City leaders pleased with time change of parade

City leaders are pleased that a later start time is now planned for the annual Putnam County Fair Parade, set for Friday, July 21 in Greencastle.

During its regular session Tuesday, the council approved a request to close streets along the parade route.

To avoid conflicts with businesses and shift changes at local factories, the fair parade has been moved later to a 6 p.m. start from the intersection of Washington and Wood streets.

Fair parade chairman Cheryl Spencer told Greencastle City Council members Tom Roach, Mark Hammer, Russ Evans and John Lanie that the majority of parade entries will also be organized in the high school and middle school parking lots prior to lining up along Washington Street to ease traffic concerns.

The theme of the parade is "4-H Progress Bridging Generations."

The race will also be preceded by a fitness run, which is scheduled to start on the courthouse square at 5:30 p.m. and end up back at the square prior to the 6 p.m. start.

The parade is expected to start arriving downtown at 6:30 p.m.

Anyone wanting to enter a float or organization in the parade can contact Spencer at 653-5339.

The council approved the request to close portions of Washington, Wood, Arlington, Durham, Bloomington, Locust, Spring, Vine, Indiana and Franklin streets, College Avenue and Indianapolis Road.

In other business handled Tuesday, the council:

-- Heard from economic development director Bill Dory that sometime around the end of June or early July, Cinergy MetroNet will have equipment installed to allow for a local cable access channel on the BroadReach network.

Also, the first franchise fee payment has also been received by the city as the regular payment from MetroNet, he said.

And, an emergency override system to allow the county 911 center to alert BroadReach viewers via the cable system will be installed.

They are now working on the protocol on how to initiate that.

Dory also reminded people that the area is now the guinea pig on this new system.

-- Heard from Joy Marley about the progress of the National Heritage Trail, for which the city voiced its support in September 2004.

The council learned the National Heritage Trail will be developed as a multi-use recreational trail across Indiana.

A feasibility study was completed through the Indiana Department of Commerce, and a development guide has been created to show the proposed condition of the corridor across Indiana, as well as what can be done in Putnam County.

It essentially follows U.S. 40. Putnam County's trail connects in Hendricks County and comes into Greencastle to connect with the People Pathways trailhead and follow through to Reelsville.

Marley also noted that a walking trail is coming together in cooperation with Putnam County Health Department, hospital, city recreation department and extension office to promote healthy activities.

This is an offshoot of the Putnam County Health Summit recently conducted in the county.

-- Approved the use of the Columbia Street parking lot from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, July 22 for a benefit motorcycle run to benefit Danny Pollock. An additional two hours was also requested to clean-up the lot and remove the portable restrooms.

The ride will start in Greencastle and end up back at the parking lot. Greencastle Custom Cycle is organizing the ride, and expects around 200 participants for the event.

-- Approved Resolution 2006-10, an additional appropriation from the EDIT fund to cover phase three of the Franklin Street project from Arlington to Indianapolis Road to improve storm drainage, new pavement, curbs, gutters and sidewalks, as well as the Albin Pond Pathway.

The total cost is $338,000, which includes $113,000 for the Franklin Street project.

-- Approved Resolution 2006-11, which supports the Safe Routes to School grant application for People Pathways Phase III -- Part 2: The Connector Trail project.

This portion of the project goes from Shadowlawn Avenue to Deer Meadow School, and expands a sideway along Quail Ridge Drive to Fairview Drive along to First Street and Greencastle's middle and high schools. The entire project, if approved, will be funded by the state.

-- Approved Ordinance 2006-2 establishing parking regulations during street sweeping operations in the area of the courthouse square from midnight to 6 a.m. Fridays during the months of March to November.

-- Heard that Greencastle Fire Chief Bill Newgent will be installed as the new president of the Indiana Fire Chiefs Association.

Mayor Michael commended Newgent for being involved in the organization and in the training of new fire chiefs around the state.

-- Learned that a basketball goal will be installed in the asphalt portion of the parking lot behind the Putnam County Courthouse Annex for use by neighborhood residents.

An interlocal agreement will be presented to the Putnam County Commissioners allowing the project in the westside park.

-- Heard that two new police officers have been hired, pending their approval for the state's Public Employees Retirement Fund.

They are Jeff Modlin, who now works as a jailer at the Putnam County Jail, and Travis DeLaGrange of Bloomington, who works for the Indiana University police department and has been through the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy.

Michael said it could be four to six weeks before they start their new duties for the city.

-- Learned from Street Commissioner Paul Wilson that repaving work continues around the city, most recently around the courthouse square, South Indiana Street and the city parking lot on North Jackson Street. Those were much-needed projects and money well-spent, he said.

The city council regularly meets at 7 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the month at city hall. A videotape of the meeting will be aired later this month on local cable access Channel 3. The meetings are open to the public.