Redkey records major water losses

REDKEY — The town lost approximately 12 million gallons of water this year.

Locations of the problem areas have yet to be determined.

Redkey Town Council discussed seeking proposals Tuesday to conduct studies on the town’s water and wastewater systems and find leaks. Council members also approved a contract with consulting firm Baker Tilly to conduct a water rate study on the town’s water and wastewater utilities.

Utility worker Seth Fugiett noted Indiana Department of Environmental Management conducted an inspection at the water department in July, issuing a list of items needing to be corrected moving forward. The state agency also cited Redkey for recording more than a 25% water loss.

The 12 million gallons lost comes to approximately $113,224 in lost revenue.

“That would pay everybody’s water bill for a month and a half,” said council member “Watermellon” Jim Phillips.

Redkey reported a 40% water loss starting in 2023, noted utility worker Ted Kolodka. Town officials had hoped new water meters would help to eliminate a majority of that loss, but it hasn’t seemed to resolve the issue. Council president Brenda Beaty recalled some of the old meters had been leaking.

“This isn’t a new meter problem, this is a leak in the main somewhere,” council member Byron Daugherty said. “This is not a residential issue, there’s no way — every house in Redkey could run their water wide open for a month and not accumulate that much water loss. This is serious stuff here.”

Beaty clarified that the leak is likely underground in Redkey somewhere. Multiple leaks are also a possibility.

Fugiett and Kolodka reached out to Ground Penetrating Radar Systems (GPRS) on Monday to discuss possible actions. The company proposed three options — a feasibility study of “concern” areas, a leak study of the entire town (approximately 9.5 miles of piping underground) or a leak study along with a map of the underground system.

Fugiett said the company is working on formal estimates.

Civitas Strategies government adviser director Pete Olson suggested the town start a request for proposals process for the work and seek quotes from other companies as well.

Relatedly, council approved a contract with Baker Tilly for a water rate study, with the cost not to exceed $22,000. Kolodka explained the study needs to be completed to meet requirements set by Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission as well as fulfill loan agreements for the town’s water tower and wastewater plant. He noted plans for Environmental Protection Agency to send a team to Redkey in January, saying the group will map the wastewater plant and help utility workers put together an asset management plan, the latter of which is also required by Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission.

Also Monday, Fugiett noted Indiana Department of Environmental Management cited the department for an issue with a part on a generator, which would cost $4,235 to replace. Fugiett said the town can avoid the cost by manually cycling the machine weekly.

Fugiett also told council his department refurbished an existing salt spreader for $220, saving the town an estimated $3,000 by not purchasing one new.

Council approved the following ordinances:

•A park fine ordinance that sets Morgan Park’s hours from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and allows the town to fine those in the park after the posted hours. Fines would be given in $50 increments, with the cost not to exceed $500. The ordinance aims to address loiterers and vandalism problems.

•A municipal utilities account administration ordinance to “promote sound administration, protect customer rights, and maintain the financial integrity of the town’s utility system.” It lists requirements for residents and businesses to maintain utility accounts with the clerk-treasurer’s office and lays out guidelines for new accounts, account transfers, discontinuances of service, deceased account holders, charges and billing, delinquency and enforcement, among other items.

It also amended the town’s ordinance addressing abandoned vehicles, trash, garbage, rubbish, weeds, debris, rank vegetation and public nuisances in Redkey. 

The ordinance gives town officials the right to task employees with abating violations.

Also, resident Bill Hall noted applications for Redkey’s Hometown Heroes Project are available at Redkey Town Hall, Redkey Junktion, Redkey Post Office and Citadel Supply, as well as Jay County Chamber of Commerce in Portland. Residents wishing to recognize a veteran relative with a banner may fill out an application. The cost is a one-time fee of $45.

In other business, council:

•Approved the salary ordinance for next year with no raises incorporated. Phillips dissented.

•Discussed amending the town’s ordinance regarding water adjustments. Resident Lee Funkhouser explained he discovered a leak on his property over the weekend, and with the cold temperatures the town hasn’t been able to access his water pit. Beaty noted the issue wasn’t a fault of Funkhouser’s or the town, and she suggested amending the ordinance to allow for some adjustments on a case-by-case basis.

•OK’d allocating two weeks of pay, or approximately $1,600, to reserve officer Matthew Heflin to help fill a potential gap in Redkey Police Department while officer Jonathan Filameno is attending Indiana Law Enforcement Academy and marshal Alex Heath is on paternity leave. Beaty dissented, pointing to the amount of paperwork it will require for a short amount of time.

•Decided not to approve amendments to a service contract with Redkey Fire Department incorporating 3% raises for firefighters (approximately $800). Life dissented.

•Heard from resident Roger Clay that he no longer wishes to look into details regarding his property next to the Redkey Junior League’s field in Morgan Park. (Council voted in October to pay $250 toward a survey on the land.) Clay expressed concerns in July about liabilities in the event a player were to get injured on his property. He voiced frustration Tuesday with the way the situation has developed, questioning why he hasn’t received the town’s payment toward the survey. Town attorney Maura Hoff said per state law the town isn’t allowed to make a payment without an invoice. Clay advised folks to “just stay off my property.”

•Re-elected Beaty as president and elected Daugherty as vice president for next year.

•OK’d spending up to $1,450 on new flashing stop signs at the intersection of Main and Harrison streets.

•Recognized Bill and Mary Hall for their volunteer efforts across town.