Redkey combines street funds, work slated (06/22/04)

REDKEY — Several summer improvement projects will soon be getting started here.

Town council members Monday voted to accept a low bid for street paving work for a variety of locations in the community. Last year the council did not have adequate funds to cover any substantial street repair projects, so it decided to save what money it did have.

Monday evening, council members unanimously agreed to combine the street repair funds for last year and this year to repair about a dozen problem areas. They accepted a low bid of approximately $36,000 from American Asphalt of Muncie to repair streets and intersections at a variety of locations including Oak Street near Main Street United Methodist Church; an area near the Redkey Post Office; the intersections of Delaware and George streets, as well as Plum and Union; and Spencer Street near the Indiana State Police post.

Also accepted Monday night was an additional bid of $9,488 from American Asphalt to pave a bicycle trail/walking path from the downtown mini-park and town hall area to Redkey Elementary School. This will provide a “greenway trail” for children to get to and from the elementary school, rather than having to walk in the streets.

Town council president Violet Erlenbush explained that grant money from Norfolk Southern Railroad, recently given to the town in exchange for allowing the railroad to make some alterations in its right-of-way areas, would be used for this project. A motion made by Councilwoman Dixie Toy was unanimously approved.

Also Monday, town employee Greg McIlwain reported he is in the process of repairing water meters throughout town. He said 95 percent of the meters in the first area, slated for such repair work, are now in good working order, and he is starting on a second area.

In other business Monday night, town council members:

•Heard a report from Redkey police officer Matthew Arnold that the department is going to step up enforcement of all-terrain-vehicle and moped regulations in the community.

•Noted that some Redkey resident apparently owns a rooster which crows each day at about 6:30 a.m. Councilwoman Dottie Quakenbush said keeping (Continued on page 2)

(Continued from page 1)

livestock in the town violates a town ordinance. She asked the police to find the rooster and ask the owner to keep it outside town limits.

•Learned that Redkey’s Independence Day fireworks celebration will be held on Saturday, July 3, with baseball and softball games as well as other activities during the day in Redkey Park on Mooney Street. The Redkey Fire Department will sponsor a fireworks show, starting at about 9 p.m. July 3 at the park.

Also newly-appointed town attorney John Brooke volunteered to help the firefighters with that show. Brooke has a certificate in fireworks display procedures.

•Noted the fire department will sponsor a fund-raising truck and tractor pull, with competition starting at 1 p.m. Saturday in a field along Ind. 1 on the south side of Redkey.

•Heard a report from Delford Lowe about the town’s park and park cabin operations. Lowe said the park committee was interested in obtaining any paperwork which past board members might have. Also he asked for some clarification about which groups can use the park cabin without paying rental fees.

Town clerk-treasurer Brenda Adkins said that local clubs and sororities as well as youth-oriented organizations have not been asked to pay fees in the past.

•Approved a contribution of $500 for the Jay County Community Corrections program to help with having jail inmates perform community service work in local communities. Erlenbush explained Redkey has been benefiting from such services this year.[[In-content Ad]]