Bremen Town Council talks Halloween, construction
Trick or Treat Hours set
The official time for Halloween trick or treating has been set as 5 to 7 p.m. on Oct. 31.
Trick or treaters and those handing out candy are to wear masks and follow all other COVID-19 and Halloween safety guidelines.
Police chief Brad Kile reported that he has fielded several questions about the upcoming holiday, which initiated the discussion among the council members.
Since many Halloween events may be canceled due to COIVD-19 health concerns, the council decided to permit trick or treating.
Members decided to leave it up to the individual’s discretion to determine whether or not they will participate.
Like in previous years, any resident who does not wish to hand out candy is to leave their porch light off. Those who would like to participate should keep their porch light on during the hours specified.
The council reserved the right to cancel trick or treating in the case of a severe local COVID19 outbreak or other safety issue. Construction, town improvement continue
Drivers must still exercise caution while driving around Bremen as summer construction projects continue.
The downtown area in particular is closed to all traffic as the state gives S.R. 106, also known as Plymouth Street, a complete overhaul.
Currently, Walsh and Kelly, the company tasked with the construction, has finished milling the road and has begun paving it.
Meanwhile, the town is improving the storm drainage, especially around the intersection of Montgomery and Washington streets. Bremen is also improving the water main system along Plymouth Street.
“This project is nearly complete,” said Alex Mikel, head of the street and water department. “Doing this project during the downtown restoration was a good decision. The new main is now online, and the old section of main has been eliminated. We have spent a lot of time on the downtown project fixing leaks, laying out where the new services are going to be located, and helping with flushing the new sections.”
The Streetscape Project, which will install new sidewalks, curbs, and lighting downtown, is scheduled to begin soon.
If everything goes as planned, it will be complete by the end of November.
‘Welcome to Mint City’ sign to be installed on SR 6 viaduct
The town council voted to add a decorative sign at the northern edge of Bremen’s city limits, on the viaduct at the Rt. 331 and St. Rd. 6 interchange. “It’s going to be painted on the actual structure itself,” said Director of Operations, Trend Weldy. “It’ll say, ‘Welcome to the Mint City Bremen.”
Discussion about municipal water rates upcoming
In his report to the town council, Mikel included a request to discuss adjusting the municipal water rates so that aging water mains can be replaced in due time. “We are seeing a lot of the old galvanized piping starting to fail. We have a lot of galvanized in the system and will continue to replace it when we have a leak,” explained Mikel.
He recommended that the town should consider replacing five blocks of water main each year on funds from the adjusted rates, with a contingency plan of taking out a State Revolving Funds Loan if unforeseen issues surface later on.