Redkey to get Dollar General

REDKEY — Work to break ground on a new Dollar General store will start in August.

Redkey Town Council approved an agreement with the company to handle maintenance of the extension of Ash Street that will be part of the new construction.

Town council also discussed the schedule for repaving roads throughout town that have been dug up during sewer separation work and approved submission of a grant request to help pay for new playground equipment.

Redkey’s new Dollar General store will be located north of Indiana 67 and west of Wills IGA.

Andrew Rossel, representing the company, requested that the council agree to manage the extension of Ash Street that will be installed by the company. Council approved the proposal, as the area north of Indiana 67 in line with Ash Street is surveyed as a part of the street, despite no physical street being there now.

Rossel said a ground-breaking is scheduled for August, but he did not provide a projected opening date for the store.

Council members Doug Stanley, Dave Dudelston, Charles “Red” Coons and Mike Wright, absent Ted Friddle, also heard an update from Fleis & Vandenbrink engineer Sri Venugopalan on ongoing work on the town’s sewer system and wastewater treatment plant.

Venugopalan said all underground pipes at the wastewater treatment plant have been installed, and that concrete work will begin soon. He also submitted a work change directive, which council approved, that will save the town $6,012.

Patching of the streets that have been torn up for sewer separation is expected to begin in the next two to three weeks, after concrete work is completed on sidewalks.

According to Venugopalan, the streets will be patched and paved with asphalt that will last until spring, when the town officials will submit a proposal for Community Crossing grant money to repave streets throughout the town. Milling will begin on Main Street from Elm Street to Indiana 67 today.

Council also approved a grant proposal that will request between $40,000 and $50,000 from the Portland Foundation for new playground equipment for Redkey’s park. The proposal will be submitted through Redkey Junior League, a non-profit, to give the town a better chance of receiving the funds. If the grant is awarded later this year, council will discuss the specifics of what type of equipment it would like to install at the park.

In other business, council:

•Heard from fire chief Randy Young that the town needs more donations for its planned fireworks show on July 2. Donations can be made at MainSource Bank in Portland, Redkey Town Hall or Redkey Fire Station.

•Tabled a decision on purchasing a new utility truck for town employees in order to discuss specifications and examine budget options.

•Approved a purchase up to $15,302 to replace the town’s tornado siren, pending consideration of possible future bids and after further examination of Federal Emergency Management Agency requirements.

•Heard from Dudelston that Shane Branham will be contracted to replace burned out street lights downtown along High Street.

•Approved $813,484.58 in claims. Also separately approved $649,000.44 in claims from Brackney Inc., $222,670 from Crosby Construction and $39,396.91 from Fleis & Vandenbrink for work on the sewer system and wastewater treatment plant.

•Heard complaints from Gary Gardner about a contractor. Council told Gardner to submit his complaints in writing and they would bring it up in a future meeting with town contractors.