Redkey creates fund for COVID relief $

REDKEY –– American Rescue Plan funding is making its way to town.

Redkey Town Council created a fund Thursday for the approximately $289,444.39 from the American Rescue Plan Act that will soon be available for the town.

Also Thursday, council members signed documentation for the town’s upcoming street paving project and heard from local residents about property and billing issues.

The American Rescue Plan Act’s contributions to states, local governments, tribal governments and territories must be spent on items related to or resulting from the coronavirus pandemic. Expenditures accepted under plan guidelines include the following: revenue recovery, economic development, infrastructure, individual or business assistance, public facilities and schools, regional collaboration, transportation entities and not-for-profit assistance.

Any projects or uses of the monies will also require approval from council, as outlined in the ordinance signed Thursday. Jay County Community Development director Christy Shauver said she will be submitting the funding request later today or early next week.

Also Thursday, council signed a contractor’s bid and a request letter for the Indiana Department of Transportation Community Crossings grant money awarded to Redkey for street paving.

INDOT awarded the town $151,317 for the project, with Redkey to contribute a 25% match of $50,439. However, bids for the project came in over the $200,000 estimate, with council choosing the lowest bid from Dirt Works & Asphalt Paving of Parker City for $219,122.

To cover the extra amount, Redkey requested and received approximately $27,000 from the county for its project. (These funds were allotted to the town in 2018 out of Bluff Point Wind Energy Center economic development funds.)

The roads set to be repaved by May 27 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

Council also heard a request from Redkey resident Nick Sinos for an adjustment on a more than $600 water bill at Redkey Baptist Church. (The bill is currently on hold until their request for a water meter test is completed.)

The church didn’t use “anywhere near” the 32,000 gallons it has been charged for recently in 2019 or 2020, and he suggested the water meter may be faulty. Town employee Randy Young said the church has some sort of water leak, perhaps a toilet, from footage he has seen.

No action was taken on the matter at Thursday’s meeting.

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

•Heard from James and Jennifer Staver about the lot at 26 E. Main St. The property that sits next to their own has overgrown grass, Jennifer Staver explained, and she said they would like to purchase it or have someone mow the grass. She noted the current owner is now serving a prison sentence in Colorado. Because it is not up for tax sale and not owned by the town, council members explained, they cannot sell the property to the Stavers.

•Rejected a proposal from Gardner to make street parking 15 minutes only on the west side of the post office.

•On a 3-2 vote, approved hiring Tim Fishbaugh as the new night shift police officer, with Quakenbush and Hammers dissenting. (Quakenbush noted her concern was that he lives 50 minutes north of the town.)

•Paid claims of $109,603.48.