The town of Crothersville’s plan to use Community Crossing grant to help pay for replacing a failing bridge on South Preston Street will have to be put on hold, the town council learned last Tuesday,
Town Engineer Dan Wright with FPBH told the council that INDOT was postponing the expected July application for local road and street repair grants. Federal highway cuts coupled with a bleak state budget showing a $2.4 billion loss of revenue since January were reasons for the delay.
“They are not doing away with the program or canceling the July grant submission, they say it is just being postponed until the state and INDOT can sort through the funding,” said Wright.
A bridge over the town’s main east-west natural drainage way is to be expanded and strengthen. The estimated cost of replacing the bridge and paving Preston Street from the bridge to Moore Street is $360,000.
Wright suggested that the town and his firm continue with the replacement plans, proceed to design the bridge replacement so that when the state gives the green light for grant submissions later this summer the town will be ready to quickly submit their application.
Gary Lakins came before the council to seek an exception to allow him to construct a home at 513 Seymour Road. The lot size is 50’x 135’ deep and the town’s ordinance calls for a minimum of 60 feet of road frontage. An older singlewide mobile home would be removed to allow for he construction of a 30’x60’ conventionally build home.
The council voted unanimously to waive the road frontage requirement clearing the way for the construction of thee new home.
In other matters the council approved closing the traditional streets for next month’s Red, White & Blue Festival on June 11-14. Preston Street will be closed from Oak to Main and Howard Street will be closed from Preston to Jackson. The council also gave approval for the traditional parade at 1:30 p.m. on June 14.
The council gave permission to spend $3,550.90 for four exterior security cameras at the town hall; agreed to a $50 sponsorship for the CHS yearbook, okayed a $795 expenditure for a third of a page ad in the Jackson County Chamber Magazine, and agreed to purchase an 8’x12’ yard barn for $3,450 for the police department K9 kennel.
The council approved the Aisin Drivetrain and Aisin Chemical IN tax abatement compliance forms as submitted.
The council learned of a vacancy on the town Safety Board an agreed to seek volunteers to serve on that local board.