Upgrade will be revised (11/17/06)

REDKEY - It's back to the drawing board to revise a proposed upgrade to the town's water supply system.

Redkey council members heard a presentation Thursday night from two representatives of Commonwealth Engineering, Indianapolis, about needed improvements for the community's water system and the cost of those improvements.

When the engineers' estimate exceeded $2 million, Redkey council members asked that they rethink their proposals in an attempt to scale the project down to a more affordable level.

Commonwealth representatives Vincent Sommers and Patrick Zaharako explained that the town could be eligible to receive a $500,000 Community Focus Fund grant from the state of Indiana and use low-interest loans through the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development agency to provide funding for the rest of the project.

Due to the town's financial limitations at the present time, council members asked the engineers to try to reduce the overall scope of the project as much as possible, clerk-treasurer Sandy Kirby explained this morning.

She said that the engineers presented an update on the master water department plan, including the construction of a new water tower and tank, updating the present water plant and making improvements to the water main system.

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

•Were told that the Dec. 21 council session would feature an update from bond consultants relating to possible water and sewer utility rate increase figures.

•Learned that the new 2007 police car, ordered by the town in late September, had not been delivered yet. Consequently, council members directed that another attempt should be made to try to find a buyer for the police department's 2002 Ford F-250 four-wheel-drive pickup truck which features an extended cab and snow plow blade.

Council members said they would accept quotes, starting at $17,000 for the truck and snow plow attachment as a unit.

If they are not able to sell the vehicle, plans call for accepting the trade-in offer of $15,000 from Ken Kunkle Chevrolet-Cadillac which is where the town has placed its order for a 2007 Chevrolet police-special Impala for a quote of $19,293.

•Heard a report from Leslie Horn, a lawyer with the firm of town attorney John Brooke, that 17 delinquent water and sewer bill accounts were in the process of being taken to small claims court.

•Were informed that talks are continuing with Indiana and Michigan Power company officials about potential cutbacks in the use of electricity for the town's street lighting system.

Kirby said the I & M representatives have presented town officials with a map of where changes could be made and money saved by shutting off a portion of the community's street lights. Originally town officials had suggested shutting off every other street light in town as a way of saving money on Redkey's electric bill.

Kirby said the council plans to make a decision on the I&M proposals at the next regular town council meeting at 6 p.m. on Dec. 21 in town hall.

•Heard a report from Redkey Fire Chief Randy Young that Santa Claus' annual arrival at the gazebo in downtown Redkey is slated for 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 24. Santa will be arriving on a fire truck and available to chat individually with children at the gazebo, Young said.

•Discussed the annual contract with the volunteer fire department, proposing that a one-year extension be made with the cost remaining the same - $14,000. Kirby said this is scheduled to be finalized at the next council meeting.[[In-content Ad]]