Sunman looks at renting FCN building for community center
Cathy May - Contributing Writer

At the regular meeting of the Sunman Town Board on February 19, it was discussed that FCN is willing to rent the former Heritage Bank Building to the town. This would be done until funding to purchase the property can be obtained.

The town offered to pay $500 plus utilities and some maintenance and will submit a letter of intent to FCN. The town hopes to turn the property into a community center and have the town administrative offices there. Presently, the town offices are in two separate locations.

Randy Knueven, owner of the Sunman IGA appeared before the board requesting the alleys around the Sunman IGA and All American Vending be named. The town board named the east/west alley Randall Alley and the one going north/south Miller Alley. Over a period of time, all alleys will now be named. Town Attorney Jack Kellerman, stressed that residents be made aware, even though the alleys will be named, they will not achieve street status.

The Sunman Legion presented a written request for their property to be annexed into the town. Their prop
erty is located on Eastern Avenue just outside the town limits. The board approved the request. Ordinance 1-2004 to annex the property was presented for primary adoption. After publication, the ordinance will receive final adoption at the March board meeting.

Town Board Member John Campbell and Clerk Treasurer Kris Schneider met with the Department of Commerce, Ripley County Economic Development and Southeastern Indiana Regional Planning regarding the sewer expansion to the Seever Development at Penntown. The next step is to meet with the
Environmental Working Infrastructure Group for their assistance in getting grant money for the project.

On February 15, the town experienced two water main breaks. The town employees as well as a crew from Lykins Contracting worked through the pre-dawn hours until the repairs were completed. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management was notified and a boil advisory was announced. The advisory was lifted the afternoon of February 19. The town board members expressed their gratitude for everyone's hard work in the Seeds of Philanthropy" luncheon put on by the Ripley County Community Foundation.

Town board members Wayne Jenner, Mike Wolff, and John Campbell were in attendance. Also, present to advise the board were Attorney Jack Kellerman and Clerk-Treasurer Kris Schneider. The next board meeting will be held March 18 at 6:30 p.m. at the Sunman Town Hall.