Redkey awards paving contract

REDKEY — Three local streets will get a facelift this summer.

Redkey Town Council at its meeting Thursday awarded a paving contract for Wayne, Union and Main streets to Milestone Contractors.

Council also approved two new ordinances and discussed the need to create a valve replacement plan for the city’s water system.

Jay County community development director Ami Huffman opened a pair of bids for the paving work. Council awarded the contract to Milestone, which had the lower bid at $65,286.50. The other was from Brooks Construction for $67,779.40.

Council members Doug Stanley, Dave Dudelston, Charles “Red” Coons, Ted Friddle and Mike Wright also approved two new ordinances dealing with alleyway obstructions and rubbish.

The ordinances were passed as part of an effort to clarify the town’s ordinances. The alleyway ordinance implements a penalty up to $2,500 for residents who block alleys with their parked vehicles or other items.

The rubbish ordinance specifies that residents may not allow rubbish to collect in the streets or around their residences or businesses. That includes lumber, plastics, glass, motor vehicle parts and “any other thing or substance of any kind which is no longer usable for the purpose for which it was manufactured.” The daily penalty for violating the ordinance is between $100 and $2,500.

Town Marshal Todd Miller said he plans to step up enforcement of the town’s ordinances next week, especially regarding high weeds, abandoned vehicles and trash and rubbish.

“If you were cited last year, hopefully there’s been some improvement in properties … if not you’ll get a visit by the police department again,” Miller said. “We hope for compliance, we will give those residents a chance to correct those violations before they are cited in court.”

Water department head Randy Young said the town needs to create a valve replacement plan for the city’s aging water system.

The entire town is currently under a boil order because of work on the city’s water system. He said many valves no longer work or are covered in debris, and that replacing them would allow work to be done on sections of the town’s water system without having to shut water off for all of Redkey. Council agreed that creating and implementing a plan should be a priority.

In other business, council:

•Approved street closure requests presented by Ronda Short on behalf of the Redkey Festival Committee for closing High Street during a series of festivals over the summer and fall. Council approved the closure of High Street on May 19, 20 and 21 for the BBQ and Blues Festival, August 18,19 and 2 for Gas Boom Days, a vehicle drive-in on June 17 and Fall Festival on Oct. 27, 28 and 29.

•Approved a workman’s compensation insurance payment of $9,067.

•Highlighted the town’s upcoming garage sales on May 12 and 13, and cleanup day on May 20.

•Heard from Coons that there are still town residents who are using septic systems and aren’t connected to the town’s wastewater system. Town attorney Wes Schemenaur said he will draft a letter to send to those with septic systems instructing them of the ordinance violation and the need to disconnect their septic system.

•Heard about complaints received from residents about the state of the town’s roads during the ongoing sewer separation project.

“That’s just the nature of the project, we can’t help that,” said Stanley.

The work is scheduled to be completed in October.

•Approved a $350,188.27 pay estimate from Brackney and Fleis-Vanderbrink Engineering for ongoing work on the city’s wastewater system.

•Approved $350,607.84 in claims.