Infrastructure and fire budget top Spencer Council agenda

Addressing both routine municipal projects and major budget concerns, the Spencer Town Council met Aug. 3 at the Spencer Municipal Building. Council members Jon Stantz, Evan McKalip, and Ginger Kohr were joined by clerk-treasurer Cheryl Moke as the council reviewed sidewalk replacements, park updates, and a funding shortfall facing local emergency services.

Following routine approvals for claims and meeting minutes, the council gave unanimous backing to a 250th anniversary community project set for Cooper Commons. The initiative, presented at no cost to the town, includes tree planting and commemorative signage. Council members welcomed the proposal, highlighting the rare occasion of the national milestone.

In street infrastructure news, the council approved a $15,800 expenditure for complete sidewalk replacements handled by contractor Steve Egemo, operating under a 50-50 cost-share split between the town and participating homeowners.

The council also approved two event and street closure requests: a special event permit for Home Team Properties behind 16 N. Main St. scheduled for Aug. 4, and a 45-minute closure of parking spaces near the Owen County War Memorial Wall along S. Main St. for an annual POW/MIA ceremony on Sept. 11.

Additionally, the council formally approved two engineering invoices from Commonwealth Engineers for Phase 1 wastewater improvements, totaling $20,110.36 and $5,730.85.

Spencer Police Department (SPD) Chief Terry Sips provided updates on department hiring, equipment, and operations. Out of roughly 36 applications for a replacement officer position, the applicant pool had been narrowed down to four top candidates, including two lateral transfers. The council also approved a $3,845.31 repair estimate from Summit Auto Repair for a 2013 Dodge Ram pickup truck requiring new lifters. Chief Sips noted the truck, with an odometer showing less than 50,000 miles, remains a valuable fleet asset for a future trade-in or continued use.

In street department news, superintendent Tony Floyd reported that crews were freshening crosswalks ahead of the 2026-2027 school year. He also presented the preliminary breakdown for the 2026 Community Crossings matching grant street projects, which carries a maximum town match of $52,497 out of a total project cost of $209,987.

Following a recent incident at Cooper Commons involving a damaged playground structure, street crews inspected and subsequently removed the unsafe equipment. The council approved $500 for lumber and materials to reconstruct the wooden playground platform. To replace older removed equipment and revitalize the area, the council unanimously approved purchasing two commercial-grade digger/excavator toys for approximately $2,212 to be installed in the pea gravel area of the playground. The council also discussed ongoing maintenance issues with fence ties at the pickleball courts caused by children climbing the back fence to retrieve lost balls, with potential plans to install a back gate in the future.

Owen Valley Fire Department Chief Lee Freeman presented a detailed breakdown of the Owen Valley Fire Territory’s growing operational demands and projected funding shortfalls for the 2027 budget cycle. Current coverage relies on five full-time firefighters working 40 hours a week, seven part-time weekend staff, and 10 volunteers. Station staffing covers only about 50 percent of the total hours, Freeman said, forcing remaining calls to rely on off-duty personnel responding from home. Emergency calls have nearly doubled from 596 calls in 2020 to 1,189 calls in 2025, with 690 calls already logged to date in 2026. On-station response averages seven minutes, whereas off-duty response from home takes 15 minutes or longer. To achieve dual-firefighter station coverage 24/7, the territory proposed a $727,718 budget for 2027, leaving a projected budget shortfall of $162,718. Hiring three full-time firefighters for $18/hour would allow round-the-clock coverage.

Chief Freeman requested the town consider assisting with the shortfall. Council members acknowledged the critical service provided by firefighters but highlighted severe ongoing financial pressures on municipal budgets, upcoming state property tax restructuring, and the potential loss of public safety tax funds.

Council members and department heads later agreed to coordinate attendance at upcoming county-level meetings to discuss public safety funding strategies. Additionally, the council voiced no objections to a request from the Owen Valley Sports Complex to burn a brush pile cleared during tree removal for a new entrance parking lot, provided proper burn permits are acquired.

Council members noted that downtown parking meters have officially been removed. However, the mounting posts will remain temporarily while the council reviews post office loading zone restrictions, time limits, and overall parking signage to prevent abandoned vehicle issues.

The Spencer Town Council meets on the first and third Monday of each month beginning at 6 p.m. in the Spencer Municipal Building, 90 N. West St.