Huntingburg Council gives approval for civilian firearms training program

The Huntingburg Police Department received authorization to offer civilian firearms safety training courses at the airport firing range following unanimous city council approval of a lease addendum.

Police Chief Brad Kramer was in front of the council Tuesday evening to request the addendum to the lease allowing civilian participation in structured firearms safety courses through the end of 2025.

According to Kramer, the program includes classroom instruction at the police station, followed by practical training at the airport range on Saturday mornings. Participants must provide their own firearms and ammunition, while the department supplies targets and instruction.

Safety measures include mandatory background checks for all participants, similar to those required for police hiring. They will also undergo a portable breath test on the day of the training. The chief plans to limit class sizes to ensure adequate supervision with no more than two participants per instructor.

Participants will pay between $30 and $40 to cover range supplies and operational costs. This fee structure requires separate ordinance approval, which the chief will present to the council at a future meeting.

The program launches later this year with an initial capacity of 10 participants. If demand exceeds capacity, the department will maintain a waiting list and roll additional participants into spring sessions.

Kramer reported that the Dubois County Airport Authority gave their support to the proposal during a meeting earlier this month.

In other business, the city’s gas department completed two major infrastructure projects that addressed aging equipment and expanded service capacity.

Gas Superintendent John Reutepohler reported a week-long repair operation on North Geiger Street, where crews discovered a failed gasket in a buried flange valve dating to 1956. The leak required the use of line-stopping equipment to maintain service to surrounding homes while crews welded new connections.

The department also relocated and upgraded gas service for OFS Industries, which is moving production equipment to its Plant Nine facility due to the storm damage that occurred last month. The project required installing 200 feet of new 2-inch steel pipe and constructing a complex meter assembly in the department’s shop.

The electric department completed two residential underground projects, including one in St. Henry, where power lines previously ran over a building that has since been demolished. Crews also installed infrastructure for the new Poplar Ridge development, setting four temporary poles to supply construction trailers.

Council approved a purchase not to exceed $23,000 for underground electrical wire from Brownstown Electric Supply. The order includes wire for the Poplar Ridge project and other ongoing underground installations.

The department also received approval to seek quotes for single-phase and pad-mount transformers as inventory levels decline and costs continue rising.

A six-year cost analysis reveals dramatic price increases for wooden utility poles. Forty-foot poles increased from $341 in 2019 to $584 in 2024, while 45-foot poles nearly doubled from $366 to $706 over the same period.

This prompted a discussion on how the department will handle future needs and if they need to assess the connection fees charged to internet/phone service providers. No action was taken on the issue.

Water Superintendent Jerry Austin reported that the water department installed two new services on South Sixth Street for new residential construction and replaced a deteriorated copper service line on West Veterans Parkway that was temporarily repaired during earlier water main work.

Austin also told the council that the work on the water filters at the plant will go out to bid by the end of July. The project is designed to repair leaks in two of the main filtration mediums at the plant.

The department expects to complete its transition to digital water meters by fall, with the final shipment of large-diameter meters scheduled to arrive in mid-July. The new system allows staff to notify customers of potential leaks before they receive high bills.

Austin also noted that two high school students are painting fire hydrants throughout the city, focusing on main travel routes and high-visibility areas. The pair work extended hours to accommodate morning basketball training while maintaining their commitment to the hydrant improvement project.

Mayor Neil Elkins also presented a proclamation declaring June 21, 2025, as Uhl Pottery Society Collectors Day, commemorating the 40th anniversary of the organization dedicated to preserving the legacy of the historic Huntingburg pottery company that operated until the 1940s.

He added that an updated mural planned for the alley between Butcher & Barrel and the former Overtime restaurant will feature a tribute to Uhl in addition to other important aspects of Huntingburg’s character and history like references to Memorial Gym.