SCHERERVILLE | Usually when the Schererville Town Council votes on its monthly bills there aren't many questions or objections.

But at last week's meeting, one item caught the eye of Councilman Tom Schmitt.

He wanted an explanation for a $5,100 claim.

Town Manager Bob Volkmann explained the bill was for a right of way the town thought it purchased from Richard Kortenhoven in 1998 for the 77th Avenue project. The project extended 77th Avenue, connecting it from U.S. 41 to St. John Road.

The town wrote and mailed a check for the land, but it was never cashed, he said.

"It just kind of resurrected itself earlier this year," Volkmann said.

The matter came up recently when Kortenhoven subdivided his property and was taxed on the approximately 100-foot by 20-foot plot of land that he thought he sold to Schererville a decade ago. The land likely was included in tax bills over the years but went unnoticed, Volkmann said.

Volkmann looked through the records and talked to a staff member who remembers that, after the check wasn't cashed for two years, payment was stopped, and the money was put back into the town's account.

The check's whereabouts remain unknown.

Volkmann said he surmises it's in a legal file somewhere or that it was delivered but got lost in a shuffle of paperwork and never cashed.

Volkmann said he thought, "We need to make this right and reissue this man his check."

And so they did. The council voted unanimously on the claims, which includes the $5,100 check.

"The check's in the mail, huh?" Town Council President Hal Slager joked.