The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: http://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1346684
A-12 Wednesday, March 3, 2021 The Press-Dispatch Leading the world's transition to greener, smarter energy, right here in Indianapolis. Reliably serving our customers for the last century, IPL was acquired by AES in 2001. Together, we're utilizing digital technology advances to make our energy systems smarter right here in Indianapolis – so that our community can enjoy reliable, affordable and sustainable energy that powers our lives and energizes the next generation of innovators. IPL is now AES Indiana We are accelerating the future of energy, together. aesindiana.com/hellofuture aes_11620_indiana_consumer_4.8x10.indd 1 2/23/21 2:56 PM Freezin' for a reason Above: Amber Manor's Gold- en Girls trudge down the beach to the frigid waters of Prides Creek. They are Thomas Sparks, Jordan Freeland, Ange- la Woodford and Leslie Roberts. They were some of the 130 people to take part in the the 2021 Polar Plunge at Prides Creek. The group raised $56,411 for Indiana Spe- cial Olympics. Left: Doil Stogner of Hen- derson, Kentucky gets his hair done just right to match his beard and kilt by Megan Scott of Evansville. The Bearded Villains have made the Petersburg Polar Plunge an annu- al event for their organizaton. City council discusses upcoming projects By Andy Heuring Petersburg City Council de- layed awarding the contract to relocate a water line that is cur- rently under Highway 61. The project would move it to the side of Highway 61 in the right of way. Petersburg opened bids last Monday night in a special meet- ing. The low bidder was Love Ex- cavating at $ 610,694. Petersburg Mayor R. C. Klipsch said he had two prob- lems with awarding the bid on Monday night. "Here's the problem. It was $ 610,694." The engineer's es- timate was $585,000." Klipsch said Petersburg received a grant that was to pay $472,882 of the project and Petersburg's share would be $112,085. He said the Indiana Department of Trans- portation grant was based on Petersburg's water department revenues and their ability to pay. "Our revenues haven't changed, but the price has gone up by about $25,000," said Klipsch. He said he wanted to wait un- til they find out from the IN- DOT if they were going to pick up the difference in the price of the project, or if Petersburg has to pay the difference. Klipsch said the other poten- tial problem is Love Construc- tion was supposed to have a proj- ect for another municipality do- ne in October and it still isn't completed. Klipsch said this project is ex- tremely time-sensitive because it is being done in conjunction with INDOT's complete rebuild of Highway 61. "We don't want to get in IN- DOT's way with this project," said Klipsch. He said work on the Highway 61 project was starting in March on tree removal and probably ac- tual construction in April. ITS GOING TO BE A MESS The council also signed agreements with INDOT on the local unofficial detours around the Highway 61 project. It is be- ing done in three phases. Petersburg signed memo- randums of understanding on Phases 1 and 2. Phase 1 will close Highway 61 from Main St. to the junction of Abigail St. Planned time of clo- sure is from the Spring until Oc- tober 15, 2021. During that time the local un- official detour will be Seventh St. The memorandum of under- standing calls for INDOT to re- imburse Petersburg for dam- age to Seventh St. due to detour traffic. "It is going to be mess," said Mayor Klipsch of that much traf- fic using Seventh St. to get in- to town. "We have talked about this and we aren't going to be able to have parking on Seventh St. "That is the smart way to do it," said Chuck Baumgart. They said due to the narrow width of Seventh St. it can't ac- commodate heavy traffic with vehicles parked on the side of it. "We can't have semis running on that," said Melhiser. Klipsch said if they didn't have weight limits set on the city streets they need to estab- lish them. Phase 2 of the project runs from Abigail St. to Harvest Lane. It is planned to be closed from when Phase one is com- pleted until August 5, 2022. The unofficial detour for Phase 2 is to use White River Ave. to North St. and back to Highway 61. Klipsch said Petersburg has paved White River Ave. and Sev- enth St. in anticipation of these detours. FIRE DEPT. SEEKS NEW BRUSH TRUCK Mayor Klipsch said the Pe- tersburg/Washington Township Fire District recommended pur- chasing a new brush truck. He said the truck was more than 25 years old and they were starting to have trouble with it. They proposed to get a one- ton truck and put a specialized body on it. "It will probably cost about $75,000 before we get it all outfitted," said Klipsch. He said they were quoted a 2.2 percent interest rate on it and GAB agreed to match the rate. He said the fire district has $25,293 to put toward it and they are recommending a $50,000 lease at 2.2 percent, which will result in $ 3,890 semi-annual payments. In other business, Klipsch said they were notified a 20 -unit family housing complex grant application was denied. The next Petersburg meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Mon- day, March 15 at City Hall.