Redkey to look at water issues

With a new president at the helm, Redkey Town Council will be focusing on water and sewage issues over the new few months.

Council members elected a new president and vice president Thursday after the resignation of former president Terri Taylor from the board last month.

They also approved an adjustment for a resident with a water leak underneath her house, going against a policy change that went into effect this year.

The meeting began with the welcoming of new council member Dottie Quakenbush, who was appointed by Jay County Democrats to finish out Taylor’s term. Interim president Gary Gardner, who previously served as vice president, was elected president, and Quakenbush was elected vice president of the board.

Gardner noted several changes he wants to make to the town’s ordinances. They include making the utility deposit refundable for homeowners, eliminating sewer inspection fees and relaxing the adjustment policy for leaks.

While the town had previously provided adjustments for residents with leaks both underground and below their homes, the board (which had four different members at the time) voted to change the policy as of Jan. 1 and only allow underground leaks to be adjusted. 

In July, Redkey resident Becky White requested an adjustment for a leak under her house. She said that she had no way of knowing about the leak until it caused damage to her house. After tabling and discussing the issue over the past two months, council members decided to grant the adjustment.

Several council members voiced their support of changing the ordinance to allow for adjustments for leaks underneath houses. However, town employee Randy Young warned that the state could take issue with excessive adjustments, especially because municipalities are now required to complete water loss audits every two years.

“Eventually they’ll come back and tell you that you can’t give that water away,” Young said. “You don’t operate a business that way. … They want to know where every drop of water is going and why it’s not getting paid.” 

He also pointed out that the water department needs to build up its funds in case of an emergency.

“You look at the water department right now, and it is in very poor shape. We can’t even afford to do stuff right,” Young said. “One water main break this winter, we’ll be broke.”

Council members were supposed to discuss adjustments and other possible changes to the water ordinance at Thursday’s meeting, but most had not yet read over the document. That discussion is now scheduled for October’s meeting.

Also on Thursday, council settled a long-running discussion by selecting a new police vehicle. After receiving two quotes for a Dodge Durango, council members chose the lower offer of $29,789 from Fuqua Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM in Dunkirk. The town will use $10,000 from the Local Option Income Tax fund as a down payment, with the remaining monthly payments coming from the police department’s budget.

The board also approved the first reading of the 2021 budget after holding a public hearing. The proposed budget is $572,784, up from $554,961 proposed for 2020 — a 3.2% increase. 

In other business, council members Randy May, John Pierce, Erik Hammers, Gardner and Quakenbush:

•Approved an ordinance lowering the speed limit to 10 miles per hour around Redkey Morgan Park. The new speed limit will be in effect on Central Avenue from Mooney Street to Morgan Drive, Morgan Drive from Central Avenue to Mooney Street and Mooney Street from Central Avenue to the town limit.

•Also approved an ordinance restricting truck traffic in town in anticipation of construction on the Indiana 67 bridge on Redkey’s northwest corner, scheduled for 2021. Vehicles exceeding 20,000 pounds, designed to haul a trailer or other vehicle, and semi-trucks will not be allowed to drive on Main Street between Indiana 67 and Indiana 1. Drivers could receive a $500 maximum fine for violating the ordinance.  

School buses and state, county or town-owned vehicles are exempt, along with trucks making deliveries on Main Street and vehicles driven by business and property owners along the route.  

•Discussed an employment agreement for Redkey’s newest police officer, Chad Ridenour.

•Heard that the water department will be flushing fire hydrants from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 5 to 9.

•Learned that the Morgan Park Cabin refrigerator needs to be replaced. Quakenbush, who was assigned to oversee the parks and sewage departments, will look into buying a scratch-and-dent refrigerator.

•Heard that paving of sections of Main, High and Butler streets should begin in the next two weeks. The paving is being paid for with an Indiana Department of Transportation Community Crossings grant. 

•Approved claims of $110,869.82.