Town of Kennard

The meeting involved calling the meeting to order and conducting the pledge of allegiance, with the Clerk Treasurer absent, leading to a council member taking roll call. Key discussions centered on a public comment regarding a large fallen tree situated on town easement/public property that has fallen onto private property, necessitating estimates for removal and determining legal responsibility. A significant portion of the meeting addressed a resident's need for a letter from the Town, drafted by their attorney, confirming that a property's wastewater lateral connects to the town's sewer collection system to facilitate the acquisition of a building permit for renovations. There was also a discussion regarding the back payment of sewer fees dating back to April, when the residents moved in, and the process for transferring trash collection services from a private vendor to the town's provider.

The public hearing on ADA compliance focused on gathering public input to identify ADA challenges within the town's services and locations. Discussions included the lack of ADA-compliant curbs and sidewalks on various streets, the need for sidewalk connections, and issues with overgrown sidewalks. Specific locations such as State Road 234, Madison Street, and South Main Street were highlighted for lacking proper accessibility. Building issues at the town hall were addressed, including the absence of an automatic door opener, worn-out door closer, and rusted ramp railings. Park improvements were also discussed, emphasizing the need for accessible routes, inclusive play options, and slip-resistant surfaces.

The meeting included discussions and decisions on various town matters. The board approved the agenda and minutes from previous meetings. They reviewed a snow bid and approved JT's trenching and excavating for snow plowing. They also discussed sidewalk snow removal and tasks for Larry Tippet, including expanding capital assets to include Ker Lake Estates and completing the USDA yearly report. The police department requested Steven Straw be moved into a paid part-time contract to assist with training and paperwork. The fire department reported on calls and training, and the board discussed old business, including lift station access and pothole repairs. There was also discussion regarding a property with junk and the need to contact Home Free Enterprises to address the issue.

The meeting addressed several topics, including the approval of October's agenda, and the purchase of real estate from Mr. and Mrs. Freeman for a lift station road. Public comments covered issues such as making East Street continuous to the railroad tracks and road conditions in Canard Lake Estates. Officer reports included police department activities and fire department statistics. The council discussed wastewater department operations, road repairs, and the ADA transition plan, setting a public meeting date for November 12th.

The public hearing for the Town of Kennard's 2026 budget included a budget review. The clerk explained the changes that were made to the budget this year, and also explained that the motor vehicle highway budget is much higher this year because it is the last year that the town will be able to do the community crossings program with the state. The clerk also explained that there are some things that the town doesn't know what they will cost next year, so she has included extra money in the budget to make sure that the town doesn't have to do a special appropriation.