Huntingburg Council: Big projects start busy building season

Huntingburg Planning Director Paul Lake told the Huntingburg City Council Thursday night that “things are about to get really, really busy.”

Three projects are starting in the next few weeks — the police station renovation project, the 11th Street Fire Station addition, and the 9th Street extension project.

Lake said the police station project will expand the existing station to approximately twice its current size. Police operation will be moved to a different location while the renovations are in progress. He expects the renovations to take 8 to 9 months.

The next project is the 11th Street Fire Station addition which includes adding another fire truck bay as well as renovations to the interior.

The 9th and Moenkhaus extension creates better traffic flow for the west side industrial area. It is a critical preparatory project before the railroad overpass construction takes place.

Both of those projects are expected to be completed by this fall.

Lake said that these are just preludes to many of the Stellar Community projects that will begin at the end of 2015. “It’s just the very beginning of a lot of things to come.”

Also in the meeting:

-Approved a contract with Eck-Mundy for computer services. The contract gives the city special rates for either on-site or carry-in services.

-Passed a resolution declaring April 9 Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness in the city. CDH is a congenital disease in which a baby’s diaphragm does not form completely while it is in the womb. This causes the heart and lungs to be compressed by the other organs, impeding their formation. The condition is usually fatal. Mayor Denny Spinner read a declaration during the meeting. He was moved to do so after being contacted by Huntingburg citizen Tasha Hayes, who lost her newborn baby to the disease. Also in attendance, Kennedy Grace, a 10-year-old who was born with CDH.

-Heard the Huntingburg 5-5-5 5k run/walk begins Friday afternoon at 5 p.m. at City Hall, 508 East Fourth Street. It is free to the public. Those that complete all five scheduled events will receive a free t-shirt.

-Heard the Daffodil Stroll in downtown Huntingburg will take place Friday and Saturday. The annual event features the downtown merchants hosting special deals and extended operating hours.