Three public hearings were held Monday on additional appropriations, annexation and housing programs.
ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION HEARING
No public comment was heard at a public hearing concerning additional appropriations for the 2015 budget held prior to Monday night’s Washington City Council meeting.
The city and county are buying 14 acres and a building that was used by INDOT during I69 construction. The city’s share is $160,000 which has been appropriated from Economic Development Income Tax funds. Once the process is complete, the Daviess County Economic Development Foundation will reimburse the city the funds which can be re-appropriated for other use later.
n a separate matter, an additional appropriation was needed in the amount of $10,000 to pay for the new roof at city hall. The money is the insurance deductable. Neither additional appropriation will affect the city tax rate. Later on in the council meeting, an ordinance was introduced concerning the additional appropriations. More readings are required before final approval.
HOUSING PROJECT PUBLIC HEARING
The City Council heard update Monday on the current Owner Occupied Housing Rehabilitation Project.
Audry Conlin with Southern Indiana Development Corporation conducted a public hearing on the project explaining that grant money from the state and a city match added up to over $360,000 which was used to rehabilitate 14 homes in the city. Work included improvements to windows, roofing, heating and air conditioning systems, plumbing and more. Seven of the homes have been inspected and minor deficiencies were found and corrected. Seven more homes will be inspected by the end of May.
There was no public comment on the matter.
Meanwhile, another grant application is being filed in the summer to help pay for home improvement and repair. The money will come from the Indiana Housing a;nd Community Development Authority. If approved there’ll be money available to help with repairs. Applications from homeowners will be taken Wednesday from 1 to 6 at the city council chambers. The program targets those 55 and older and the disabled. For more information on income guidelines contact the Southern Indiana Development Corporation at 812-295-3707 or call the Mayor’s at 812-254-5575.
ANNEXATION
A public hearing Monday night at the city council chambers dealt with the annexation of 22 acres of city owned property west of the wastewater treatment plant.
Washington Mayor Joe Wellman says the land will be used as a solar field…
The Mayor says Washington is pleased to help IMPA in their efforts to diversity sources of electricity.
There was no public comment concerning the annexation and the city council did pass a fiscal policy resolution on the annexation. An ordinance on the issue will be read and considered at a later date.
FEES SET FOR WATERWORLD OF WASHINGTON
The Washington City Council has approved final reading of an ordinance setting the fees and prices for Waterworld of Washington….
That’s Washington Mayor Joe Wellman who added that the city has had lots of applications for lifeguards this year. WaterWorld will open for the summer toward the end of May.
BOW MEETING
The Washington Board of Public Works and safety gave approval to Chamber of Commerce Director Samantha Bobbitt concerning some road closures in the city for special events.
Bobbit requested that Main from the east side of 1st to the west side 4th be closed on May 16th for the Heartbeat of Washington’s Spring Festival. It will include, a kiddie tractor pull, a battle of the bands and barbecue and chili cookoffs.
In addition, the board gave approval for a portion of Depot Street and 1st Street to be closed on Friday May 15th and Saturday May 16th for the annual Rail Fest featuring kids rides and games and a history train and much more.
The Board of Works heard some bad news concerning the Wastewater Plant Monday.
The plant took a lightning hit in a storm last week and according to officials, there’s likely up to $25,000 damage to several systems.