Redkey will seek a grant

REDKEY — The town will make a play for more grant funds.

Redkey Town Council on Thursday authorized an application for a grant for its downtown revitalization process.

It also approved a change order for the town’s sewer separation project.

Jay County community development director Ami Huffman asked for comments during a public hearing on the application for a $30,000 grant from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs. The deadline to apply is Jan. 31.

“I think anything we do with the downtown revitalization — any type thing we can implement and get that money from the government — I think to put a positive spin on anything downtown I think is well worth it,” said Redkey Town Marshal Todd Miller.

“Anything that’s done down there is going to be an improvement over what it is right now,” council member Mike Wright agreed.

Council authorized applying for the grant.

Four firms expressed interest in working with Redkey on the plan, with the downtown revitalization committee having narrowed the list to three. It plans to meet with those firms on Jan. 26.

Council members Charles “Red” Coons, Dave Dudelston, Ted Friddle, Doug Stanley and Mike Wright approved a change order for the sewer separation project in the town on the advice of Mitch Hansel of Fleis & Vandenbrink Engineering.

Polyethylene will be used instead of concrete pipe, saving the town $25,000. The pipe is the same size but will have a better connection allowing more water to flow through, Hansel told council.

Stanley and Wright expressed frustration over the sewer separation project because of changes that have been made.

“What are we really left with after all these deductions and all these takeouts? Are we going to have a good system?” Stanley asked Hansel.

“You’re going to have a great system,” Hansel replied.

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Hansel explained that after the project is complete, Indiana Department of Emergency Management will offer a long-term control plan to monitor the overflow for two years. If there is too much overflow after that time, a new agreement will be implemented.   

Other change orders will be looked over by council to be approved at the next meeting.

In other business, council:

•Heard Reni Lawhead, who owns Reni’s Heaven Scent, request that potholes in the alley behind her shop be fixed. She was told that there isn’t enough manpower to do it at this time.

•Heard a request from Ryan Wolford to repair Holmes Avenue.

•Were informed that Miller hired Andrew Storie and Mitchell James as reserve police officers.

•Heard from fire chief Randy Young that the town may have a chance to participate in a maintenance contract for radios and pagers with the county at a cost of $1,286.

•Was given copies of ordinances on abandoned vehicles, electric box tampering, sidewalk obstructions, parking and a town personnel policy to review before the next meeting.

•Discussed developing a water use ordinance. Town attorney Wes Schemenaur suggested looking at other towns’ ordinances first.

•Heard from Schemenaur that a lawsuit from Jim Phillips was resolved in the town’s favor.

•Approved a job description for a town utility worker.