Jasper beginning to make plans for 250th Celebration

The Heart of Jasper is planning a special Downtown Chowdown in 2026 to celebrate the country’s 250th Anniversary.

Executive Director Kate Schwenk presented the Jasper Board of Public Works and Safety with a request to host the celebration at Jaycee Park on July 2, 2026.

Schwenk stated that since the food truck event coincides with the Fourth of July, organizers were collaborating to bring a special event to the park that would include a pool party and fireworks from The Parklands.

The Downtown Chowdown usually occurs on the Riverwalk, but when the Strassenfest Committee approached Heart of Jasper to add fireworks to the monthly event, they felt it would be better to move the Chowdown, Schwenk explained during Tuesday’s meeting.

After discussing various options with the mayor, The Parklands emerged as the preferred location for the fireworks display. This led to the decision to relocate the entire ChowDown event to Jaycee Park for better coordination with the fireworks.

The pool party component adds another layer to the celebration, taking advantage of the city pool’s popularity. Heart of Jasper plans to rent the pool for a private party, which requires a $2 per person admission fee. The event is open to the public, but according to the city’s pool rental requirements, organizers would have to charge the admission fee.

“As popular as city pool was, we thought it’d be neat to also do a pool party that evening, and it would just be this family celebration for America’s 250th birthday celebration, one time only,” Schwenk said.

She added that the event is still being planned, but they were seeking approval for the use of Jaycee Park and The Parkland early in the process to save money on the fireworks display.

Boardmember Nancy Eckerle said they are working with a Franklin, Ind., company, and they wanted to get a contract in place now to avoid price increases due to potential tariffs.

“The important thing is the price of fireworks is probably going up because of the tariffs,” Eckerle said. “And so we wanted to make sure that we get this contract secured and probably paid for now so that we can avoid those tariffs.”

Mayor Dean Vonderheide expressed enthusiasm for the celebration, saying it was a great way to celebrate the anniversary and showcase the new pool.

The approval represents the first step in a process that will require additional planning and vendor coordination.

Heart of Jasper plans to return to future council meetings with more detailed information about vendors and specific event logistics as planning progresses.

“I can definitely come back as we keep planning with the names of vendors and who’s coming and that type of stuff as it gets closer,” Schwenk said.

The event requires reserving three city facilities: Jaycee Park for the food trucks and main gathering, The Parklands for the fireworks display, and the city pool for the evening pool party.

The board of works approval was necessary because Jaycee Park is not currently on the city’s list of approved locations for food truck events. The Parks and Recreation Board will handle additional approvals related to the pool rental and fireworks display.

The meeting also covered the following:

Police Department Report

Chief Chad Dick gave a lengthy report of activities over the past month.

He reported School Resource Officer Jason Knies had received master accreditation from the Indiana School Resource Officers Association, a recognition highlighting his dedication to school safety and relationship building with students and administrators.

Chief Dick explained that while he and Knies were on bike patrol during the Pride Festival and Strassenfest, he was happy to see how the kids from school reacted to seeing SRO Knies.

“It’s like working with a rock star, because both the youth and adults, it didn’t matter if there were faculty members into school corporations or just adults in general, and along with the kids, all wanted to come up and say hi, shake his hand, see how he’s doing,” Dick reported.

Continuing in the vein of impactful moments between officers and the public, Dick outlined a recent incident involving a suicidal individual in which officers responded. Officers respond to a call regarding a person threatening to shoot himself.

“Fortunately, before officers arrived, someone there on scene was able to get the firearm away from that individual,” Chief Dick said.

Through investigation, officers determined that the individual had experienced suicidal thoughts and transported him for evaluation and care.

“As the officers were talking with him, one officer remembered a contact that he had made at a recent conference that he was at in Indianapolis, and thought that this person could potentially impact this guy’s life,” Chief Dick said.

The officer reached out to this individual, who subsequently drove two hours to Jasper to meet with the man officers were attempting to help.

“This person drove over two hours to come and talk with this individual, and was able to get him into some additional help to hopefully better his life, to get him through the tough times,” Dick said.

He used the incident to highlight the value of training investments and networking opportunities that officers utilize to positively impact the community beyond immediate law enforcement responses.

The board recognized the department for its operations during the Strassenfest as a demonstration of the department’s commitment to community policing and relationship building with residents and visitors. Officers actively engage with festival attendees, fostering positive interactions that strengthen community trust and support.

Chief Dick also reported the department had a strong applicant pool for one open position with testing scheduled for August 23rd. He noted detective activities in July included three forensic interviews involving child victims, leading to five arrests. He requested approval to auction four assets: two Fuji patrol bicycles that have reached the end of life, a 1999 cargo trailer no longer needed due to technological advances, and a 1988 Humvee that’s no longer utilized. The board approved all auction items.

Meeting Minutes Approval and Claims Processing

The board begins by approving the previous meeting minutes without additions. Claims totaling $4,072,142.12 for the period July 7 to August 7, 2025, were presented and approved. Notable payments include $231,190 to the Employee Benefit Trust; $235,211 to Knies Construction for paving work related to Community Crossings projects; $564,402 to Ragle Construction for Main Street Phase 2; and $310,062 to Ragle for additional work on the multiuse trail. The board unanimously approved all claims.

Tire Changer Equipment Procurement

The street department opened bids for a tire changer purchase. Two quotes are received for the Hunter TCX 53H Plus model: $17,308.17 from Quality Automotive Distributor in Evansville and $13,963.60 from Rick Davis in Newburg, Indiana. The department specifically chose this Hunter model for its versatility, handling everything from lawnmower tires to large truck tires. Both quotes exceed the $12,000 budget, so the street department took the bids under advisement for further budget review and decision at the next meeting.

Easement Encroachment Request

Brad Eckerley from Brosmer Engineering presented an easement encroachment request on behalf of Brian and Lori Murphy for Lot 30 of Diamond Ridge Estates. The request involves building a detached garage that would encroach 8 feet into a 20-foot public utility easement. The city gas department, through Greg Schmitt, has coordinated distances and supports the petition. The Board of Zoning Appeals previously approved a rear setback variance in July. The encroachment allows the specific building corridor while maintaining the easement for the existing gas utility. The board approved the encroachment request unanimously.

Street Closures for Water Main Replacement

Utilities Superintendent Rob Young requested permission to close the intersection of 4th and Clay Street for water main replacement work. The closures are scheduled for August 13-15 and September 8-10, both from 8 am to 3 pm. This work continues the ongoing infrastructure improvements in the area, replacing water mains that are up to 102 years old. The department has coordinated with the school corporation for bus routing adjustments. The board emphasizes the importance of proper notification and signage for local businesses and approves both closure requests to facilitate the essential infrastructure upgrades.

Fire Department Personnel and Equipment Updates

Fire Chief Kenny Hochgesang reported firefighter Nathan Durcholz returned from a leave of absence effective August 4th, 2025, and he requested the board approve the reinstatement. The board approved the request. Hochgesang also reported that four firefighters hired in August 2024 will complete their probationary period and receive full firefighter status effective August 12th. The department now maintains 38 fully trained firefighters. The chief requested approval to auction several items, including a donated pool table (“It was donated from the old pool hall years ago,” Hochgesang said), three Super Vac fans, extension cords, file cabinets, and lockers. These items are no longer utilized due to space constraints and equipment upgrades. The board approved the personnel changes and auction items.

Infrastructure Projects and Contract Approvals

Multiple infrastructure updates were presented, including the multi-use trail extension completion with a ribbon-cutting scheduled for Thursday at 10 a.m. A change order totaling $11,035 covered additional signal housing and detectors at the 30th and Newton intersection for the multi-use trail crossing, as well as four speed bumps at the Holiday Liquors parking lot exit that crosses the trail was approved. Main Street work continues with storm sewer installation at 9th and Main, requiring a gas main replacement. The street department reported progress on hiring two vacant positions. The board approved the city auction contract with Brahm & Brahm for September 13th. It declared five street department assets for auction, including a 2007 Troy-built tiller, a 1969 air compressor, Stihl equipment, and a 1981 Chevy Kodiak dump truck.

Legal and Administrative Contracts

The legal department requested approval for a new Westlaw contract featuring AI technology at the same 2025 cost, with a 3% annual increase cap. An $83 monthly NBI subscription will be discontinued, making the upgrade cost-neutral. Clerk-treasurer Keirsten Knies requested approval for Square Nine document management software to replace Centerdesk, which expires at year-end. The first-year cost is $11,646, including data migration, with ongoing annual costs of $6,396 split with utilities. Additionally, the fire protection agreement with Bainbridge Township increased from $30,000 to $40,000 annually, with continued equipment funding availability. All contracts receive board approval.

Building Permit Summary

Director of Community Development and Planning Josh Gunselman reported 20 permits were issued in July for about $2 million in investment in the city, including two new homes, a commercial property (the new smoothie business on the southside), and 17 accessory structures.