The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: http://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/169641
The Press-Dispatch Wednesday, September 11, 2013 A-5 Storm water drainage repair tops City Council meeting By Ed Cahill Work on a project to repair damage to Petersburg's storm water drainage system could begin by the end of September, the city's engineer announced during the regular monthly meeting of the Board of Public Works & Safety on Tuesday, Sept. 3. A pre-construction meeting with the contractor, Koberstein Contracting, Inc., of Princeton, has been scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 11, at 9 a.m., pending approval by the Office of Community and Rural Affairs authorizing the release of funds for the project. "If everything goes as planned, we can have that pre-construction meeting on Wednesday," said Brian Bullock of Midwest Engineers. "And, depending on the contractor and when he can get materials in, hopefully by the end of the month we'll start to see some work." Bullock said that Koberstein Contracting, Inc., had already provided his bonds. "At this time, they're not dated," Bullock said. "But once we get authorization, we can date those and finish out the contract documents. So we're just kind of getting a head start on that part of it." The project consists of 10 areas to be completed, with five projects listed as alternate bids. The main projects are at Matilda and Seventh streets; Branch Street west; Branch Street east; Lakeview Drive; Spruce and Seventh streets; Cedar and Seventh streets; Mona Street; South Knox Street; Spruce Street; and North Knox Street. The alternates include Seventh Street culvert; 10th Street culvert; 17th Street; Walnut Street; and Locust Street. The Storm Water Drainage Project is being funded by a $1 million grant that will cover the full cost of construction and design for the repair of damage caused by storms from 2008 to 2010. Koberstein Contracting, Inc., bid $199,232 to cover the first 10 projects and an additional $112,149 to cover the five alternate bids, making the total bid $311,381. During last Tuesday's meeting, city council member Gary Leavitt asked Bullock if the contractor had a schedule indicating the ar- ea in which he was going to start. "No, not yet," Bullock replied. "Hopefully, we'll have that at the pre-construction meeting, if not shortly after that." "I think we're going to request that he go kind of in the order that we had them in the bid, which was the high priority to the low priority," Bullock added. "Now some of that may depend on when the gas company can get in there because there's probably going to be some conflicts with the gas main, some of which we may not actually know until we dig and get their exact locations and the depths. So we'll kind of have to work around that." Mayor Frank Coleman asked Bullock if there was a time frame that he expected the project to be completed. "I think the contract is like six months," Bullock said. "If all goes well, he may be able to get the majority of it done" before the winter. "They're still going to have to come back and do the asphalting and that type of stuff in the spring, but actually getting the structures set and all the pipe in the ground . . . it's not a lot of structures and pipe, but everything's just kind of so spread out that it's going to take a little bit to move around and get everything completed." personnel Coleman announced that Alan Tegmeyer had been hired as an extra part-time employee for city maintenance. "He's been working," Coleman said. "I think that's going to work out really good. He's got an eye for detail. He won't work any more than 20 hours per week, and we're being pretty liberal with his schedule here so he can work and still get his time in, too." Coleman also informed the board that public works employee Nathan DeWeese had been injured while working at the water plant and would be out for four to six weeks. "He was grinding at the sewer plant on a chain and he was using a wire brush wheel type thing and either a piece of that wire came off or a piece of metal came off, went up through his cheek and out the top here, and he went and had 26 stitches, I think he said," Coleman said earlier, during a meeting of the Petersburg Water Company. However, after returning to work a day or two later, Coleman said that DeWeese noticed that his vision was not normal. He went back to the doctor and learned that he had a detached retina. "So he went in for surgery and they reattached the retina," Coleman said. "He said that the doctor said the surgery went well, but he thinks he's still going to have some vision problems in that eye. He's recovering . . . he's projected to be off four to six weeks. "That boy's a good worker, too," said board member Bertis Jenkins. "He really works hard." Coleman agreed, extending Jenkins' sentiment to all the public works department employees. "I'll tell you what," Coleman said. "I guess it was Sunday, we got a leak, down on White River Avenue, and so Monday morning, they were down there on a holiday, digging in the streets. They worked a little bit over half a day on Labor Day, getting the water leak fixed. "I think most people in our community never give it a second thought," Coleman added. "When they flush the toilet, it goes somewhere. And when they turn the faucet on, water comes out. Nobody gives it a second thought of how all that works and how all that's maintained. "I've come to appreciate what they do, and I never did before. But when you see what they're doing dayto-day, just to keep the utilities going, it's something. So everybody should appreciate what they do because, in my opinion, they've got the hardest job in the city." In other business before the Board of Public Works and Safety, the board accepted the resignation of Corporal Chad Tharp of the Petersburg Police Department. "He has taken a position with the Pike County Sheriff's Department," Coleman said. "The county got a good one is the only thing I have to say," said board member Fran Lewis. building relocation prep The board also approved a request by Greg Willis to cut the curb on Walnut Street to make a drive into a parking lot for the Dr. Honesto K. Fenol Jr. building, which is being moved from its current location on Main Street to property owned by Willis at the corner of Walnut and Seventh streets. new fire station discussion Coleman announced that he had met with two builders to gauge their interest in building a new fire station. "They haven't gotten back with me yet on prices," Coleman said. "But we're thinking about doing a lease-purchase. It's about the only way that the fire territory can move forward with a building." Coleman informed the board that there were as many as three local private individuals who may be interested in doing the financing. "So basically we'd enter into an agreement with them like we would with any company," Coleman said. "We've checked with the State Board of Accounts and everybody to make sure that was legal to do and they said we could. "So if these guys decide they want to do a lease-purchase . . . and they would finance it, we would find a builder and agree upon what we want to build," Coleman said. "That way we kind of keep the money at home. So if we could do that, that's the best scenario I think if these guys pull through with being able to get the funds." Coleman said that it was projected that the fire territory could afford to spend $750,000 to $850,000 on a building, based on a 20-year lease. "I think, comfortably, the fire territory could do a $50,000 payment per year out of the equipment replacement fund," Coleman said. "That would generate, over 20 years, a million dollars. So if you can get a $750,000, $850,000 building built, then their profit margin's built into that." In July, the Petersburg City Council approved a request from the Petersburg Fire Territory Board to approve the purchase of 2.05 acres of land along Illinois Street for $50,000 to build a new fire station. During the Petersburg City Council's regular monthly meeting on Tuesday night, the council adopted on first, second and third reading, ordinances establishing the salaries of elected officers, appointed officers and other employees, and one amending Ordinance 2012-15 fixing the salary for the park caretaker at $12 per hour. donation approved for Library project the council to decide." "Are you wanting a decision on this tonight?" council member John Melhiser asked. "What I want is a decision whether we want to do the $500 donation or not, or we can have a discussion about it tonight, and you can wait to decide," Coleman said. "Anyway, I think it's a worthy cause. It's $500." "It sounds pretty good," Lewis said. Coleman noted that Oldenkamp still had to get approval from the library board, and that any decision by the council to make a donation would be contingent on their approval to go forward with the project. "My thoughts were, let's see what the library board is going to do first before we make any type of commitment," Melhiser said. "The library needs that area where the genealogy thing is for library business," Leavitt said. "The library was built too small to start with. If they can go back in that other building with that, that will help the library a lot. I think that genealogy thing's got potential to really grow if they give them some room." "I've been told . . . that we have a lot of out-of-town visitors coming and researching through the genealogy department there," Coleman said. "But Sadie said there's really no tables where you can take documents and lay them out. There's very limited room. When you have more than a couple of people in there, it's kind of cramped. So that was her idea to move it there. I think it's a great idea." "They'll keep the building heated and air-conditioned and it won't go to pot," Leavitt said. "It's sitting there going to pot right now, because it's not been properly heated and air-conditioned since they moved out of it." On a motion by Lewis, seconded by Leavitt, the council voted 3-1, with Melhiser casting the lone dissenting vote, to make a $500 donation to the library board, contingent on the library board's approval of Oldenkamp's plan. In addition, the council approved a $500 donation to the Pike County Library Board, contingent on the library board's approval of a proposal by librarian Sadie Oldenkamp to combine the facility's genealogy holdings with the artifacts currently being held by the Pike County Historical Society at the old Barrett Library on Main Street. The Barrett Memorial Library building has been vacant since the new Petersburg Branch opened last year. Coleman informed the council that, after meeting with Oldenkamp and Pike County Historical Society curator Sandy McBeth, he had written and submitted a letter of support for the project. "The Historical Society basically is just rarely, rarely open," Coleman said. "So Ms. McBeth is going to basically surrender all the artifacts to the library board and strictly become a volunteer, if this goes." Coleman said that McBeth would also donate the building where the Pike County Museum is currently located to the city. "And the city then can decide what is in the best interest of the city," Coleman said. Coleman said that Oldenkamp had requested that the city consider making a financial commitment to support the endeavor. "I told her that I thought you guys would basically approve a one-time donation to that cause, so what I would recommend to the council . . . $500 to that cause," Coleman said. "Then you guys OTHER BUSINESS can decide if you want to do that on an annual basis or do In other action, the counyou want to do that as a one- cil approved the city's holitime donation. That's up to day schedule for 2014. Loveless arrested for OVWI charge, nearly four times legal limit By Andy Heuring A Petersburg man was arrested for drunken driving Sunday evening after police responded to a report of a possible intoxicated driver traveling west on Highway 56. Jason W. Loveless, 32, of 100 W. Private Rd., Petersburg, was stopped at 9:55 p.m. by Pike County Deputy Sheriff Chad Tharp. Tharp said he located a vehicle matching the description of the vehicle called in and followed as it turned north on Highway 61. Tharp said he saw it cross the center line and white fog line several times before he stopped it near Illinois St. He said when he approached Loveless, he noted a strong odor of alcoholic beverage, and multiple full and empty beer cans in the back seat. According to Tharp's report, Loveless said he had been drinking, had gotten into a fight with his girlfriend and had to leave her Craig leaves OCRA for position with Midwestern Engineers Inc. By Andy Heuring Former Petersburg Mayor Jon Craig and his boss, Dax Norton, have both left the Office of Community and Rural Affairs effective on August 29. Craig resigned as Mayor of Petersburg on January 25, 2013 to take the position of Deputy Director of OCR A. OCRA Director Dax Norton was appointed at the same time as Craig by then newly-elected Lt. Governor Sue Ellspermann. Craig was elected Mayor of Petersburg in 2003 and re-elected in 2007 and 2011. OCR A is one of several agencies under the direction of the Lt. Governor. It deals with economic development and enhancement of rural Indiana communities. OCRA administered the distribution of more than $25 million in grant money to rural communities. Both Craig and Norton resigned on August 29 via short hand-written notes. Craig's note read: "To Lt. Governor Ellspermann: Please accept this note as my resignation as deputy director of the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs, effective 8/29/13." Inquiries about the resignations of Norton and Craig were directed to Ashley Hungate, a spokesman for the personnel department. Hungate said in a telephone interview on Monday, "They are pursuing other interests." She added both are eligible to be rehired by the state. Kyleen Welling, the lieutenant governor's Chief Operating Officer, will lead the office on an interim basis. In his position with OCR A, Craig said he was spending the week on the road and was only home on the weekends. "I really enjoyed my time there. I think the agency and the administration are headed in the right direction and doing some great things. But it is the right move at the right time for me," said Craig. He is now employed by Midwestern Engineers Inc. of Loogootee. Personally I plan on being home a lot more frequently and spend a lot more time being a dad. I have got quite a few ball games, tennis matches and soccer games to catch up on. Plus, we are expecting the arrival of our fifth child in September," said Craig. A news release from Midwest Engineers states, "Craig will assist Midwestern clients by using his broad knowledge in municipal and utility management to assist communities and utilities in their daily operations and long range planning. Craig also brings valuable experience as the former Deputy Director of the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs ." It continued, "Craig's addition to the Midwestern team further emphasizes the company's firm commitment to their clients. Midwestern prides itself with assisting clients with the complex challenges of changing regulations and in formulating common sense solutions for the future. residence. Tharp said Loveless failed field sobriety tests and portable breath test at nearly four times the legal limit for blood alcohol content. Tharp said Loveless's blood alcohol content was so high the Pike County Jail would not accept him. So he took Loveless to the Daviess Community Hospital, where a blood alcohol content test showed he had a blood alcohol level of 0.33 percent. The legal limit in Indiana is 0.08 percent. After Loveless was medically cleared by the hospital, he was taken to the Pike County Jail and preliminarily charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated. Winslow Light Up Parade SAturDAy, Sept. 21 ApplicAtion form Contact Name: ����������������������������������������������������������������� Organization (if applicable): �������������������������������������������������������� Phone: ����������������������������������������������������������������������� Address: ��������������������������������������������������������������������� Street City/State Zip Email Address: ����������������������������������������������������������������� Classification: ❏ Fire Apparatus ❏ Winslow Organization ❏ Other Please list and describe all your entries to be in the parade below: In your description, please indicate and describe specific type of entry (float, fire apparatus, farm implement, walking team, marching unit, vehicle, horse/rider, ect.) Please be as specific as possible as the judges and announcers will use this information. 1 ��������������������������������������������������������������������������� 2 ��������������������������������������������������������������������������� 3 ��������������������������������������������������������������������������� 4 ��������������������������������������������������������������������������� 5 ��������������������������������������������������������������������������� 6 ��������������������������������������������������������������������������� Requirements: All entries must contain lights. All livestock must be accompanied by a pooper scooper. Entries must be mailed to Dee Fiscus no later than September 14, 2013, 807 Beardsley St., Winslow, IN 47598. DeADline September 14, 2013 Contact Norm Sweet for more information: 812-827-4903 30+ Petersburg City-Wide Yard Sales See page B-9 for listing and map