Huntingburg Council tackling vacant buildings and more

The Huntingburg City Council meeting covered a plethora of topics Tuesday evening.

Mayor Neil Elkins proclaimed October 2025 as Alpha Delta Kappa Month to honor women educators.

Trick-or-treat hours were set for October 31, 2025, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m.

The council approved the sale of two lots on Veterans Parkway for $174,000, plus appraisal costs and a $5,000 refundable deposit.

They discussed a proposed ordinance to address vacant buildings, requiring weekly inspections and registration.

The 2026 city budget was set at $13,532,000 with a tax rate of 0.968 per $100 of assessed value.

The council also approved a $45,000 allocation from the opioid settlement fund for overdose mitigation.

Vacant and Abandoned Building Ordinance Draft

The council reviewed a draft ordinance addressing vacant and abandoned buildings throughout the city. The ordinance establishes definitions for vacant versus abandoned properties and sets standards for property maintenance, including requirements for consistent paint colors and proper boarding materials. Property owners must designate local representatives for 24/7 contact and register vacant buildings with the city for a fee. The ordinance applied to both residential and commercial properties that no longer serve their original intended purposes. The council will review the draft and provide feedback before final consideration next month, with the goal of encouraging property owners to actively maintain or develop their buildings.

We feel like we’re getting too many vacant or abandoned buildings,” said Mayor Elkins.

He explained they aren’t looking at vacant businesses on Fourth Street that may be vacant for a short time while the owners search for new tenants.

“We have buildings some people from outside the the state of Indiana own that they don’t care if they ever rent them or not,” he explained. “They’re still sitting there, and they have a very high price and overpriced lease or sale amount, and the buildings aren’t moving.”

This includes homes. Elkins explained that there are cases of homes that have become storage for the owners and these will be targeted to be used for there intended purpose.

If it’s supposed to be residence, it needs to be a residence,” he said. “(It’s) supposed to be a business, it needs to be a business.”

Alpha Delta Kappa Recognition and Trick-or-Treat Hours

Mayor Neil Elkins proclaimed October 1 through 31, 2025 as Alpha Delta Kappa month, recognizing the educational organization established in 1947 that supports women educators. The proclamation acknowledges the organization’s role in promoting high educational standards and building fellowship among teaching professionals. The council also set trick-or-treat hours for Friday, October 31st, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Council members discussed potential conflicts with sporting events, but determined the timing works well since games don’t start until 7:30 p.m., allowing families flexibility to participate in both activities before the evening concludes.

Real Estate Sale Public Hearing and Resolution

The council opened and closed a public hearing for the sale of city-owned real estate on Veterans Parkway, specifically lots 45 and 46 of the Charles D. Niehaus First Edition. The property, located west of the current Arby’s, will be sold for restaurant development. Two appraisals determine the sale price at $174,095, with additional costs for sewer installation estimated at $28,000 minus an $11,000 credit for three years of estimated sewer bills. The buyer provided a $5,000 non-refundable deposit and has a due diligence period for soil testing and title verification. The council unanimously approved the resolution authorizing the sale.

2026 City Budget Public Hearing

The council conducted a public hearing for the proposed 2026 city budget totaling $13,532,000. The estimated tax rate is $0.99680 per $100 of assessed value, compared to last year’s rate of $0.9463. Clerk-Treasurer Tom Dippel stated he used a conservative assessed value estimate of $200 million, though the actual assessed value reaches $283,562,597, providing a buffer against potential appeals. The budget incorporates all changes discussed in August meetings. With no public comments received, the council closed the hearing and scheduled final budget adoption for October 28th. The council emphasizes this represented the maximum budget amount, allowing for adjustments downward if needed.

Opioid Settlement Fund Appropriation

The council introduced an ordinance to appropriate $45,000 from the restricted opioid settlement fund for the purchase of Lucas devices, as previously discussed with Fire Chief Donnie Heim. Lucas devices help responders provide chest compressions for unresponsive individuals. These devices help mitigate opioid overdoses and represent an approved use of the restricted settlement funds. The appropriation requires a public hearing process, with the introduction approved unanimously and the final hearing scheduled for October 28th. The opioid settlement funds can only be used for specific purposes related to addressing opioid addiction and overdose prevention, making the Lucas device purchase an appropriate expenditure under the fund’s restrictions.

Community Progress

Council members and citizens express appreciation for the city’s progress on addressing blighted properties, particularly the Dairyland building demolition project. The environmental remediation process includes proper disposal of Freon, asbestos materials, and other hazardous substances. The council plans to continue this approach with additional properties, keeping them on the tax rolls rather than in city ownership.