Sewer substantially complete

The project to update the town’s sewer system is almost finished.

Redkey Town Council on Thursday signed a substantial letter of completion for the companies involved in its project to separate sewers and revamp the sewage plant.

It also discussed options for replacing a police vehicle.

Combined wastewater and stormwater lines were causing flooding in the town and overflow of untreated sewage into Redkey Run. The town had received notices of noncompliance from Indiana Department of Environmental Management for years, but had been unable to afford to fix the issues.

With the help of community developer Ami Huffman, the town was eventually able to secure a $3.9 million grant and $3.8 million loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2014.

Construction began in 2017 after a few years of planning. In addition to the sewer separation, the town’s wastewater treatment plant was upgraded with new equipment and a facelift, including a new roof.

That work is almost entirely complete, and the town was able to sign the letter and release retainages to Brackney Inc. and Crosby Excavating, the two companies involved in the project.

“We hold back a certain percentage of the contract in order to, I guess, have some leverage over them,” town attorney Wes Schemenaur said. “But once the project is substantially complete you are obligated to release that money.”

There’s one last thing on Crosby’s end that needs to be checked: That a leak in the roof and a window at the plant have been properly fixed. The town has to wait until the next heavy rain to check, and will send the retainage to Crosby Excavating afterwards.

Also on Thursday, council members Dave Dudelston, Doug Stanley, Ted Friddle and Randy May, absent Terri Taylor, discussed replacing one of the police department’s vehicles.

May, who oversees the town police department, told council the department’s 2013 Ford Explorer’s motor has blown out. The car has 150,000 miles, and police chief Todd Miller recommended either purchasing a new vehicle or putting a remanufactured engine in the car.

There’s about $24,000 in the town’s Local Option Income Tax fund, May pointed out, intended for use by the fire and police departments.

But clerk-treasurer Debbie James noted that the $36,000 purchase of a 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe for the police department last year substantially reduced the fund.

“Hopefully you don’t have a fire truck or another police car that blows up,” James said.

Council expressed concerns about replacing the engine of the existing vehicle as well. The department has two other vehicles and could possibly do without a third until enough money can be saved or budgeted.

Ultimately, council members agreed to allow Miller to seek quotes on a new vehicle for the department. They will determine how feasible it is to purchase a car when the quotes come back.

In other business, council:

•Heard that the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance had approved the town’s 2020 budget without adjustments.

•Learned that IDEM has signed off on the fence at the former dump site at the railroad tracks near Mooney Street and county road 650 South. The only thing left for the town to do is file paperwork at Jay County Courthouse banning the property from being sold or constructed upon.

•Approved a leak adjustment of $2,072.67 for a residence at 80 N. Sycamore St.

•Decided to seek quotes to repair the bar area of the Morgan Park cabin, which was damaged by a water leak during a recent heavy rain.

•Heard from Stanley that the town needs to start thinking about how it will replace a water line that runs beneath Spencer Street. He said council will likely need financial assistance to complete the project, which he estimates will cost between $180,000 and $200,000.

•Voted to pay up to $10,000 for camera work of the town’s sewer lines required by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.

•Heard that Redkey Police Department is interviewing 11 applicants for the position of deputy marshal. Michael Theurer resigned the position recently.

•Agreed to let Miller’s 28 vacation days to roll over into 2020. They will expire at the end of March.

•Decided to send a certified letter to Ron Byers, who owns six apartments that are hooked up to the town’s sewage lines without paying for the service. Byers was supposed to come to city hall to resolve the issue, but has not yet. James said the town is losing $310 a month.

•Learned that Santa Claus will be visiting the gazebo in downtown Redkey at 6 p.m. on Nov. 29.

•Paid claims of $147,609.87.