Grant to help Roachdale repave portions of Indiana, Washington streets

Thursday, November 15, 2018
Banner Graphic/NICK WILSON

ROACHDALE — Town officials are pleased to have state funding for a road resurfacing project, but are scratching their heads as to why a higher-priority, lower-cost project was not funded.

Giving an update on Roachdale’s application for Community Crossings grant money from the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) during Tuesday’s meeting, Town Council President Zach Bowers had mixed news.

The project to resurface Indiana Street from the railroad crossing north to the town limits and Washington Street from Meridian Street to East Street was approved for a $325,457 grant.

However, the application for $170,916 to help pave East Columbia Street from Indiana Street to Lonoke Street, as well as the entirety of Lonoke, south to State Road 236, was not funded.

While Roachdale officials are happy to have the $433,997 Indiana and Washington project 75-percent funded by the state, they are curious why the other project, which they listed as their first priority, was not.

Bowers said the engineers with which the town is working will inquire about the denial and the town will be re-applying in January.

With approval of the other project, repaving in these areas of Indiana and Washington streets should be expected in 2019.

Good news regarding grants didn’t just come from INDOT, as Clerk-Treasurer Debbie Sillery reported receiving $27,000 from the Putnam County Community Foundation for the future Roachdale Community Center.

The community center remains a work in progress, as town officials and volunteers work to repurpose the former TDS Telecom building at 204 N. Indiana St., Roachdale, as a community center.

The project was already the recipient of a $500,000 grant from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs back in April.

The local grant will be used to purchase the tables, chairs, commercial kitchen equipment, sound system and a projector for the building.

Sillery noted that the building has had its old contents cleaned out, crediting the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department for the use of jail trustees to do finish the work.

In other business:

• The board approved a resolution to purchase natural gas through the PEFA Inc. discount program. Sillery explained that the program will help the town to lock in prices at which it purchases gas.

“It basically is going to help us lock in prices at least for the next eight years or so,” Sillery said.

• The town will move forward with an inflow and infiltration study of its wastewater system at a cost of $7,760.

That amount will cover an eight-week study of what might be infiltrating the town’s system.

• The board approved a contract with Town Marshal Adrian Lepine.

Though Lepine has been on the job since June, official terms of his contract had not been approved until now.

The board also agreed to send Lepine to emergency medical technician training, which had been requested by both the Roachdale Fire Department and PMH Ambulance Service.

Lepine emphasized the training is to enhance his law enforcement and emergency duties, not interfere.

“Law enforcement will always be the priority, but I can get there before them and stabilize somebody,” he said.

• Utility Superintendent Nick Miller reported that his department was ready for winter and the salt truck was working.

This came into play with the wintry mix that rolled into the area overnight on Wednesday.

Miller also reported being contact by Bainbridge about going in halves on a leaf vac to serve both communities.

“I think it’s something we need. We can scoop up leaves every day and they’re back the next day,” Miller said.

However, there are questions over whether it is wise to share the equipment with another entity. The equipment comes with a price tag of $1,000-$1,5000, which town officials did not find especially cost prohibitive.

“I would feel more comfortable if we bought it outright ourselves,” Sillery said. “And that’s not a lot of money if that’s all it is.”

• Sillery reported that the State Board of Accounts recently finished its audit of the town, though results will not be available until late December.

“Just to let everyone know, there is nothing major to be worried about,” Sillery assured.

• Finally, Sillery acknowledged the recent passing of former town council member Jackie “Jack” Jones.

“I’d like to recognize Jack and all the service he gave to the community, not only on the board, but 54 years on the fire department,” she said.

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: