Council allots $$ for firetruck

REDKEY — The fire department has been granted funds to purchase a new firetruck.

Redkey Town Council agreed Tuesday to allot $75,000 from the cumulative capital improvement fund to go toward buying a pumper truck.

Firefighter Mark Leavell reminded council at its meeting that Redkey Fire Department is in need of a new pumper truck. He’s brought up the topic multiple times at council meetings since he first presented options to council in February.

The fire department’s backup pumper is more than 44 years old. The 1981 truck barely passed the annual state-mandated pump test last year, Leavell said, with black smoke billowing out of the engine.

He offered potential solutions in February, suggesting council could replace the engine or purchase a new truck. They could buy a used 10- to 15-year-old firetruck ranging between $175,000 and $200,000. Used trucks around 20 to 25 years old cost between $100,000 and $125,000. Used firetrucks around 30 years old cost between $50,000 and $75,000.

At that time, Leavell suggested looking into using dollars from the cumulative capital improvement fund, which had approximately $141,000 available. 

Council over the last several months has been back and forth on how to pay for the cost, with concerns about whether they are legally allowed to use the cumulative capital improvement fund for such purchases. They discussed financing through Indiana Bond Bank and looking into grants. 

Leavell said Tuesday purchasing a firetruck is a viable usage for the cumulative capital improvement fund. If council allotted $125,000, he added, they could purchase a 20- to 25-year old firetruck, which he said would be 10 years newer than the fire department’s other firetruck.

Redkey utility worker Ted Kolodka pointed to a few different grant options the town could look into, such as Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Assistance to Firefighters grant program. Leavell expressed concern with the little progress the town has made toward securing dollars through Indiana Bond Bank since earlier this year, with Civitas Strategies government adviser director Pete Olson noting they should now be able to get through the process quickly.

After discussion, Leavell, Kolodka and council members agreed they didn’t want to fully deplete the cumulative capital improvement fund. (They also pointed out the need to replace the fire department’s other truck in the future.)

Council then agreed to use $75,000 from the fund for purchasing a truck, with the additional amount to come from Indiana Bond Bank as well as other funding sources, such as grants or dollars from Redkey Economic Development. “Watermellon” Jim Phillips dissented, saying he would prefer they look into grant options before committing funding.

Kolodka also announced that the town has joined the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Water Technical Assistance Program. Kolodka said Redkey is the first town in Indiana to participate in the program.

According to EPA’s website, its free Water Technical Assistance services may include identifying lead pipes for removal, enhancing resilience against cybersecurity threats, identifying adaptation strategies, providing resources for workforce development, addressing stormwater challenges and complying with the Safe Drinking Water and Clean Water acts. The program can also help entities apply for federal funding to go toward those efforts.

Redkey’s wastewater treatment plant regularly becomes overwhelmed with stormwater during heavy rain, explained Kolodka. Plans are to bring in construction engineering firm AECOM to analyze the town’s wastewater operations using hydrologic modeling over the next few years. From there, the company will propose solutions to help solve the plant flooding problem.

Redkey’s participation in the EPA Water Technical Assistance program was announced at the beginning of this month. Kolodka noted representatives have met a few times this month to get the process moving. He planned to meet Wednesday with county officials to discuss the combined sewer overflow (CSO) that originates in a rural part of the county just north of town and lets out near Main and George streets.

A few different entities are involved in the project, including Indiana Finance Authority and Alliance of Indiana Rural Water. Tina Henderson of Mendenhall and Associates, a partner with Indiana Finance Authority, will help the town to secure funds for studies and construction, according to a press release from Kolodka.

Council members Brenda Beaty, Jenny Staver, Byron Daugherty, Floyd Life and Phillips also introduced three new ordinances.

The weeds and vegetation regulation ordinance, as the name suggests, would set guidelines for weeds, grass and vegetation growth across town. It excludes shrubs, trees, cultivated plants or crops. According to the ordinance, property owners would be required to remove, cut or dispose of weeds, grasses and vegetation taller than 10 inches. Property owners would also need to maintain bushes, trees or hedges to prevent them from obstructing street signs, roads, intersections or sidewalks.

The solid waste collection, disposal and fees ordinance would require residential units to participate in the town’s solid waste collection program unless exempted. It would also require the town or its contractor to collect trash weekly and assign residential units one solid waste container each. (Additional containers may be rented at an extra cost.) Violations could incur a $25 fine with an additional $25 fine per day if not paid within 30 days.

The municipal utilities account administration ordinance would establish “uniform procedures for managing utility accounts to ensure accurate billing, protect Town resources, and maintain service continuity.” It would require Redkey residents and businesses to maintain active utility accounts with the clerk-treasurer’s office and lays out guidelines for new accounts, account transfers, discontinuance of service, deceased account holders, charges and billing, delinquency and enforcement.

Plans are to approve all three ordinances at the council’s November meeting.

Also Tuesday, council hired Jonathan Filameno as a police officer.

Filameno, a Dunkirk resident and Eastbrook High School graduate, previously worked as a jailer with Jay County Sheriff’s Office for one year, Grant County Sheriff’s Office for three and a half years and Van Buren Police Department for three and a half years.

Council also approved making Alex Heath the permanent town marshal. Heath, who was previously serving in the role on a temporary basis, recently returned from Indiana Law Enforcement Academy.

Also Tuesday, council approved the 2026 budget. 

Redkey’s budget sits at $753,217, which includes $173,044 in home-ruled funds not reviewed by Indiana Department of Local Government and Finance. Its $646,173 spending plan for 2026 is a $22,687 increase from the current year.

In other business, council:

•Approved the following: a 2025 contract between Redkey Fire Department and the Town of Redkey retroactive to the beginning of the year; purchasing a $10,135 snowplow, with Phillips dissenting; installing flashing stop signs at the intersection of Main and Harrison streets; bought partitions for the town’s police vehicle for $3,153 from Passive Security Solutions of Indianapolis; purchasing $2,499 in additional lights for the town’s utility truck from Passive Security Solutions; $249.31 in water bill adjustments; and reimbursing $250 to resident Roger Clay for a survey completed on his land surrounding Redkey Junior League’s grounds.

•Learned Staver is creating an application for folks interested in joining park board. To apply, contact Staver.

•Heard the following streets will be paved next year, with most of the cost covered by Community Crossings grant: Spencer Street from Sherman to Sheridan streets, Logan Street from George Street to Indiana 1, Plum Street from Indiana 1 to Oak Street, Oak Street from Main to Railroad streets, Burr Street from High to Main streets, Nixon Street from High to Main streets, Butler Street from Delaware Street to Bell Avenue, Spencer Street from Bell Avenue to Main Street, and Walnut Street from Central Avenue to High Street.

•Learned Indiana Department of Transportation didn’t recognize a few of the sections of streets previously submitted for the Community Crossings grant because they weren’t added to the state’s map of the town. The following streets will be added to the state’s map next year: Oak Street, which enters from Indiana 67 and has no outlet, Holmes Avenue, Union Street from Grandview Avenue to Sherman Street, Cleveland Street, Harrison Street, which is currently listed as an alley, Walnut Street from Union Street to Central Avenue, and Elm Street from Central Avenue.

•Were informed Phillips is organizing a program honoring veterans Nov. 8 at Redkey Masonic Lodge, with plans to also stream at least one movie at the old fire station across the street.

•Heard a report from Heath, who said he’s conducted 42 traffic stops and taken 15 calls for service since returning from the academy.

•Awarded Brian Waldo with an outstanding citizen certificate and Heath with a certificate for graduating from Indiana Law Enforcement Academy and his recent police work in the town.