Redkey to seek $$ for paving

REDKEY — The town is applying for more funds to pave streets this year.

Redkey Town Council agreed to apply for another round of Community Crossings, a grant program offered through Indiana Department of Transportation, during a meeting Thursday.

Clerk-treasurer Mary Eley noted the town’s last Community Crossings project — it includes Boyce Street between Sycamore and Meridian streets, Bell Avenue between Meridian and Washington streets, Sycamore Street between Indiana 67 and Main Street, all of Morgan Drive through Redkey Morgan Park — came in at a cost significantly lower than expected. The town was awarded $196,100.25 in grant funding last year. (The town was required to provide a 25% match, bringing the total available for the work to more than $250,000.) Winning bidder Brooks Construction of Fort Wayne came in well under that number at $158,131. The streets are expected to be paved sometime this spring.

Eley pointed out the town still has some funds allocated for paving — she referenced a portion of the $50,000 given to the town by the county from Bitter Ridge Wind Farm economic development funds — as well as additional dollars saved for paving. She explained council could apply for another grant with the town’s match at $50,000.

Council agreed to apply for another paving grant through the Community Crossings program.

Also Thursday, council learned it was not granted money through the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs’ planning grant program.

The town agreed in February to award a $90,000 contract to Choice One Engineering for a master utility study, with the agreement contingent upon the town receiving the grant funds. If selected, OCRA would have contributed $81,000 of the cost.

A master utility study would help the town look into its water, stormwater and wastewater utilities in order to identify issues and offer suggestions and potential funding sources to solve the problems, such as non-compliance with regulations enforced by Indiana Department of Environmental Management. The last master utility plan for Redkey dates back to 2003, according to local officials.

Eley noted the town can apply again for the next round of planning grant funds. Town employee Randy Young pointed out flooding caused issues last week at the wastewater treatment plant. He noted council will need to take action soon on its failure to meet a Nov. 30 deadline for removing two combined sewer overflows (CSO). (One CSO originates in a rural area and lets out into Redkey Run, and the other starts near Union Street.)

“We’re going to have to look (at) doing something,” he said. “I mean, (the planning grant) was one of the things we told IDEM we were waiting on. So the longer you push that off — they’re not going to wait around.”

Also, council heard from “Watermellon” Jim Phillips, who requested the town name bridges in honor of Redkey veterans killed in action. He asked if the town could put signs on either side of each bridge honoring a different veteran. Eley pointed out one of the bridges sits on Indiana 67, which could present an issue with Indiana Department of Transportation. Town attorney Wes Schemenaur said the town could discuss the idea with INDOT.

Council gave Phillips the OK to move forward with creating signs for the bridges.

“Sounds like a good, noble idea, so I don’t see any problem with it,” said town council president Erik Hammers.

In other business, council members Chance Retter, Floyd Life, John Pierce, Gary Gardner and Hammers:

•Awarded a three-year contract to Best Way Disposal for its trash services. The town currently pays $6,521 a month. Rates are expected to increase to $6,713 a month this year, $6,910.28 a month in 2024 and $7,113.04 in 2025. The town agreed in February to move forward with raising the garbage service rate for residents to $15 per month.

•Learned the town’s Easter egg hunt is slated for 10 a.m. April 8 at Redkey Elementary School.

•Heard council has received two applications for its open town marshal position.

•Tabled discussion on allowing Redkey Merchants to carry the town’s insurance for a summer concert series. The group plans to host three concerts this summer, one each in June, July and September. Eley noted it would cost the town an extra $75 for two concerts but she is unsure about three concerts. Council agreed to hold off on making a decision before it knew the cost.

•OK’d paying Watson Excavating $14,650 to repair a hydrant at the corner of Oak Street and Indiana 67.

•Invested $4,538 in a capital assets management program offered by Boyce Systems, with Retter dissenting. Eley advocated for having a system in place next year to ensure budgeting accuracy.

•Chose to continue using Kesslers Mowing services, which charges $398 per mowing.

•Elected Hammers as president and Retter as vice president of the council. They also assigned departments to each council member as follows: Hammers, wastewater; Gardner, street; Retter, police and parks; Life, fire; Pierce, water.

•Agreed to write off two outstanding checks that are two years old.

•Paid $81,470.53 in claims and agreed to pay $636 for new tires on a department truck.

•Made an $850.57 water bill adjustment.