Etna Green Town Council President Keith Claassen listens to Clerk-Treasurer Patti Cook during a Dec. 12 council meeting. InkFreeNews photo by Liz Shepherd.

By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews

ETNA GREEN — The Etna Green Town Council tabled renewing its annual agreement with the Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation during a Dec. 12 meeting.

The agreement pertains to KEDCO’s service fees for 2024. Since 2021, KEDCO has been working with the town on a potential housing development project at an 18-acre residential tax increment financing district.

Council Member Jason Hanes expressed concern in renewing the town’s agreement with KEDCO due to CEO Alan Tio leaving and Business Development Partner Greg Fitzloff no longer being involved with the project.

“They (KEDCO) helped a lot with the TIF,” said Hanes. “They basically bailed on us by throwing (KEDCO Project Director) Terry Sweeney in there and taking Greg Fitzloff off. Since then, things haven’t really moved.”

Hanes also said a lot of citizens aren’t behind the housing project.

“I’ve talked to many, many people in town and either they don’t grasp what it is we’re doing or they just don’t want it,” said Hanes. “I think we need it, but we also work for the people and if the people don’t want it, I don’t want to keep shoving it down their throat.”

Kosciusko County Community Coordinator Amy Roe, who was at the meeting to discuss the placement of veterans’ banners in town, said she was willing to pass along the council’s concerns to KEDCO staff since she works in their office.

“They’ve had a lot of conversations this week as they’re trying to figure out what the next step is,” said Roe. “As far as I know, all the staff are still staying. (Alan’s) built this up and now he knows someone needs to come in and maintain it. Chamber work and economic development are the two positions I’ve worked with that are the hardest to justify.”

In other business, the council also approved getting a trash rate study completed for the town.

“What we’re getting into right now is that we’re going to have to raise the trash (rate) because it’s getting to where we’re spending more than what we’re collecting,” said Clerk-Treasurer Patti Cook.

The council asked for the study to include two rates, one reflecting the town possibly purchasing a leaf pickup machine and the other being a rate without purchasing a machine.

With the veterans’ banners, Roe suggested the possibility of placing large veterans’ banners on the town’s light poles. Banners would feature a veteran’s picture, name, and branch of service. Roe said Rochester Downtown Partnership Member Chad Hisey began displaying banners in Rochester in 2023.

Council voted to look at costs for purchasing brackets to potentially display local veterans’ banners in Etna Green.

Council also:

• Approved the town office being closed on Monday, Dec. 25, and Tuesday, Dec. 26.
• Heard about a request from Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission Director Matt Sandy about an Etna Green council member possibly serving on the commission. The council tabled further discussion to January.
• Learned the property at 129 E. Spring St. is being repaired.
• Learned Cook and Council Member Susan Klinefelter will be judging Christmas light decorations during the Dec. 16 and 17 weekend. More information will be posted in the Etna Green Community Page Facebook group.
• Approved promoting Bryan Long to the town’s superintendent position with a $2 raise.
• Terminated Mayson McCoy’s employment with the town and approved advertising a job opening.

The council’s next regular meeting is at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9, in Etna Green Town Hall. Council will also have a year-end meeting at 8 a.m. Friday, Dec. 29.