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P C N SINCE 1882 Successor to The Poseyville News & New Harmony Times POSEY COUNTY’S ONLY LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED NEWSPAPER
Volume 139 Edition 43
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
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New Harmony votes ‘No’ to help with Flood Plain issue By Lois Mittino Gray Michael J. Sears, a Water Resources Engineer with Morley Associates of Newburgh, appeared before the New Harmony Town Council at its October 15, morning meeting to answer questions and explain the details of a proposal the firm submitted to do consulting work on the floodplain designation data. The proposal was prepared following conference calls Morley reps had with FEMA and the IDNR Division of Water on July 23 and August 5 of this year. The 2014 floodplain
map has been recognized as inaccurate and new data is now being collected. “FEMA started data calculations this summer and is working with the Indiana and Illinois DNR, too,” Sears explained. “They are working on a new draft map, which is funded at this time. The project might be finished by 2021, or 2022, depending on funding past the draft map falling into place and how quickly that happens.” The firm proposes ways they can help the town through the process, with a cap limit of $5000 for their
services. One way would be to participate in meetings, discussions, and conference calls with town officials on FEMA and its mapping progress. Another is to assist with coordination and communication between the town, all agencies involved and the community as updates on the data. For residents, Morley could prepare “what if” scenarios on different base flood elevations (BFE’s) using 2013 LIDAR data. The present elevation is set at 381.6 feet and many people have homes in the floodplain, at that number, requiring the purchase of
costly insurance. “What if it goes to 381 feet? Who will be affected now? What if it is set at 382?” Sears asked. “We can make those projections in the scenarios.” Sears also told about the Community Rating Systems Program that residents might be able to enroll in, qualifying for up to a ten percent discount on floodplain insurance premiums. “It might be of interest to see if this is worthwhile for your residents. We could start the process today,” Sears remarked. Councilman Roger Wade felt the town
MV Main Street Project on schedule and under budget By Lois Mittino Gray Mount Vernon Mayor Bill Curtis was elated to announce at the October 10, Mount Vernon Common Council meeting that the Main Street Construction Project is “still on schedule and under budget.” How great is that for a government project? Mayor Curtis explained work will continue with traffic direction going one way south as it is now. The oneway will not switch directions as originally discussed. Ragle Construction supervisors feel they can get the other side completed, with the street blocked the way it is at this time. Right now, work is really slow, since they are pouring sections of concrete and waiting for them to set up. Work should be completed before the cold weather sets in next month. In another major infrastructure project, Wylie Zeigler, a Program Manager with the Economic Development Coalition of Southwest Indiana spoke about appointing a grant administrator for the Eighth Street Water Project. In August, the city was awarded a $700,000 grant from the Indiana Office of Rural and Community Affairs (IORCA) to replace the aged water main down West Eighth Street. The Coalition helps to find grant opportunities for the funding of these big projects, and that work is usually done for free. Councilman Andy Hoehn moved the Economic Development Coalition of SW Indiana be appointed grant administrator of the Eighth Street Water Project for a fee and the motion passed. Ziegler said they have 18 months to close the grant once it has been awarded. Ziegler said her group will work with engineers to set bid dates and then will release the funds. This project is on the fast track in order to help the city
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should get more information on the program. A motion was made to accept the proposal, with the contract price cap of $5,000, and hire the firm. The vote on the motion was one yes from Councilman David Flanders and three no’s from Blaylock, Wade, and Alsop. Councilman Gary Watson was not present to vote, as he had a doctor’s appointment. A subsequent motion was made to table the issue until the next meeting. This
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MV School Corp approves list of improvements By Lois Mittino Gray In a process that began way back in July, the Mount Vernon School Board made the final move and voted to adopt the 2020 district budget at its October 7, meeting. It also adopted a resolution for the Capital Projects Plan for 2020-2022 and a resolution for the School Bus Replacement Plan for the years 2020-2031. Lastly, a resolution was adopted of all the appropriations and tax rates needed to generate the funds to pay for everything. After all the Powerpoint talks, the public hearing on September 16, and advertising in newspapers, the process is now finished for another year. The 2020 budget totals $28,378,677, with an adopted tax levy of $12,915,817 to raise at a rate of 1.2916. The remainder of the multimillion dollar budget comes from money paid by the state per pupil. Breaking it down into four categories, $13,887,700 is for the Education Fund, $11,130,256 is earmarked for the Operations Fund, $2,585,721 is in Debt Service and $775,000 is for the Rainy Day Fund. The three year Capital Improvement Plan is as follows: Year 2020-$1,857,400; Year 2021-$2,036,400; and Year 2022-$2,226,400. It includes projects to construct a district warehouse facility, put HVAC upgrades in schools, roofing, painting and carpeting in areas, and athletic complex repairs. A complete list can be viewed at the Administrative Offices. The Bus Replacement Plan outlines which vehicles will be replaced each year from 2020-2031. Three buses are in the plan for 2020. Two 72-passenger Bluebird TC FE buses will be replaced at an estimated cost of Kyler Hodge of Saint Wendel puts the final touches on the pumpkin $130,305 each. A 2012 Chevrolet Collins 15-seat bus he painted at the Posey County 4-H Halloween Extravaganza. Photo Continued on Page A9 by Dave Pearce
Poseyville celebrates $690,000 Community Crossings Grant By Dave Pearce There was good news and bad news at the Poseyville Town Council meeting on Wednesday evening at the Poseyville Town Hall. During the meeting, it was announced that Poseyville will be losing the services of two outstanding individuals at the end of the month.
Poseyville Fire Chief Sam Martin announced that he will be leaving the department after 18 years of service. He is planning to move out of town and will no longer be able to serve. Former chief Jeff Droege will assume Martin’s term that will end at year-end. Also, Lynda Baker, who has become a famil-
iar face in the Poseyville Town Hall over the past few years announced that she, too, will retire at month’s end. Baker came into the office as a compliance secretary in 2016 and has taken on other roles as she was needed. Her last day will be October 31, 2019. But not all news was bad news. Council
president Bruce Baker announced that the town had been awarded a Community Crossings Grant for the coming year in the amount of nearly $690,000. The first grant of its kind was received this year and repairs were made
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PCSWCD offers hand to Rhoades receives Statewide Award Poseyville’s water woes By Dave Pearce While most of the news at the Poseyville Town Council meeting on Wednesday was mixed, it was announced during the meeting that a “no lose” grant has been procured to help with the future of Poseyville water concerns. Carrie Parmenter, representing the Posey County Soil and Water Conservation District, was on hand to inform members of the board that a plan is now in place to begin providing solutions to a heavy nitrate issue in local drinking water. “We had some water issues last spring,” board president Bruce Baker told a full meeting room. “We went to them and they were a big help to us and provided us with some information to help us. Now she has something to add to that and we are very happy about it.” Parmenter told the board that a $23,500 grant will help with a program not only to help rid the town of the heavy nitrates in the community water supply but will also help residents who use well water in the same area as the town’s water wells. “We have applied for a National Water Quality Initiative,” Parmenter explained. “It is through the Federal government to the Natural Resource
(USPS 439-500)
Conservation Service. It is going to be targeting bout 21,000 acres that includes the well heads for the Posey County wells. It will include some of southern Gibson County and northern Posey County. The proposal we have submitted is for what they are calling a readiness phase. That means we will be doing water quality monitoring of the surface water and we will also be doing some modeling and surveying of the landscape and the land use of the watershed around it. We will then be prioritizing watershed based on that information.” “The second phase,” she continued, “will be what they call the implementation phase. During that share, we will actually be asking for money that will be cost share for farmers to implement practices that will reduce the amount of nitrates that are moving into the groundwater.” The readiness phase will take the $23,500 grant portion that includes a watershed management plan that will include the 21,000 acres where the well-heads are located. Baker indicated that he appreciated the help of the department, stating that not only will this help the people of Poseyville but also the people in
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The Association of Indiana Counties (AIC) announced that Posey County Recorder Mary Rhoades received the 2019 Outstanding Recorder Award. The award recognized her contributions made to county government throughout her years of public service. Rhoades began her career in the Posey County Recorder’s Office as Chief Deputy Recorder from 2008 to 2013. She was caucused in October of 2013 as Recorder. She was elected into office in 2015 and was re-elected in the most recent election. She has served on the legislative committee for the last four years and continues to work with the legislative team. She served as the Treasurer for the Recorders Association for two years and currently is Vice President of the Recorders Association. She currently serves on AIC’s board of directors. The award was presented during the AIC’s 61st
Annual Conference in Orange County last month. The AIC’s Annual Conference is the largest gathering of county officials in the state. Representatives from public agencies, private entities, and local elected officials addressed issues such as rural services, jail management, firearms training demonstrations, options for archiving and digitizing documents, alternative energy, collaborative management, and so much more. For more information about the AIC or the Annual Conference, please contact Elizabeth Mallers at emallers@indianacounties.org. Pictured are: AIC President Stacey O’Day, Allen County Assessor (r), Recorders’ Association President Jennifer Hayden, Hamilton County Recorder (l), presenting the award to Mary Rhoades, Posey County Recorder (c).