July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.

Changes are coming to Redkey's Morgan Park (10/19/07)

Redkey Town Council (10/19/07)

By By ROBERT BANSER-

REDKEY - Changes are being planned for Redkey's Morgan Park - including a new baseball diamond ready by next season.

A new concession stand and parking lot area are included in the plans discussed at Thursday night's Redkey Town Council meeting.

Councilman Charles Noble reported that he and other town officials and park board members met recently with Redkey Junior League representatives and plans for the changes at Morgan Park are proceeding.

Noble and town council president Doug Stanley described the meeting as both informative and positive.

Redkey Junior League leaders have a variety of plans for improvements at the park for which they plan to use grant funds.

Noble said that their proposals seem feasible and the town is willing to work with them on creation of a new tee-ball diamond, a new concession stand (with the present concession stand being converted to a storage building) installation of new fencing, and the closing of a section of Morgan Drive between Mooney and Central Avenues.

Council members unanimously approved an ordinance closing off a portion of Morgan Drive, as suggested by the Junior League, for safety reasons.

According to the new traffic plan, cars will be able to enter Morgan Drive from either direction but it will no longer be a through street. Vehicles will be able to approach the Redkey Park Cabin and nearby parking area from Mooney Street only.

Morgan Drive will be closed to traffic from a point 186 feet from the intersection of Morgan and Mooney to a point roughly 396 feet from the intersection of Morgan Drive and Central Avenue.

This plan is designed to make the area safer for pedestrian traffic, especially when the baseball and softball activities are in progress, council members said.

Noble said that more details about the Junior League proposal are still being worked out, and he expects another joint meeting will be held in the near future.

In other business at Thursday night's meeting, town council members:

•Noted that fire hydrants would be flushed throughout the community between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday. Residents should be cautious about doing laundry during these times, town officials said.

•Approved the filing of uniform conflict of interest disclosure statements by new town utilities employee William Tressler with the Jay County Clerk's office and Indiana State Board of Accounts. This is needed in order for Tressler's company, Tressler Backhoe and Trenching Inc. of Redkey to do any contract work for the town, as has been done in the past.

Tressler would be doing this work on his own time.

When Tressler was hired in September, a letter of agreement was signed by him and town officials that if a town project needed special equipment which the town didn't have available, such equipment could be rented from Tressler Backhoe and Trenching for the standard rate for each type of equipment needed.

The conflict of interest statement proposal was approved by a 4-1 vote with councilman Noble voting against it.

•Listened to a short presentation by William Bradley, newly appointed executive director of the Jay County Development Corporation. Bradley discussed his experience with economic development efforts in other parts of Indiana and his plans for the future in Jay County. Bradley said he would be happy to discuss any future projects with community leaders. "I'm happy to be here. If you have any questions, fire away," Bradley said.

•Reviewed a letter complimenting Redkey police officer Michael Daniels for his quick response and concern regarding a recent report of vandalism in the downtown area. "These are the types of letters we like to get," Stanley said.

•Agreed to review a request to vacate an unimproved alley on the south end of Redkey near Wayne Street by Redkey resident Randy May.

May said he owns the property on both sides of the alley.

•Listened to Redkey resident Wayne Stevens discuss the need for better traffic control and safety precautions in an alley near Redkey Elementary School, especially in the early morning hours when school children were present and it was still dark.

•Heard a report from Stanley that he and other town officials are continuing to meet with Indiana Department of Environmental Management officials about the need to prevent combined sewer overflows (CSOs) from polluting creeks and waterway ditches in the Redkey area during periods of heavy rain.

•Listened to a report from council member Dottie Quakenbush that the Redkey Area Chamber of Commerce's next meeting would start at 6:30 p.m. next Tuesday, Oct 23, in the Redkey Park Cabin. It will be followed at 7:30 p.m. by a presentation by Doug Inman concerning the Portland Foundation, she said.

•Were reminded that Halloween trick-or-treat hours in Redkey will be 6 to 8 p.m. on Oct. 31. Fire Chief Randy Young said the annual Halloween costume contest and parade for children will begin promptly at 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 31 in front of the fire station.

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