Bryan Brackemyre, vice-president of member services at Indiana Municipal Power Agency, attended Etna Green Town Council’s February meeting to propose the town extend their power supply agreement with IMPA. InkFreeNews photo by Liz Shepherd.

By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews

ETNA GREEN — The Etna Green Town Council heard a proposal from the Lions Club of Etna Green regarding a walking trail at Heritage Park.

Jeff Klinefelter was at the council’s Feb. 9 meeting on behalf of the Lions Club and presented the council with a map of what a trail at Heritage Park could look like.

In September 2019, the K21 Health Foundation made a commitment of $1.8 million to be distributed to nine small communities in Kosciusko County, including Etna Green. The money must be used for projects that will focus on health and wellness opportunities in the community.

Etna Green has a $200,000 pledge from K21 to use. The idea of creating a walking trail for the town’s citizens has been frequently mentioned in the council’s discussions on how to use the pledge.

Klinefelter said the Lions Club would like the track to be six feet wide and done in asphalt. He also said the Lions Club is considering placing benches alongside the trail as well.

Council President Keith Claassen suggested the Lions Club look into how much the trail project would cost and come back to the council with estimates.

Bryan Brackemyre, vice-president of member services at Indiana Municipal Power Agency, was also present at the council’s meeting. Brackemyre proposed the town extend their power supply agreement with IMPA for eight years; this would extend the contract from 2042 to 2050. The town would also be moving from a 10-year termination notice for the agreement to a 30-year notice.

Brackemyre said out of IMPA’s 61 members, 34 have already agreed to the extension. Claassen said he’d like to wait on making a decision until Council Member Jason Hanes is present. Hanes was absent from the meeting.

Council’s next regular meeting is at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 9.