Redkey working toward revitalization

REDKEY — A downtown revitalization study is one step closer to becoming a reality.

Redkey Town Council approved a Slum and Blight Area Declaration Resolution at Thursday’s meeting, which is the next step to applying for a $30,000 grant from Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs.

Council also heard an open house has been scheduled for the new fire department and agreed to take proposed health insurance changes under advisement.

Jay County community development director Ami Huffman told council the downtown revitalization committee met and chose the west side of High Street from Railroad Street to Meridian Street and Meridian Street from Main Street to East Bell Avenue as the area of focus for the downtown revitalization study.  

Council in October had approved having Huffman organize a committee and approach Redkey Economic Development Board about spending $3,500.

A liaison from OCRA met with Huffman and the committee members Wednesday.  

“The liaison was very impressed with everything that’d been done here,” Huffman said, mentioning the storefronts that have been filled downtown.

In addition to the resolution, council president Ted Friddle signed a letter of intent to send to OCRA to indicate the town’s intent to apply for planning funds.

Redkey Fire Chief Randy Young informed council members Charles “Red” Coons, Doug Stanley, Mike Wright and Friddle, absent Dave Dudelston, that an open house for the new fire station at 20 S. Ash St. is scheduled for 2 to 4 p.m. Dec. 10, with a possible Jay County Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting at the same time. Young asked board members to speak at the event.

The new station was constructed with the help of a $400,000 OCRA grant.

Council agreed not to exceed spending $10,000 from the local option income tax funds for items still to be completed at the fire station before the open house, including an antenna tower, cabinets, sink and plumbing, an air compressor, air and water lines and reels, shelving and signs from Display Craft. It also decided not to spend more than $1,200 from the general fund for drainage tile and stone.

Bob Brown and Aaron Walter from Barnum-Brown Insurance spoke to council about health and property insurance. Walter proposed the town stay with United Healthcare for another year. Council needs to choose between a $500 deductible and $1,000 deductible, with a higher premium, and whether to raise the co-pay from $25 to $30. Council set a meeting for 4:30 p.m. Nov. 29 to further discuss insurance needs with Barnum-Brown.

In other business, council:

•Approved paying $5,750 to update Keystone software to Key-Fund for clerk-treasurer Debbie James.

•Heard that deputy Monty Shrack is expected to return to police work for the town next week. Shrack had suffered a broken bone and has been off for six weeks.

•Heard from Mitch Hansel of Fleis and Vandenbrink Engineering that a meeting to close on the loan for the sewer separation project needs to be set between Dec. 1 and 16, with two pre-construction meetings to follow.  

•Learned that Santa Claus will visit at the town’s gazebo at 6 p.m. Nov. 25.

•Agreed to have Coons draw up a standard operating procedure manual for the street department after discussing the personnel policy ordinance for town employees.

*Agreed to have James call about having the patcher for the street department repaired at a cost of $200.

•Named Stanley as council’s representative to Redkey Economic Development Committee replacing Dudelston.

•Approved not to exceed spending $1,000 for repairs and tires for the city’s 2005 Chevrolet truck.

•Voted to have part-time employee Scott McCaffery return his keys and cell phone until he returns to work from injuries and scheduled an executive session for 6 p.m. Dec. 12 to evaluate his job performance.

•Asked Young to check on contractors for snow removal and heard that Young and Coons also volunteered to help with snow removal.

*Heard from James that as of Jan. 1 her office will no longer notify residents by phone that their water is going to be shut off. Residents receive a notice of shut-off with their monthly water bill.

•Approved claims of $415,120.03.