An imminent sewer rehabilitation project, proposed speeding ordinance and closing town streets for a community festival were among the matters addressed by the Crothersville Town Council when they met April 5.
Kimberly Blanchet, attorney with Barnes & Thornburg of Indianapolis, was on hand to give an overview of the bond ordinance which will be required for the sewer project.
The project costs are estimated at $2.11 million dollars with a little over $1.428 million paid from by a state grant of federal money, she said. The loan on the balance would be paid every six months at an interest rate of 2.25% over 40 years.
“You have a very good loan rate. Most we are seeing are in the 4% range,” said Blanchet.
Town Council president Ardell Mitchell said it is the town’s intentions to finance the project over 40 years but make accelerated loan payments so that the project is paid off in 30 years.
Additional discussion was held on a proposed speed limit ordinance in town.
“I think 30 miles an hour is too fast on West Howard Street. I think it should be 20 mph,” said councilwoman Karen Mains, who lives on West Howard Street.
“And I think 30 mph is too fast on North Kovener Street,” said Kovener Street resident Lenvil “Butch” Robinson.
“Howard is a main thoroughfare like Main Street and East Howard Street,” said councilman Bill Nagle. “Irresponsible people are going to be irresponsible (in their driving). We need to be strict about enforcement of any town speed laws.
To continue moving the ordinance process along the matter was approved on first reading. Changes to the ordinance can be done at the second reading, according to town attorney Travis Thompson.
While the usual routine approval of closing some town streets for the June 9-11 Crothersville Lions Club Red, White & Blue Festival was okayed, an alternate route for emergency vehicles during the Saturday parade was met with a snag.
Todd Baker, representing the Crothersville Lions Club asked that the usual streets be closed for the three day festival: Preston Street from Oak to Main and Howard Street from Jackson to Preston which request was approved.
But Baker’s emergency vehicle route during the parade was not approved.
“The town will not be approving the emergency vehicle route,” said president Mitchell. “You have the emergency route going onto private property.”
The emergency route during the one-long parade was proposed to us a portion of East Walnut Street which has not yet been approved as a town street.
“A good portion of East Walnut Street from Preston to East Street has not been approved and accepted by the town,” said Mitchell. “You would be sending emergency vehicles onto private property and the town will not be approving that.”
Baker said it is the proposed emergency route is the same one used in previous years.
“But INDOT is scrutinizing these requests more and you can’t have police, fire and ambulance vehicles routed into private property,” replied Mitchell. “In the not too distant future, INDOT may not permit parades to use US 31 at all.”
Baker was sent back to the drawing board to develop an approvable emergency vehicle plan.
In other business the council:
•Learned of a proposed policy changes for sulverts, street cuts, town right of ways. The changes are bing considered because the costs incurred by the town are not being covered by the fees.
“For instance,” said Mitchell, “it costs the town $1,215 to purchase and install a new water meter. But the town only charges $300 to the customer.
“Crothersville fees for meters and street cuts is considerably lower than surrounding communities,” said water utility superintendent Chris Mains.
•Approved naming April as Crothersville History Month at the request of Brenda Holzworth of the Crothersville historical and Cultural Arts Association.
•Approved purchasing an $80 ad in the School Community Calendar and a $50 contribution to the CHS After Prom Party.
