Questions dominate discussion for city Board of Works

There were more questions than answers at the September meeting of the Greencastle Board of Public Works and Safety.

Queries came from board members Thom Morris and Trudy Selvia, while Mayor Bill Dory provided answers for the most part in the absence of many of his department heads.

Questions were posed about the ongoing city water survey, parking on the courthouse square, those pesky fire department false alarms and more.

Morris, who at one point actually apologized for “asking so many questions” in his return to the board after the recent resignation of Craig Tuggle, first brought up the false alarm issue.

Spotting the listing of 31 false alarms on Fire Chief John Burgess’ monthly report, Morris wondered if that has been typical.

In Burgess’ absence, Mayor Dory explained that some false alarms are actually runs called off en route, while others are discovered to be false alarms when fire units arrive on the scene.

Meanwhile, pulled fire alarms “have decreased immensely,” Dory said, with the proliferation of security cameras around the DePauw University campus. Residence halls and fraternity houses have been the biggest offenders of the false alarm issue.

“We’ve emphasized not to get complacent,” the mayor stressed of city firefighters’ responses with the 2002 Rector Hall fire always looming in the back of their minds. “You never know when something could be happening and we’ll want the building evacuated.”

Often, Dory said, the false alarms spring from “typical college things” such as cooking issues, burnt popcorn and more.

Meanwhile, the discussion turned to the ongoing survey of city water customers, who are being asked to provide information about drinking water service lines. The service line is the pipe that connects a home or business to the city water main.

By October 2024, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) require all water systems to develop an inventory of drinking water service lines. The Greencastle Water Department must list materials on the utility-owned portion of the service line from the water main to the water meter. The inventory survey asks property owners and businesses to list the material of the service line between the meter and the home or business building.

Residents are asked to complete the survey by Sept. 29.

Morris asked where the results of the survey end up.

“It allows us to identify if there’s lead,” the mayor responded, noting that in addition to IDEM and the EPA, the results will be sent on to Curry & Associates, the Danville civil engineering firm that assists the city with drinking water and wastewater issues.

The survey, being done via a grant that does not require a match from the city, will compile a paperwork and electronic inventory.

“If we do find a lead service line, we’re supposed to provide the homeowner an alternate system for six months,” Water Department spokesman Ed Phillips said.

Mayor Dory reminded the board that the city adds chemicals to the water for proper lead and copper control.

Phillips, meanwhile, noted that the lead/copper rule will be changing next year and make water utilities responsible to the faucet.

“To the faucet?” board member Selvia responded incredulously.

“To the faucet,” Phillips reiterated.

It was Selvia who introduced discussion of parking issues on the square as she noted tickets had been written for vehicles parked in the wrong direction or being backed into parking spaces.

“I just saw there were tickets for it,” she said, “And just last week I saw five or six cars backed in and thought I ought to tell them, ‘You’re going to get a ticket.’”

The inmate van from Putnam County Jail routinely backs in and it was noted that some police officers have also been backing into parking spots on the square, perhaps readying for a quicker departure should an emergency arise.

“My concern,” Selvia continued, “is if I’m from out of town and a see a car backed in, so I park backed in. It makes perfect sense for the jail van to back in and let prisoners out the back for safety purposes but not in the crosswalk.”

City Attorney Laurie Hardwick said there is not a state statute against backing into a parking space. “We can discuss whether we want to allow it for everyone,” she added for potential future discussion.

In other business, the Board of Works:

• Approved a $61,607 contract with Jamarr Excavating, Greencastle, to replace and relocate a waterline along U.S. 231, south of State Road 240. The Indiana Department of Transportation is replacing a culvert there and the waterline is in the way, Mayor Dory explained.

• Approved a $17,430 proposal from Toric Engineering, Danville, for replacement of the variable frequency drive for the Lone Star lift station, pending approval of Utility Superintendent Oscar King Jr.

• Agreed to allow the mayor to sign a certificate of substantial completion for Miller Pipeline Co. on the Albin Pond Road waterline project. Restoration work is still ongoing although the waterline is now in service and the project has moved to the punch-list stage. The city will still hold a retainage fee until work is 100 percent complete.

• Approved a $13,295 changeorder for an additional valve replacement and service at 815 Tacoma Drive in conjunction with the Albin Pond Road waterline project.

• Heard the Water Department report six emergency repairs “all over town” for August. Phillips said there was “nothing out of the ordinary” for work at 504 Moore Ct., Dogwood Lane, 111 Longcastle Dr., Highwood and Highridge avenues, Indiana and Walnut streets and 1009 Shadowlawn Ave.

The next regular session of the Board of Works is set for 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct.18 at City Hall.