Huntingburg Common Council meeting notes – September 13

The Huntingburg City Council held a regularly scheduled meeting Thursday night.

Mayor Spinner announced the voluntary conservation order for water conversation was rescinded.

Spinner also requested a date change for the September 27 council meeting to Tuesday, September 25th, due to the Herbstfest and an approval for Trick or Treat hours from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 31.

Then, Tonya Brothers-Bridge of Transformation Team presented to the council the report from the three listening sessions held in Huntingburg. The listening sessions and report from Brothers-Bridge will be used to focus the plans to update the city’s comprehensive plan.

There were a total of 192 ideas presented by the attendees of the listening sessions with many in the same theme of code enforcement, attracting new business and tourism.

Finally, City Attorney Phil Schneider brought before the council an insurance claim on a damaged utility pole from an accident in late March at 11th and Main Streets. The city billed the insurance company $9,770.00 for the pole and the materials and machinery that it took to install it.

Schneider reported that the insurance company responded with lower rates on some of the items. This is due to differing rates by the city and the industry accepted standards. Schneider and Utility Superintendent Tony Traylor reviewed the City rates and found that they were indeed too high on some items based on industry and FEMA standards.

The decision was made to lower the rates on certain items. Schneider and Traylor a modified the bill to the insurance company to $8,500.00, which the insurance company agreed to, and the council approved.