Rushville Common Council President William Goins was the last to arrive for Tuesday night’s meeting. Goins, along with other community leaders, volunteers and residents, spent Tuesday—sometimes waist deep in water—clearing drainage debris and fighting back the storm water that nearly forced the evacuation of Rush Memorial Hospital.
Hospital CEO Brad Smith appeared before the Council to personally thank the city employees, many of whom were still at work on Rushville’s water-logged streets, parks and businesses.
“Without them, the hospital would have been underwater right now,” Smith said. “It’s remarkable how everyone pitched in and helped.”
Goins thanked everyone for their help throughout the day during the flooding rains in Rushville citing numerous areas where crews continued to work.
“Residents had never seen the water that high,” Goins said. “It’s been a mess but I can’t give enough praise. Every employee of Rushville was doing something to help today.”
Goins also raised a concern over the danger of children he saw playing in the water, especially near Hodge’s Branch in North and South Veterans Memorial Park.
The Council also approved first reading of Ordinance 2009-3 with a motion by Buckley and second by Goins that will increase water and sewer rates for residents. Rates have not been adjusted in seven years and a rate study was presented by Johyn Skomp of Crowe Horwath from Indianapolis. The purpose of the report was to estimate the Rushville Municipal Water Utility’s cash flow and financial capacity to meet its ongoing revenue requirements for operation and maintenance expenses, present and proposed debt service and lease payments, and to make capital improvements to the utility’s system.
Crowe calculated than an across-the-board rate increase of 20 percent would be required. The customer who uses minimum water would experience a $2.24 increase and a $2.20 a month increase for sewer. Average users would experience a $4.25 increase for water and a $4.25 a month increase for sewer.
Rates for surrounding areas were compared.
With the rate increase, Rushville would be lower than communities like Knightstown, Carthage, and Greenfield but just above Greensburg, Shelbyville and New Castle. Many of the improvement to Rushville’s water and sewer systems are required by the state.
Trena Carter from Administrative Resources association was on hand for the first reading and public hearing on a grant application for $600,000 with matching funds of $153,101 needed to address numerous sewer line issues, pipe rehabilitation and a lift station in Rushville including lines along State Road 44, 14th Street and Main Street. This is the first step in the grant process. The full application is due Oct. 2 and another public hearing will be scheduled with notice published in September.
Copley scheduled another city budget work session with Council members for 4 p.m. Wednesday 12 at City Hall.
Ordinance 2009-2 affecting golf carts owners was approved on a narrow 3-2 vote with Goins and Shelton opposed and Humphrey, McGowan and Buckley supporting. The two opposed to the ordinance favored a version of the ordinance that did not restrict operation after dark. The passed ordinance requires owners to only operate golf carts on city streets between sunrise and sunset, have a slow moving vehicle sign or flashing lights, a valid driver’s license and proof of insurance. The ordinance will go into affect in 30 days and violators will face a Class C infraction.
Melissa Conrad is a southern Rush County resident and freelance writer. Add a comment at www.rushvillerepublican.com.
News
Water and sewer rate increase approved
Employees, volunteers praised for storm response
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RCCF Education Fund Grants awarded
The Rush County Education Fund Grants Committee recently met to review grant applications for the 2012 grant cycle and to make their recommendations to the Rush County Community Foundation's Board of Directors.
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Commissioners hear of feasibility study
The Rush County Commissioners met earlier this week and heard a report regarding a feasibility study currently underway regarding the city possibly running an ambulance service out of the Rushville Fire Department.
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Pool open
Waggener Community Pool will be open from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday. The pool will be closed Monday and Tuesday and then open again Wednesday as was originally scheduled. Information: 932-7100.
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Farmers Market
The Rush County Farmers and Artisans Market kicks off the 2012 season at 9 a.m. Saturday in the 100 block of East Third Street in downtown Rushville!
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Good Samaritan recognized for heroic efforts
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Lion Project showing community pride
If you've been paying attention, you'll have noticed that new concrete lions are showing up all over town.
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Waggener Pool opening Saturday and Sunday
In an update to this story, the City announced plans today to open Waggener Community Pool earlier than originally planned due to expected high temperatures over Memorial Weekend. Mayor Mike Pavey has asked that the pool be open this coming Saturday and Sunday. Hours will be noon to 6 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday. The pool will be closed on Monday for Memorial Day and Tuesday, and open again Wednesday, May 30, as was originally scheduled.
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Why do young white women risk cancer to be tan?
A CDC report out this month found that nearly one in three white women aged 18 to 25 had used a tanning booth in the previous year. White women aged 18 to 21 went the most often, averaging 27.6 sessions per year—that’s over two sessions per month—while nearly 70 percent said they had gone at least 10 times in the last year.
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Collision lands driver in Indy trauma center
A Milroy woman sustained serious injuries in a single vehicle accident on SR 244 west of Milroy that was reported shortly after 1 p.m. Monday.
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Todd resigns
Bill Todd (center) is pictured during a recent meeting of the Rush County Commissioners at which he formally announced that he had turned in his resignation as the Rush County Area Plan Director. Todd has served in the capacity of APC director since 1998.
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