Huntingburg Council: Main Street Economic Development Corridor public meeting planned

ByMatthew Crane Reading Time: 3 minutes

As Huntingburg’s Stellar work nears the halfway point, the city is looking at an area not impacted by the program; U.S. 231/Main Street.

In November, the council approved a contract with the Sesco Group to complete an economic development study of the main corridor through the city. The goal being to invigorate business growth through the corridor by creating an economic development area. Through its creation, the city will have more tools available to entice business growth as well as a long-range plan of what that area could look like.

Sesco is reviewing the corridor to select a specific area to create the economic development area. The group is also working with the Indianapolis-based accounting firm London Witte Group to study the potential tax impact of the area. At Tuesday’s council meeting, the council heard from Sesco’s president and CEO Darren Reece that a public meeting is scheduled to happen next Tuesday, January 31at 6:30 p.m. at the Old Town Hall, 309 N. Geiger St.

This is the first public meeting on the project, and the group wants to hear from the community to facilitate how the corridor will develop.

After the meeting, the group will work with some community members to create a presentation for the council to be presented at the February 28 Huntingburg Common Council meeting.

Also at the meeting:

Energy Superintendent John Reutepohler gave the Energy Department report.

Gas Department

  • Reutepohler reported the department used the hydro-vac to locate utilities for the overpass project.
  • He also noted that as fiber optic lines are being installed extensively in Huntingburg and Jasper, crews are working around gas lines so Reutepohler has assigned city gas employees to watch the work to ensure there is no damage to gas lines.

Electrical Service

  • The department is still rebuilding electrical service to Industrial Park.
  • Crews have been assisting with adding updated services to the Wesselman’s store. The pad mounted transformer will need to be replaced to support the businesses going into the location, according to Reutepohler.
  • While it was raining recently, the crews worked in the city office to replace all two-foot bulbs to LED lighting. The new LED lighting is expected to the save the city $120 in electrical usage. The department is also working with the water department to replace lighting at the water plant. They also plan on changing over bulbs in the utility office. Reutepohler explained the changes will earn the city $2,200 in rebates from the Indiana Municipal Power Agency.
  • Reported MasterBrand’s plant lost power due to a problem with the factory’s switch gear that back-fed into the city transformer. Reutepohler reported the company ran the plant on a generator for the week while the city replaced the transformer. They are in the process of working with insurance companies to compensate the city. He added they are still concerned about damages to other parts of the system. The transformer was purchased in 2014 for $31,500.

Heard the water department update from Water Superintendent Gary Meyerholtz

  • The Styline Drive replacement project almost complete.
  • Approved Meyerholtz seeking quotes for a truck for the water department to replace the department head’s car. Meyerholtz told the council it was impractical for his use. Mayor Spinner says the car could be transferred to a different department.
  • Heard the city purchased about 53 percent of their water from Patoka Lake Regional Water and Sewer district last year.

The council also took the following actions:

  • Held a hearing on appropriating $65,000 from the Riverboat Gambling Fund to the Council Chamber renovation project. With no remonstrators, the ordinance appropriating the funds was passed unanimously.
  • Approved purchasing two new monitors for the chamber renovation project from Uebelhor TV for $1,300.
  • Approved $8,900 for a Cyber-Risk Insurance addition annually from Travelers Insurance. The council opted for the retroactive coverage policy that extended back to the “beginning of time” as the next step down in cost was only $195 less and only went back three years. No hacking incidents were reported at the meeting. The data stored by the city includes billing information, bank accounts and social security numbers for utility customers.
  • Office Manager Sue Tooley announced she will retire at the end of February. Mayor Denny Spinner appointed Deputy Clerk-Treasurer Gina Flick as the new office manager.
  • Approved surplus utility earnings from Gas, Water and Electric to be transferred to the city budget.
  • Heard INDOT will open bids on the overpass project on February 8th.
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