 year service
pins early this year. They have each
actually served more than 25 years.
Rex can tell you the exact day he joined
the fire company, February 21, 1966.
When asked why he is a Fireman, he
shrugged and said simply, " The Town
of Greentown", which sumsup his love
for his community and desire to give
back. He has been involved in
businesses in Greentown beginning
with the Standard Oil station on West
Main, then Pure Oil on South
Meridian, and has been employed by
Greentown Equipment for the past
twenty- eight years.
The most memorable fire for him is
the Rudy's Drug Store fire. He has
equipment, one of the main ones being
the air packs all firemen now wear. He
said today they have to be more
concerned about gases from many toxic
materials in a fire than in years past.
And, of course, the wheeled equipment
has changed dramatically.
Dick joined the company in 1973.
He finished the EMT course and had
been going to fires with the firemen.
Bake Ross gave him an application for
the fire company and that was the
beginning. His reason for being a
fireman is much the same as Rex's, he
has lived here all his life and just wants
to help when needed. He also counts
the drug store fire as most memorable.
He says qualities needed in a fireman
- are dedication and a willing- ness to
seen many changes in fire fighting learn. Rex Mast and Dick Moor are veteran Greentown firemen.
Photo by Rachel Jenkitis