Huntingburg Council meeting notes from December 2

Huntingburg Utility Service Board and Common Council met on December 2.

The meeting began with Mayor Marvin Belcher announcing that what he and others had been referring to as the Veteran’s Memorial would be called a monument instead. Belcher made the distinction to recognize that a memorial would be appropriate for those veterans who have died, but this project is for all veterans of Dubois County.

Belcher also announced that the engraved brick sales are brisk and there is plenty of room for all of the veterans to be mentioned. Those interested in purchasing a brick for a veteran can contact that city at 812-683-2211. The mayor stated the city is receiving calls from throughout the county and even outside of the area from families that want to recognize local veterans.

Belcher also thanked Jasper for sending a few employees over to assist with bricklaying.

Belcher would like to have the monument dedication completed before he leaves office in January, however he stated the weather is playing havoc on completing the retaining wall.

Belcher also announced a new requirement for the transit system to continue to receive federally funding. All city employees that drive the transit vans will be required to comply with a new federal initiative titled “Fit for Duty”. The new standards are also expected to take effect for the police and fire department personnel.

Currently five employees will have to undergo physical screenings to qualify for the new standards. The new standards are stringent and designed to insure that those who are in positions of providing transportation for the public or using government owned vehicles are not impaired in the execution of their duties.

Additionally the city is looking at increasing the going rates for the public transit system to $2 per round trip. According to Jackie Lueken, coordinator for the Fit for Duty program, the increase is still lower than any other available transportation in the county and the increase was generally well accepted by the public.

Belcher commented that he felt the new standards would preclude senior citizens from applying for the transportation positions. “These folks enjoy doing this and they may not qualify under these new standards.”

The city council approved two ordinances that were introduced at the previous meeting after no one commented during the public hearing. The first ordinance set new rates for the sale of bulk treated water and the second was an amendment for the electric street light rates to allow for the new LED lights.

Chamber of Commerce Director Nick Stevens announced a new business was coming to Fourth Street in late February early March. He was also there to request the review and approval of a revolving loan in the amount of $16,000 from the USDA Rural Development seed fund.

Sarah Kamman is a Huntingburg native who has worked in the fashion industry in New York city. She is moving back to the area to open a new business named Single Thread, LLC. The new business will carry fashionable clothing that caters to women ages 18 to 35.

She will be setting up shop in what is known as the Parker House at 307 E. Fourth Street.