Pictured from left are Etna Green town attorney Nick Jacobs and Town Council members Heath Roberts and Susan Klinefelter. Photo by Jackie Gorski, Times-Union.

By Jackie Gorski
Times-Union

ETNA GREEN — Etna Green Town Council discussed the possibility of installing a portal mural in town Tuesday, Nov. 12.

Kosciusko County Community Coordinator Amy Roe talked to the council about a possible art mural in town.

The mural will potentially be on the south side of the building where the post office is at Broadway Street and SR 19.

One suggestion of what the mural could look like would be like a black-and-white post card with the history of Etna Green with the town’s name in color, Roe said.

She also said one suggestion was to make the mural mobile and considerations will be taken into account to make sure things like water won’t affect the mural.

There will be a memorandum of understanding with the town and the property for the best interest of both sides. Town attorney Nick Jacobs said he has put together a rough draft of the MOU.

Roe also said getting funding is being looked at. An unnamed person has agreed to put $1,500 into the project as seed money. She said artist Justin Vining grew up in Etna Green and has discounted the price to do the mural at $6,500.

Roe said Josh Hartzell, of Hartzell Farm and Etna Elevator, suggested some kind of sponsorship levels for the project. She said Hartzell would have to know by mid-November in order to put information about that in the newsletter their business puts out. Council members Heath Roberts and Susan Klinefelter said they were OK with doing that. Jacobs said he didn’t see any problems legally in the information he saw.

The council also agreed to look into looking into a possible nonprofit funds to put the money in.

Later in the meeting, the council learned income surveys will be sent out to a random sampling of Etna Green residents.

Gale Gerbert, operations and client liaison for Commonwealth Engineers Inc., said what the county is doing is an income study to get grant money from Office of Community and Rural Affairs to do a utilities study in order to fix problems at the utilities plant.

Christopher A. Harrison, business development manager, said information is needed for the income survey.

Roe said OCRA does a random sample and they prefer sending out letters because it’s easier to do. Roberts said with the surveys, there will be a range of what a person makes that people can check off.

Gerbert also said with the income survey, it is important for residents to note any sewer or water issues they have seen so they know what kind of issues there are.

Earlier in the meeting, resident Rick Price addressed the council. He said he sees a divide in the newer people on the council and the ones who have been in their position for a while. He said he thought it was natural, noting both sides should be listened to. He also said just because the person has been on the council for a long time doesn’t mean they’re right or wrong. Being new to the council and wanting to change things also doesn’t mean they are right or wrong.

He also urged residents to talk to council members instead of going on social media about their issues or waiting for a council member to “screw up” in order to “pounce” on them. Price said the council members have an interest to help the town.

In other business, the council:

• Heard the town has an $18,000 Go Forward grant for upgrades at Heritage Park. Clerk-Treasurer Patti Cook said work has to be contracted out by Dec. 31. Roberts asked why the money hadn’t been spent yet. Cook said she didn’t know as the money has been available all year.

• Tabled a salary ordinance.

• Heard Santa is coming to Heritage Park from 1 to 3 p.m. Dec. 21.

• Heard the town will hold a Christmas lighting contest this year.

• Jacobs said he sent an email to council members about any governing body of a state agency and the following governing bodies of local government, including towns, being required to record and archive meetings starting July 1, 2025. He said he believes the town is doing everything they are required to do in regards to the legislation.

• Heard the town has a Facebook page called Town of Etna Green.