The Decatur Daily Democrat

Extra COVID cash will aid Monroe water, sewer work

By ERIC MANN

A leftover amount of around $175,000 from federal funds provided to Monroe to overcome effects of the COVID pandemic will be used by the town to finish water main improvements and perhaps some sewer system tasks as well.

Monroe has until the end of 2026 to spend that money. The council vote was 3-0 to move ahead.

That was decided at the June meeting of the Monroe Town Council, after the three-member group had to cancel its May meeting due to at least two members being unable to attend that session.

Town superintendent Justin Shaffer brought up the $175,000 sum as part of his lengthy report, which included 11 other matters;

— Paving is under way by a subcontractor hired by the KBL firm of Portland that was awarded that project. Shaffer all the work will be done before the annual Adams County 4-H Fair in Monroe starts in late July.

The work involves curbs and repaving on Jackson St., east of downtown; in the area between downtown and Polk St.; and on W. Walnut St. There will also be some drainage tile tie-ins. So far, said Shaffer, everything is “coming along nicely.”

— The town has until July 1 to apply for paving projects to be done next year.

— All the fire hydrants were flushed on April during regular maintenance.

— Heavy trash was picked up in recent weeks.

— He said the town water department will create an asset-management plan to keep costs down.

— The Indiana Department of Transportation’s preliminary work is going well for the major project in 2025 to redo State Rd. 124 through Monroe, including installation of curbs and gutters.

— The town has a number of dark streets, so plans are to erect 14 more lights on poles this summer, which will boost the town’s Indiana Michigan Power bill by $112.71 per month. The bill increase will not start until all the lights are in place.

The dark areas were identi

fied by Shaffer as being along Adams St., SR 124 East, Walnut St. from Van Buren St. to a dead-end, S. Van Buren, Polk St., Park St., and Harvest Lane.

Shaffer said the lights on 124 East will be added after the 2025 state project is finished.

— He will be getting additional parts to install two more air valves in the sewer force main that runs to Berne.

— The council voted 3-0 to buy a 10-yearold, but not heavily-used utility vehicle to be used for weed spraying, hauling equipment, and tasks in the community’s grass alleys. The cost is $9,200. Shaffer said he had a mechanic check the vehicle and it’s in very good shape. The seller is Craig Fruechte, an Adams County resident.

— Two payments were approved on unanimous votes for the Community Crossings paving project: $15,801.92 to the KBL firm and $3,000 to Choice One Engineering.

— Shaffer said he will sell various unwanted items through Krueckeberg Auction in Decatur, including a 2001 truck, two old generators, control boxes, etc.

Fire chief Kris Burkhart said the department is planning a project to offer businesses in town to buy special lockboxes, each of which will be mounted outside a business and will contain a key to let firefighters or other emergency personnel get inside if needed. The boxes will be very secure, Burkhart said. Town Attorney Stacy Somers will have an ordinance for the lockbox project at the council’s July meeting.

The MVFD chief also presented a bill for $1,930 from Willshire Home Furnishings in Ohio for upgrading the carpet in the meeting room in Town Hall that is also used by the fire department. The council voted 3-0 to pay that bill.

Council president Deb Giessler announced that the town must hire another school crossing guard to work from 7:30-8 a.m. on school days at Adams Central Community Schools. The previous guard resigned. The pay is $15 per day. Adams Central hires the afternoon crossing guard, at the same pay scale.

Giessler also said the school crossing may be moved a short distance for better safety.

The town received a copy of a document from the Strick Corp. about the benefits it provided to workers to meet requirements of a 20-year tax abatement granted by the council.

Giessler reminded everyone about two important driving issues:

First, all golf cart drivers in town must be at least 16 and must be licensed drivers.

Second, there’s a lot of speeding by drivers of cars and trucks in Monroe. “It’s just awful on our street,” she stated.

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2023-06-03T07:00:00.0000000Z

2023-06-03T07:00:00.0000000Z

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