July 23, 2021 at 4:50 p.m.
Paving bids come in high
Redkey will request wind farm funds to cover additional cost
Paving bids come in high
By Rose Skelly-
REDKEY — The town will have to come up with extra money to repave several of its roads.
Redkey Town Council heard at its meeting Thursday that bids to repave six streets in town came in slightly over estimate, resulting in a funding gap.
They also approved changes to the water ordinance to make the move-in process easier for new homeowners.
The town was awarded $151,317 in Indiana Department of Transportation Community Crossings grant money in April, requiring a 25% match of $50,439 from Redkey. The town and Redkey Economic Development Corporation previously agreed to split the cost of the match.
Travis Richards of Jay County Development Corporation told council Thursday that four bids for the work all came in over the $200,000 budget — ranging from $219,122 to $273,000.
Richards recommended the town request money from Bluff Point Wind Energy Center economic development funds designated for Redkey in 2018, saying there was about $20,000 leftover.
“The initial intent of the money was to be used for paving, so I don’t see any issues from the county when using that leftover money to add to what you have,” Richards said.
If the county does not approve spending the wind farm money, town council will either have to come up with the money or scale back the project to fit within the allotted amount.
Council selected the low bid — $219,122 — from Dirt Works & Asphalt Paving of Parker City, conditional upon receiving the required funding.
The roads currently set to be repaved are:
•High Street between Meridian and Railroad streets
•Railroad Street between High and Main streets
•Sheridan Street between Meridian and Butler streets
•Grandview Street between Meridian and Butler streets
•Butler Street between Sheridan and Grandview streets
•Oak Street between Main and Vine streets
Also on Thursday, council approved giving new homeowners a grace period to fix plumbing problems at their houses and easier access to their water meter.
The water ordinance now allows homeowners 60 days to install a shutoff valve and to make any other necessary repairs to their plumbing without being fined.
Redkey Town Council heard at its meeting Thursday that bids to repave six streets in town came in slightly over estimate, resulting in a funding gap.
They also approved changes to the water ordinance to make the move-in process easier for new homeowners.
The town was awarded $151,317 in Indiana Department of Transportation Community Crossings grant money in April, requiring a 25% match of $50,439 from Redkey. The town and Redkey Economic Development Corporation previously agreed to split the cost of the match.
Travis Richards of Jay County Development Corporation told council Thursday that four bids for the work all came in over the $200,000 budget — ranging from $219,122 to $273,000.
Richards recommended the town request money from Bluff Point Wind Energy Center economic development funds designated for Redkey in 2018, saying there was about $20,000 leftover.
“The initial intent of the money was to be used for paving, so I don’t see any issues from the county when using that leftover money to add to what you have,” Richards said.
If the county does not approve spending the wind farm money, town council will either have to come up with the money or scale back the project to fit within the allotted amount.
Council selected the low bid — $219,122 — from Dirt Works & Asphalt Paving of Parker City, conditional upon receiving the required funding.
The roads currently set to be repaved are:
•High Street between Meridian and Railroad streets
•Railroad Street between High and Main streets
•Sheridan Street between Meridian and Butler streets
•Grandview Street between Meridian and Butler streets
•Butler Street between Sheridan and Grandview streets
•Oak Street between Main and Vine streets
Also on Thursday, council approved giving new homeowners a grace period to fix plumbing problems at their houses and easier access to their water meter.
The water ordinance now allows homeowners 60 days to install a shutoff valve and to make any other necessary repairs to their plumbing without being fined.
During that time period, a certified plumber may enter the water meter pit to turn the water off and on.
Previously, only city employees and designated officials were allowed to enter the pit, or the resident would be fined.
“This will take some hardship off of the new homeowner,” said Randy May, who proposed the change.
It was approved 3-1, with council president Dottie Quakenbush voting against. She said that she did not believe 60 days were necessary to make repairs.
In other business, council members Gary Gardner, Erik Hammers, Quakenbush and May, absent John Pierce:
•Agreed to join Jay County and several municipalities in applying for INDOT funding to upgrade about 40 railroad crossings in the county. INDOT requires any project that crosses over a railroad — such as the town’s planned sidewalk upgrade from Redkey Morgan Park to Redkey Elementary School — to also upgrade that railroad crossing.
•Heard that Gas Boom Days will be 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 14. There will be a parade at 11 a.m., Gospel music from 1 to 3 p.m., a cornhole tournament at 3 p.m., Greg Rhodes performing from 4 to 6 p.m. and a 50/50 raffle at 5 p.m. Throughout the day there will be food and shopping vendors, a dunk tank, a cake walk and a Redkey City Jail fundraiser.
•Learned that Sam Mauller, who was recently hired as a Redkey police officer, has resigned from his position. Council voted 3-1 to advertise for a new police officer; Hammers dissented, saying the town should consider downsizing the police force to save money.
•Heard that the public hearing for the 2022 budget will be Sept. 16, with the adoption meeting set for Oct. 21.
•Rejected a proposal from May to do away with the $15 fee for yearly golf cart registration.
•Tabled a proposal from Gardner to make street parking 15 minutes only in front of the Post Office.
•Donated $500 to the Redkey Fireworks Committee.
•Approved an adjustment of $159.94 for an underground water leak.
•Paid claims of $220,906.22.
Previously, only city employees and designated officials were allowed to enter the pit, or the resident would be fined.
“This will take some hardship off of the new homeowner,” said Randy May, who proposed the change.
It was approved 3-1, with council president Dottie Quakenbush voting against. She said that she did not believe 60 days were necessary to make repairs.
In other business, council members Gary Gardner, Erik Hammers, Quakenbush and May, absent John Pierce:
•Agreed to join Jay County and several municipalities in applying for INDOT funding to upgrade about 40 railroad crossings in the county. INDOT requires any project that crosses over a railroad — such as the town’s planned sidewalk upgrade from Redkey Morgan Park to Redkey Elementary School — to also upgrade that railroad crossing.
•Heard that Gas Boom Days will be 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 14. There will be a parade at 11 a.m., Gospel music from 1 to 3 p.m., a cornhole tournament at 3 p.m., Greg Rhodes performing from 4 to 6 p.m. and a 50/50 raffle at 5 p.m. Throughout the day there will be food and shopping vendors, a dunk tank, a cake walk and a Redkey City Jail fundraiser.
•Learned that Sam Mauller, who was recently hired as a Redkey police officer, has resigned from his position. Council voted 3-1 to advertise for a new police officer; Hammers dissented, saying the town should consider downsizing the police force to save money.
•Heard that the public hearing for the 2022 budget will be Sept. 16, with the adoption meeting set for Oct. 21.
•Rejected a proposal from May to do away with the $15 fee for yearly golf cart registration.
•Tabled a proposal from Gardner to make street parking 15 minutes only in front of the Post Office.
•Donated $500 to the Redkey Fireworks Committee.
•Approved an adjustment of $159.94 for an underground water leak.
•Paid claims of $220,906.22.
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