Huntingburg Council: October 22, 2015
-Approved an agreement to use Precision Concrete Cutting for removing trip hazards on city sidewalks for $15,000 in 2015. The company specializes in ADA compliant removal of trip hazards in these scenarios. The city has used them for two areas of the city and in the park already. The company provides documentation that is required for the city to be Title 6 compliant.
-Heard about a new housing study being completed by the Office of Community and Rural Affairs and Purdue. The study will assist in determining how to help citizens in purchasing a home. The study will determine lenders, employers and employees roles in the home purchase process and Huntingburg is the pilot initiative of the study and program.
-John Reutepohler, Energy Superintendent, stated the department has completed changing out electric meters. The process has taken several years and averaged about $15,000 annually for the department.
-Approved Reutepohler advertising for a new line (bucket) truck for the electric department. The city has had the current truck since 1998. He expects a new truck will cost over $200,000. Councilman Steve McPherron recommended the department explore implementing a replacement program on the trucks since they are a critical piece of equipment for the department. According to Reutepohler, it will take up to 10 months to get the new truck after it is ordered.
-Todd Williams, Water Superintendent, informed the council on the progress of a rainwater garden being created near the water plant on Huntingburg Lake. The department is creating the rain garden using a grant through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. According to Williams, the rain garden will be the premier garden in this part of the state. The site will be a demonstration site for those interested in creating a rain garden of their own at their homes.
-Williams gave an update on the shifts at the water plant. For the past six months, the water plant has had an operator working from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.; an operator working from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m.; and Williams fills in from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. According to Williams, the schedule allows the plant to run at a slower pace and they have been able to increase the monthly output of water by 3 million gallons.
