Etna Green Council Member Susan Klinefelter and Council President Keith Claassen listen to Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation CEO Alan Tio speak during an April 11 council meeting. InkFreeNews photo by Liz Shepherd.

By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews

ETNA GREEN — Improvements to Etna Green’s Heritage Park are in the works.

During an April 11 meeting, Etna Green Council approved giving Jordan Ickes $2,000 from the town’s Economic Development Income Tax fund for infield conditioning for Heritage Park’s baseball/softball area. Ickes is a softball coach for Triton Summer League Baseball in Bourbon.

Ickes said his teams currently practice at Bourbon, but are only able to meet once a week due to the amount of teams needing to utilize Bourbon’s fields.

“There are four minor softball girls, three major softball girls, and our varsity softball team, all vying for one field in Bourbon,” said Ickes. ” So I frequently take my family up to (Heritage Park) and looking at our baseball diamond, I see prime real estate for my girls to practice and for anyone else who wants to use it.”

Ickes said he contacted Ron Hostetler with Hosteler Lawn & Landscaping Inc. about a price estimate for conditioning Heritage Park’s field. Hostetler told Ickes the project could cost upward of $2,000.

The council also passed a rainy day resolution, creating a fund solely for improvements at Heritage Park. A total of $38,361.90 from the town’s budget was placed into the fund.

In other business, the council gave Town Attorney Nick Jacobs permission to begin drafting a lawsuit to pursue civil action against the mother of two children who have vandalized various areas of town. Jacobs said he was unable to receive information from the county’s probation department on the children since they’re juveniles. Clerk-Treasurer Patti Cook said she had to call law enforcement on April 11 regarding the children.

Vandalism at Heritage Park and the Etna Green West Cemetery was heavily discussed at the council’s March meeting.

Council also learned Wastewater/Street Superintendent Barry Baker will be receiving the Seven Hats Award, which recognizes managers who perform a variety of duties in communities of 2,500 or fewer electric meters. Cook said Indiana Municipal Power Agency nominated Baker for the award, with the ceremony taking place in Seattle, Wash. IMPA will cover hotel costs, a plane ticket, and two meals a day. Council approved paying for a plane ticket for Baker’s wife, Laura, in the amount of $600.

The council also:

• Tabled further discussions on funds the town received through the nationwide opioid settlement. The town is receiving this money as part of an agreement reached with Johnson & Johnson, Cardinal Health, McKesson and AmerisourceBergen for their contribution to the national opioid epidemic. Council wants to consult with Etna Township Fire Department on if they would be able use the money for training on drug incidents.
• Heard a brief update from Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation CEO Alan Tio. KEDCO has dialed back on its part-time staff’s hours, which includes Greg Fitzloff, who frequently attended Etna Green’s meetings to provide updates on the residential TIF district being established in town. Tio said he will attend the council’s May meeting with Terry Sweeney, KEDCO’s project director.

Council’s next meeting is at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 9, in Etna Green Town Hall.