The Lockport Township Trustees approved a contract Monday evening governing the operation of streetlights in the Tamarac subdivision. At the township’s August meeting, the trustees finalized a special assessment district in the subdivision. The assessment district allows the township to collect funds from subdivision residents to pay for the streetlights.

Previously, the Tamarac Association paid for the lights’ electric bill with American Electric Power (AEP) from its membership dues. However, because the township can negotiate significantly lower government rates for the service, the association asked the township to step in. The township will pay the bill for the lighting each month and pass the costs along to subdivision residents through the assessment passed over the summer.

The contract signed Monday evening with AEP sets the terms for rates and payment. It also sets the service area for the lighting and establishes responsibility for any fee adjustments and for oversight and handling of any technical or repair issues that might arise.

Kuhlman Authorized to Bid on Tax Sale Properties

Also a Monday’s Lockport Township meeting, Code Enforcement Officer Doug Kuhlman was authorized to bid up to $2,000 each on two tax-delinquent properties from St. Joseph County. The township had right of first refusal on the properties before they went to bid but would have cost more had the township accepted that option. The properties, located on Ash Road, were previously under consideration for resort property-style development.

However, the township is now working with a local developer and the St. Joseph County Veterans’ Affairs Agency on the idea of developing small footprint “tiny houses” for veterans, with one house each on the two lots. Because the proposed houses would likely fall below the permissible square footages for the lots in question, there will likely be a future zoning hearing to accommodate the project if the purchase bids are successful.

In other Lockport Township business:

• Following two recent retirements, the township has voted Glen Wagner into the position of Water Operator at the township’s water department. Township Supervisor Mark Major currently holds the interim position.
• Township Clerk Tammy Babcock said she has sent out 1030 absentee ballots for the November General Election. To date, she said, 350 people have returned them.
• Cash accounts at the end of September were $1,014,610.64, down from $1,072,312.75 at the end of August.
• Trustees approved the hiring of a new cleaning staff person for the township hall, Babcock said.

Dave Vago is a writer and columnist for Watershed Voice. A Philadelphia native with roots in Three Rivers, Vago is a planning consultant to history and community development organizations and is the former Executive Director of the Three Rivers DDA/Main Street program.