Silver Lake council approves rezoning for planned community center, awards mowing contract and approves $242,293.96 claims docket

The Silver Lake Town Council met on July 8, 2026, and voted to rezone 201 S. High St. from residential to Public Use to make way for a planned community center, approved a homeowner’s setback, awarded a municipal mowing contract and accepted a claims docket totaling $242,293.96.

Council President Medard Murfin joined Councilmember Nichole Taylor in leading the meeting. The council unanimously approved Ordinance 07-01-26 to rezone the 201 S. High St. property for Public Use, with Taylor making the motion and Murfin seconding the motion; the minutes record that “all in favor; motion carried.”

Also on the agenda, the council granted a setback for a garage construction project requested by Joseph Barnes of 501 E. Sycamore St. After the council reviewed submitted documents and visited the property, it agreed to the setback. Barnes said the shed “has been painted and that a culvert will be installed at the property site.” Taylor moved to grant the setback; Murfin seconded and the motion carried.

The clerk read two sealed mowing bids: Eric & Daughters Garden and Tilling at $60.00 per hour (with added fees if fuel costs rise to $4.00 or more per gallon) and Davey Resource Group at $274.00 per hour with a four-hour minimum. The council voted to award the mowing work to Eric & Daughters Garden and Tilling; Taylor moved to accept that bid and Murfin seconded.

In finance matters the council approved the claim docket totaling $242,293.96 and authorized Clerk-Treasurer Tonya Conley to pay a small number of bills that arrived after the docket was finalized. The motion was made by Taylor, seconded by Murfin and carried unanimously.

Department heads delivered routine reports. Marshal Jason McGlennen provided call-history and ordinance-enforcement updates, reported that Car 2 is out of service pending an insurance inspection after an accident and submitted paperwork related to K-9 handling compensation; the council granted his requested vacation for July 13–17. Superintendent Joey McNeal said crews will spray for weeds and trim trees along SR 15 and SR 14 and that mosquito spraying is underway. Fire Chief John Conley reported six callouts since the prior meeting, thanked sponsors for the department’s golf outing and said a grant application has been submitted but an award date is not yet known.

The council approved billing adjustments requested in letters from the Parks family ($150.13 water, $124.07 sewer) and the McCoart family ($356.33 water, $0.00 sewer, sewer adjusted for summer sprinkling credit). The clerk’s office will be closed July 13–15 for training with the State Board of Accounts and the Indiana League of Municipal Clerk-Treasurers. The council set its next regular meeting for August 12, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. and adjourned at 7:16 p.m.

Motions recorded in the minutes show Taylor as the first mover and Murfin as the seconder for the principal actions taken; all motions recorded in these minutes passed by an all-in-favor vote.