Pictured, from left, are Olivia Nix, community development planner with the Michiana Area Council of Governments; and Chris Harrison, business development manager with Commonwealth Engineers. InkFreeNews photo by Liz Adkins.

By Liz Adkins
InkFreeNews

ETNA GREEN – Several matters related to Etna Green’s water infrastructure were addressed during a Tuesday, May 13, town council meeting.

Prior to the regular meeting, a public hearing was held for the town seeking funds through the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs’ Community Development Block Grants. If approved, the grant would go toward a full study on Etna Green’s water infrastructure utility.

Olivia Nix, community development planner with the Michiana Area Council of Governments; and Chris Harrison, business development manager with Commonwealth Engineers, attended the hearing to provide citizens with information on the process.

Nix said $90,000 is being sought through CDBG, with the town giving a $10,000 match, totaling the study at $100,000. If funding moves ahead, Commonwealth would be the study’s engineer.

“Overall, they will assess all infrastructure conditions, identify capacity limitations and deficiencies, address service to out-of-boundary customers, and then create a roadmap for future growth that is sustainable and benefits the community,” said Nix.

Council approved a resolution to pull $10,000 from the town’s CEDIT funds to move forward with the OCRA process. Council President Heath Roberts was also given authority to be the council’s representative for moving the study forward until large amounts of funding for any potential construction become a factor.

Related to utilities, Winona Powder Coating CEO Jamie Visker attended the meeting and told council he received no communication on when power would be restored to his business after a tornado hit Bourbon in early April. He also expressed concern with the town’s water, saying water has to be pre-filtered at Winona before going through his reverse osmosis system.

“We’re in a position to potentially expand but at this point in time, I’m having serious concerns,” said Visker. “The water is a disaster. It’s $8,000 worth of filters that were lasting a year, they now last four months. I’m having a crisis of confidence about what we’re doing … you supply my water, my electricity.”

Roberts said he personally reset Winona’s reclosers after the outage and went to the business to talk with a representative, but didn’t receive a response. Council Member Keith Claassen told Visker he was in contact with the plant’s manager about the outage and provided updates when he had them.

Visker also noted he previously was told by the town that Winona Powder Coating couldn’t be on the town’s sewer system as it couldn’t handle the company’s output. Council said they were unsure on who told Visker that, stating the town could handle it.

“We are presently in a situation of trying to get help (with infrastructure),” said Roberts. “I didn’t walk into a well-oiled machine that’s running perfectly. I’ve come into a ‘Let’s fix this’ situation. I understand your frustration and I can guarantee it’s going to get better.”

The first reading of ordinances for water and sewer rate increases were also presented at the meeting, with a public hearing on the ordinances to take place at the June council meeting.

Harrison also provided a brief update on working with Astbury Water Technology on alleviating the town’s water issues.

Council approved Astbury applying for a new wastewater permit, which is set to expire. Roberts also said Astbury recommended the town get a new generator at the water tower after lift stations in town had to be pumped numerous times following the April tornado. Astbury also told council the generator at Heritage Park needs to have a fence around it.

Mural Update

Kosciusko County Community Coordinator Amy Roe provided an update on the town’s upcoming mural project. A mural created by former resident Justin Vining will be placed on the town’s post office. Roe said she and Council Member Susan Klinefelter would attend the Kosciusko County Convention, Recreation, and Visitor Commission meeting on May 14 to seek funding in the amount of $8,220 for the mural’s completion.

“We put in three separate applications, one of them with Suzie Light through the All Things Art at (the Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation) for $1,000,” said Roe. “In addition, we’ve received a private donation of $600.”

Roe said the mural celebration will tentatively take place from 10 a.m. to noon July 12, with free food.

Tornado Siren

The council also heard a brief update on possibly replacing the town’s tornado siren, which is currently located at Etna Township Fire Department. At the council’s April meeting, ETFD Chief Kevin Smith II said the siren is over 40 years old and has to be manually operated at the department to run it.

Roe said she’s in the process of looking into grants for a new tornado siren, but that efforts were still in the “research and development phase.”

Council also:

• Approved donating $1,300 for the planting of flowers at Remembrance Park.
• Approved donating $250 to the town’s Fourth of July celebrations.
• Approved the hiring of Keith Robbins for lawn mowing work in town.
• Approved Klinefelter receiving funds from the town’s general account to purchase a laptop to use for livestreaming council meetings.

Council’s next meeting is at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 10.