VEEDERSBURG, Ind. — Jim Wittier with Boyce Systems and Sherry Slaven with Keystone, a billing software company, spoke to town council members Tuesday evening about possible upgrades the town could make to its office.

Town council president Ken Smith described the current office equipment as “archaic and outdated.”

Slaven explained the computer program upgrade would make reports clearer, incorporate excel spreadsheets and allow reports to be e-mailed as needed. The town office billing program is running on DOS and requires a dot matrix printer for reports.

“The new program is a lot more user friendly,” Slaven said.

The upgraded program also would allow for the use of a laser printer to eliminate the dot matrix printer. The town also could change the way it bills its utility customers.

Council members agreed to consider the upgrade.

In other business, town council members:

• Approved the purchase of a new auto-dialer for the water plant in the amount of $732 from Peerless Midwest of Westfield, Ind. Town Superintendent Paul Keeling explained that in the event of an emergency at the water plant the auto-dialer contacts him by phone alerting him to a problem at the water plant.
• Heard that the council anticipates soon hiring a new meter reader for the town. The town’s deadline for applications is Sept. 7.
• Learned from Jim Abernathy, the town’s dog catcher, that there is one dog available for adoption in the town’s pound. Abernathy said the dog would make a good pet and is well trained.
• Learned from Town Marshal Neil Beck that at least five to six people have had their cars robbed in the past couple of weeks. The cars were unlocked so the thief didn’t even have to break into them. Stolen items included stereos, CDs and a laptop computer. Beck recommends residents lock their vehicles.
• Heard from John Setty and Bryce Loring with Casey’s General Stores, who were looking for the council to approve an amendment to the zoning ordinance on non-residential subdivisions. The council all had read the amendment and didn’t have any problems. Ordinance 3-1was approved in a 4-0 motion.
• Heard from resident Bob Thomas, who relayed complaints from other residents about the five trash bag limit. The residents were under the impression the limit was lifted with the last garbage rate increase. The town council responded that the five bag limit was never removed.
• Heard from Councilman Bob Barker that the Redevelopment Commission approved $32,585 in TIF funds for street work in the TIF district. The Redevelopment Commission also approved a guard rail to be installed around the peewee baseball diamond dugouts. Barker said the Redevelopment Commission also intends to have installed some of the old mill’s pillars at the old grain elevator location with informational signs. Finally, Barker said that the Redevelopment Commission discussed the wanting to have an engineer draw up a plan for a walk way connecting Veedersburg and Sterling when it is actually a possibility.
• Approved Ordinance 4-10 that allows the installation of stop signs on Meridian Street near the town park. Violations of the ordinance will result in $25 fines.