LAPEL — The sale of Taiko, Lapel Police Department’s drug-detecting K-9, has been delayed.

The department purchased Taiko from Ultimate K-9 and planned to sell him to Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.

But Ultimate K-9 is not on IMPD’s list of approved K-9 vendors.

Ultimately, however, it looks like that will change and the sale will proceed.

“We’re still going to make the sale. It’s just taking a little longer than anticipated,” Lapel police chief Kelly Naselroad said.

Lapel officers who had been qualified handlers for the dog — a 4-year old Belgian Malinois — are no longer with the department, so Naselroad had been searching for another department to purchase the dog.

IMPD Drug Task Force agreed to take Taiko, who was purchased from Ultimate K-9 through donations by Lapel businesses in 2017.

Naselroad said an application has been submitted to get Ultimate K-9 on IMPD’s list. If approved, the sale will take place.

Initially, the sale was to be for $5,000. IMPD countered with a $4,500 offer, which was expected to be approved at the next town council meeting (Wednesday, Aug. 14, after press time).

“The most important thing is to get the dog back to work,” Naselroad said. “The sale is still moving forward.”

Issues at lift station

Lapel Town Council also addressed an ongoing issue with a lift station on County Road 300 South.

Mentioned initially at a June council meeting, grinder pump problems continue to occur because of an obstruction caused by string mop heads getting into the system.

The town already has replaced pumps multiple times this year, costing $6,000 per pump.

To help with the continuing problem, the town is exploring the option of purchasing metal nets around the pumps (there are two at the station) to keep the mop heads from causing damage.

Cost for the nets are estimated to be $1,200 per pump.

Community Crossings grant

RQAW, the town’s engineering and design firm, confirmed the town’s application to Indiana’s Community Crossings matching grant program was turned in for the August round of grants.

The town is seeking $420,000 to help fund improvements to Main Street from State Road 13 to Ninth Street and from Ninth Street to 14th Street, including roadway, sidewalk and curb repair.

Also covered in the grant application is the repaving of Ford Street from State Road 13 to Third Street and Ninth Street from Main Street to Ford Street.

The matching grant program is a 75/25 percent state/town split. If Lapel receives the funding, its matching portion will be $105,000.

For the upcoming January round of grants, the town will look to widen and repave County Road 300 South, which will include the rehabilitation of a bridge. The town will request a larger grant for this project.

SMCF grant

The council voted to table its decision on how to use a $1,000 grant received from South Madison Community Foundation. The grant is to be received yearly.

Back to school party

It was confirmed at the meeting that Lapel’s Back to School Bash will take place from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Aug. 18 on Ford Street.