Centerville moving town hall into former bank

Centerville has wrapped up its purchase of a vacant bank for its new town hall, where customers can eventually make drive-thru utility payments.

Closing for the $187,500 purchase of U.S. Bank’s branch at 220 E. Main St. took place Nov. 29.

No dates have been set for the move from the current municipal building at 204 E. Main St.

As of now, all employees working in today’s city building will be in the new building, said Deputy Clerk-Treasurer Sarah Rice.

It’s expected the drive-thru building at the property’s rear will open while updates are made to the main building.

During their Nov. 28 meeting, council approved spending the town’s last American Rescue Plan dollars (nearly $53,700) toward a roof on the new building.

Discussions are taking place about the longtime town hall’s future. 

In other business

• Council advanced an amended code establishing charges for Centerville Fire/Rescue services with a 4-0 vote. David Cate was absent.
  A final reading and vote is expected at council’s 7 p.m. Dec. 12 meeting.
  Initial responses to fires or hazardous material incidents would cost $300 per fire engine/truck/apparatus/rescue unit and $150 per command vehicle. For each hour or fraction of an hour for on-scene assistance, $200 also would be charged per response unit and $100 per command vehicle.
• Attorney Ed Martin’s draft of an amended rank weed and vegetation code is scheduled for a first reading Dec. 12.
• Council approved 2024’s across-the-board salary increase for town employees, clerk-treasurer, marshal and councilors. Rice said the town isn’t near job market pay rates. Council’s president will receive $4,113.69; vice president, $3,846.57; other members $3,579.44.
• Dan Wandersee will remain council president in 2024 and Gary Holbert remains vice president.
  “I think you’ve got the time and the experience to do a good job,” Holbert told Wandersee after nominating him, followed by a second from Joshua Tudor. No other nominations were made for either role. Each vote was 3-0.
• Council approved $43,300 after trade-in for a tractor and flail mower from low bidder New Holland to trim around side ditches and Apple Valley’s retention pond. Regular mowers aren’t as safe.
• Council is considering approving a wastewater rate study since it has been several years and hiring a grant writer to apply for grid resilience funds to offset about $800,000 in needed electrical upgrades.
• Police and firefighters will deliver food baskets starting Dec. 20. They delivered about 115 before Thanksgiving. Checks can be sent to Centerville Fire/Rescue Auxiliary at 414 S. Morton Ave., Centerville, IN 47330.
• While research is being conducted about feasibility of including inserts from local organizations in utility mailings, council unanimously agreed to only insert municipal business items.
• After Nov. 14’s discussion, valves were installed to isolate the water plant from the system to help find leaks.
• Main Street Centerville requested a link to its soon-to-be revamped website on the town’s page. Council supports the link, but Clerk-Treasurer Richard Tincher noted the state is helping upgrade the town’s website and email. Completion date’s unknown.
• Town hall will be closed Dec. 22-25 and Jan. 1, reopening normal hours Dec. 26 and Jan. 2.