Things you learn at Decatur City Council
For instance, it is virtually certain that a Bellmont High School logo will go up on the water tower when it is painted this summer. Then, too, it’s definite that warmer weather is going to bring a lot of street paving in the city . And, if many of us are allowed some good fortune, that %$#@&% railroad crossing on Washington St. may be getting some temporary improvements.
Then there are the jokes surrounding the city police security detail.
From the top: • The city’s board of works recently opened six bids on the task of painting the water tower at E. Monroe St. and Piqua Road. All bids included a price for adding a BHS logo with the fresh paint.
Utilities Director Kevin Hackman said details of the size of the logo and the final colors of the tower are yet to be determined. The logo will face west, toward the North Adams campus.
The bids: MW Cole Construction, $198,200; 7 Brothers Painting, $179,400; LC United Painting, $ 127,000; Pittsburgh Paint & Tower Maintenance, $204,240; L&T Painting, $140,800; and FIDEWA Inc., $134,379.
All bids were taken
under advisement for study. • City Operations Manager Jeremy Gilbert told council that preparation work is underway on the upcoming street paving project.
Wayne Asphalt of Fort Wayne will be handling the city’s largest-ever paving project which, Gilbert said, will “hopefully” start in another 30 days or so.
In all, 19 streets are scheduled for paving, thanks to a $905,709.31 state Community Crossings grant. The city’s 25% match amounts to almost $302,000, pushing the total of the two well
past $1 million.
The grant is the city’s third from the Community Crossings program, totaling approximately $2.4 million in all. • It’s not the City of Decatur’s fault, but Mayor Dan Rickord said at the latest council that the city would, with the advent of better weather, attempt to make some temporary repairs to the Washington St. railroad crossing.
It’s Chicago Fort Wayne & Eastern’s track, but the railroad company apparently refuses to do anything about making some repairs.
The south side of the crossing is in atrocious condition (see accompanying photo) as grain
trucks are constantly traveling over that side then turning north to Bunge’s weigh station. The trucks exit by heading west over the tracks near the Bunge silos. • The last couple of council meetings haven’t been particularly kind to Police Chief Leonard Corral Jr. He is part of a four-man city police department contingent set to provide security for IU basketball coach Mike Woodson, due to speak at the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Indiana gourmet dinner fundraiser on May 17 in Fort Wayne.
So imagine what sort of jokes that evokes at the meetings for Corral, a huge Purdue fan. Meanwhile, another member of the contingent, Sgt. Lucas
Rumschlag, is a huge Ohio State fan.
Oh, well, as least they – Gabe Schwaller also included – will get to partake of the gourmet dinner! • Once again the phrase echoed through council chambers in City Hall: “Flushables are NOT flushable.”
Even though the stuff is marketed as flushable, they don’t and in fact only foul the system as the city’s water treatment plant.
Wastewater Superintendent Karey Fuelling told council that water coming to the plant for treatment last year included 7,800 pounds of unwanted trash.