The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1458183
NEWS TIPS Phone: ���������������������812-354-8500 Email ����� editor@pressdispatch�net INSIDE Local ����������������� A1-8 Obituaries ��������������� A7 Sports �����������������B1-6 School ���������������� B4-5 East Gibson������������B6 Classifieds �����������C1-3 History ������������������� C4 Church �������������� C5-8 Home Life ������������D1-6 Opinion �������������D4-5 USPS 604-34012 $1.00 28 PAGES Four SECTIoNS oNE INSErT PETErSBurG, IN 47567-0068 SPORTS B1 LOCAL A5 TTR provides support for foster families Chargers lose heart-breaker in sectional finals WEdNESdAy, MArCh 9, 2022 PIKE PUBLISHING VoLuME 152, NuMBEr 10 By Andy Heuring Petersburg voted 4-0 Monday night to ap- prove an 85 percent increase in water rates to pay for nearly $18 million of new construction and rehab of their water system. About 10 people were there to comment and learn about the project. Petersburg Mayor R. C. Klipsch said they needed to move on it quickly because the deadline to close on their loan is Thursday. Petersburg is just making the deadline to get a federal loan of 1.25 percent. "We know the in- terest rate is going to go up," said Klipsch. He added when borrowing this amount of mon- ey for 40 years the second largest cost of the project after construction costs is the interest. "The difference between the 1.25 percent rate and the 2.37 we thought we were going to get is about three or four million," said Klipsch. Klipsch said Petersburg began working on replacing its water plant in 2010. The water plant was built in 1932 and is the second-old- est in Indiana. He said Evansville's is the old- est. In 2016 they started working on plans for the project and it continued to expand. Klipsch said they don't know when the water line from the plant to Petersburg was built, but they assume it was built at the same time. So it is being included in the project, along with two new water wells and a 750,000 gallon wa- ter tower on Half-Mile Hill, as well as rehab- bing the two current water towers. They also are replacing a water main that runs down Main St. Engineering estimates on the projects was originally about $ 9 million. However numer- ous factors came into play. COVID shutdowns delayed the engineering designs from getting approval from the state. Then material short- ages and inflation set in. When Petersburg opened bids for the project on December 9, 2021 the bids came in at more than $17 mil- lion. Klipsch said he and the engineers original- ly thought they have to rebid these in 90 days. "But Jim Gaskins, who is on the city's water board, said 'you better be careful what you ask for,'" said Klipsch. Gaskins, who owns Sisson Steel, told the board he knew of projects that had rebid re- cently and the second bids came in much higher. "Who would have thought 90 days ago we would be in the situation we are in now? " said Klipsch. He said after talking with Rural De- velopment officials in the last few weeks he was warned he better get the bids locked in before they expire, because materials are in- creasing in cost so quickly, some contractors City finalizes 85% water rate increase See WATER R ATE on page 3 See SOLAR on page 3 Minor injuries after three vehicle accident A tan Chevy Lumina, owned by Keith Ashby, of Otwell, was traveling North on State Road 57 when he was hit by an Elmer Buchta Trucking semi truck, after another semi behind the Elmer Buchta Trucking semi, was unable to stop in time. Ashby was taken to the hospital to check for injuries after complaining of neck pain. The Elmer Buchta Trucking semi truck was able to stop in time, but the semi that failed to yield, owned and operated by Terry Work, left 60 feet of skid marks on State Road 57 and pushed the Elmer Buchta Trucking semi truck into Ashby. Work had major front end damage to his semi and the Elmer Buchta Trucking semi truck he hit, took out a tire and one of the air bags deployed on the truck. No other injuries were reported and no citations were issued at the scene. Into the Woods opens Friday Ava Hudson, who plays the Baker's wife, along with Alec Smith (Baker), and Mallory Hunt, who plays the Witch in 'Into the Woods,' practice their lines before their upcoming performance this weekend at Pike Central High School. "This has been a re- ally tough show to learn and I am very proud of the cast and crew for their hard work and dedication to make this show come to life," Melissa Traylor, Director, said. See story and additional photos on page A-6. Spring forward on Sunday Sunday, March 13, don't for- get to spring forward for Day- light Saving Time. While the changeover be- gins at 2 a.m., many will set their alarm clocks to the cor- rect time on Saturday night, which will be setting the clock forward one hour. Pre-school, kindergarten round- up begins March 10 to March 18 for area schools. New students and their parents can meet the staff and gain infor- mation about school programs. Screenings are also conducted to check for language and other devel- opment skills and overall readiness. Parents/guardians should pro- vide the child's immunization re- cord, certified birth certificate (courthouse) and proof of residen- cy (piece of mail) at the meeting. Children entering preschool must be four by August 1, 2022. Preschool is not mandatory and classes arelim- ited. Children entering kindergarten must be five by August 1, 2022. Kindergarten: A child must be five years old by August 1, 2021, to be eligible for kindergarten next school year. Below are dates and requirements for the preschool and kindergarten. WINSLOW ELEMENTARY Kindergarten round-up is Thurs- day, March 17 and Friday, March 11 with screenings from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Preschool is set for Friday, March 18, with screenings from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call 812-789 -2209 to schedule an appointment. OTWELL MILLER ACADEMY Kindergarten round-up is March 10, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and then from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the school, located just off Highway 257 in Otwell, at 9958 E. CR 150 N., Ot- well. To schedule an appointment, call 812-354-0800. PETERSBURG ELEMENTARY Kindergarten round-up is Thurs- day, March 10 and Friday, March 11 with screenings from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Preschool is set for Friday, March 18, with screenings from 8 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Call 812-354-6876 to schedule an appointment. Kindergarten roundup begins Thursday County Council moves forward with Solar Farm deal By Sherri Sebella During the March 8 Pike County Council meeting, council members heard from Ash- ley Willis, Executive Director of the Econom- ic Development Committee, and Tom Schod- er, Project Manager with Invenergy, regard- ing approval of the Economic Revitalization Declaratory Resolution with Cross Track Solar. Willis asked the Council to consider the Declaratory Resolution for passage, which would start the negotiations with Invenergy. Through this resolution, eventually Cross Track Solar will request that the Council ap- prove a five-year personal property tax deduc- tion schedule for the proposed solar farm proj- ect which will include installation of new man- ufacturing equipment. Willis said it is a $110,000 million project that will be located mainly in Jefferson Town- ship, with Patoka and Marion Townships also being included. "This opens up the opportunity by consid- ering this resolution for passage," Willis said. Schoder added that in all reality it is roughly 800 acres that will be within the project fence. Willis told Council members a date needs to be set for a public hearing, with subsequent ac- tion by the county to approve the Economic De- velopment Agreement. She also said they have been notifying non-participants through invi- tations to meetings, legal notices in the news- paper, mailing letters and making phone calls. "We've tried to have better engagement with the public," Willis said. Jon Craig, Coun- cil President, said it is the county's goal to be transparent regarding the process. "You have done a good job of doing that, Ashley and Tom. We want to continue this transparency," Craig said. In other business, County Health Nurse Amy Gladish gave a COVID update and said there are five active COVID cases in Pike County, 3715 known cases of COVID, a 4.2 percent posi- tivity rate (down from 27% in January) and 5139