Redkey fire station roof approved

REDKEY — The Redkey Fire Station will finally be getting a new roof.
Council agreed Thursday to have Hatzell Brothers install a metal roof at a cost of $15,750.  
Also Thursday council learned the town’s sewer separation project is set to begin this fall, decided to advertise again for a part-time employee at the Redkey Wastewater Treatment Plant and hired an employee to mow town properties.
The town received $11,196 from Jay County Commissioners earlier this year and approved spending that money on the new roof, but the quote from Hatzell Brothers was more than $15,000.
Council members Mike Wright, Ted Friddle, Greg Curme and Charles Coons, absent Kyle Champ, decided to have Hatzell Brothers, a Redkey company, install the roof with the balance being paid out of the building fund.
Mitch Hansel of Fleis and Vandenbrink Engineering presented council with an update about the sewer separation project, saying work is slated to begin in September or October.   The amount of sewer line to be separated has been reduced to 7,800 feet because more lines were found that were already separated. The cost of that portion of the project has been reduced to $3 million.
“We want this to be a 40-year fix,” Hansel said.
Dave Harvey, project designer for the wastewater treatment plant, brought the final drawings that were sent to Indiana Department of Emergency Management for a permit and received approval Thursday. Improvements will include expansion of the lab, a new emergency backup generator, new headworks building, electrical room and dumpster room.
Council agreed to table a decision to hire a part-time employee at the wastewater treatment plant after only one application was received.
They will advertise the job again.
Two bids were received to mow all properties in town and council accepted a contract with Kesler Excavating of Dunkirk at a cost of $398 per mowing. The areas will include the former and present town hall, Redkey Town Park and ball diamonds, areas around walking paths to school, the gazebo, fire department, street department garage, water plant and Pioneer Cemetery.
In other business, the council:
•Heard letters will be sent to residents Monday about junk ordinance 2015-1.
•Changed the location of the recycling dumpster from Will’s I.G.A. to the parking lot of the old city building at 20 S. Ash St.  
•Learned that hydrant flushing will be from 8 to 4 p.m. Monday through May 15.