Meeting info: Huntingburg Board of Public Works
The board welcomed Keith Souders as a new board appointment. He replaces George Lewallen who announced his resignation last month.
They opened bids for demolishing 205 N. Walnut since the owners did not respond to multiple requests for remediation. The bid from Cooper Rail Service for $4070 was accepted for the demolishing of the home.
Approved a fire protection contract with Patoka Township.
Board member Roger Cox asked Huntingburg Fire Chief Scott Patberg about a Jan. 1 ambulance assist that had 18 volunteer firefighters repond. Patberg stated they didn’t usually have this many volunteers respond to events, but on New Years Day many of the volunteers were available. The department does not have a method to designate specific firefighters to respond and Patberg stated the cost of the equipment to do so nullified the benefit.
Wastewater Superintendent Mike Kemp informed the board about some ventilation fan failures in the digesters at the plant. Currently the fault and fiduciary responsibility is being debated between the installer and engineer.
Streets Superintendent Jason Stamm notified the board they had used the salt brine for the first time on Jan. 24. Fortunately for Huntingburg, the weather hit areas further north harder than here, but the brine worked well at keeping the ice from building up on hills, turns and intersections. The department modified the spreader to increase the coverage area of the brine.
Stamm notified the board that the police department was requesting the curb on the south side of First Street from the Jackson Street intersection to the entrance to A Kid’s Place. Officers and firefighters pulling from the adjacent departments have trouble seeing traffic coming from the south if vehicles are parked along that curb.
City Attorney Phil Schneider stated the council would have to approve and ordinance to adjust the parking along the street there. The board approved the recommendation.
Stamm also told the board he would be recording every sign in the city using a GPS and mapping software and then come up with a standardized method for placing new signs.
Stamm also informed the board they would be installing a camera to record illegal dumping that is occurring at the city recyclable center. Stamm stated violators are dumping large items like tires and household trash illegally and hopes the camera will alleviate the problem.
Retired Detective Bill Wampler spoke to the board about compensation for time he has spent in court cases since he retired in January of 2012. Wampler stated he has spent about 13 hours in court since retiring and he will be involved in another court case in the near future that is expected to last for three days. These are trials related to investigations and arrests he completed while a member of the department. The mayor said they would continue to research the request.
