Get ready: First the eclipse and then sun sets on 231 traffic

With a once-in-a-lifetime occasion coming April 8 and a lifestyle-altering event to follow, this should be an interesting spring in Greencastle and Putnam County.

For no sooner will the sun set on the hype of the total solar eclipse then the resumption of the U.S. 231 reconstruction project will commence in the heart of Greencastle.

“As we know, the 231 construction is coming our way,” Mayor Lynda Dunbar reminded the City Council at its February meeting.

She noted that she has been meeting with Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) representatives about the nuances and potential issues that may accompany the roadwork from the intersection of Bloomington and Washington streets to Frazier Street on the city’s North Side.

“At the next Council meeting (Thursday, March 14), we’ll talk about things we may have to do,” Dunbar added, specifically mentioning how east-west corridors Franklin Street and Walnut Street will likely be affected as alternate local routes to being unable to use Washington Street between Bloomington and Jackson streets.

The mayor also assured the public that the U.S. 231 work will not resume until after the rare solar eclipse that is expected to bring thousands of visitors to this area as one of the locations of totality for the 3 p.m. event.

Meanwhile, Mayor Dunbar said INDOT will also be conducting another in its series of public meetings relative to the substantial construction project. That is expected to be held in mid-March, and like the two previous sessions, be staged at the Community Building on the Putnam County Fairgrounds.

Dunbar also told the Council that a group is starting to meet to assist local businesses in working through the potential issues that will accompany the extensive roadwork and utility upgrade.

In other business at its February session, the City Council:

• Passed on first reading Ordinance 2024-1, a Board of Works recommendation to increase septage rates at the wastewater treatment plant by three cents a gallon to 10 cents. Septage is the effluent pumped out of septic systems or port-a-lets and then disposed of at dump stations. The city has not imposed a septage rate increase since 2010.

• Heard Mayor Dunbar report that all normal utility rates are currently staying the same but increases may lie ahead as the city has been notified by one of its vendors that rates for hauling and applying sludge are increasing by $100 per load, which equates to a $300 increase per week. “That’s just one of our many increases we’re seeing,” Dunbar added.

• Authorized cancellation of $1,034.62 in old, outstanding uncashed 2021 checks from the cash account ($578.02) and utility refunds ($456.60), including an $84.02 check written to former Park Director Rod Weinschenk.

• Heard Clerk-Treasurer Mikayla Johnson announce that Saturday, May 4 will be the next Heavy Trash Day for city residents at Republic Services on the city’s West Side. Flyers will be out in utility bills soon, Johnson said.

• Heard Councilman Vince Aguirre question Cemetery Supt. Jason Keeney about the status of a rental house on property owned by Forest Hill Cemetery. Not wanting the house to end up in total disrepair like the old park house that was razed at the Robe-Ann Park entrance, Aguirre heard Keeney report that the roof of the house was replaced in 2018 and that other than cosmetic things that can be fixed, “the house is in good shape.” It is currently rented with a tenant living there.

• Heard Councilman Mark Hammer ask Street Commissioner Andrew Rogers what happened to the trash can that had been outside the post office. It will be coming back soon at a different location, Rogers said, noting that it had to be dumped often because people were throwing their own trash in there. “Even though all the other trash cans were empty, it was always full,” Mayor Dunbar concurred, noting that “everybody cleaned out their car there” or threw away their junk mail in that receptacle.

• Heard the mayor report that all new landscaping is being done at City Hall with a local landscape architect volunteering her time to assist. The deteriorating old split-rail fence along the parking lot has already been removed as have several trees that were encroaching on the eaves of the building. “We decided it was easier to take everything down and start over,” Mayor Dunbar said.

• Heard Park Director Greg Ruark announce that a public meeting on the Park Master Plan is scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 21 at City Hall.

• Heard that anyone interested in open appointments to the Tree Board that is being re-established should contact the mayor’s office at 653-3100.

• Approved street closures (Hanna, Simpson and Spring streets) relative to DePauw University commencement on Sunday, May 19 and for practice on Friday, May 17.

• Authorized use of County Road 50 South for the Dust Bowl 100 bicycle race Saturday, July 27. The race starts in Eminence but 95 percent of it is run in Putnam County. Sold out for the fourth year in a row, the race will have 1,000 participants from 28 states and three countries. Last year’s race saw Indiana Pacer legend Reggie Miller participate.

• Approved the use of city streets (no closures necessary) for the 11th CARR 5K run at 5 p.m. June 8. Put on by A Kinetic Change, the event will include an after party on South Indiana Street in front of Moore’s Bar that was approved for a noise waiver and street closure (3 p.m.-midnight).

• Approved the closure of South Indiana Street from Washington to Walnut streets from 4-10 p.m. April 13 for the start and finish of the Moore’s-to-Moore’s 5K. Proceeds will go to the Mike and Mackenzie (Meyer) Scholarship Fund at Greencastle High School.

• Approved the 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. closure of Franklin Street from College Avenue to Indiana Street for the start/finish of the Saturday, June 22 Pedal Putnam event put on by the Putnam County Visitors Bureau and Friends of the Park.

Joining Mayor Dunbar and Clerk-Treasurer Johnson for the 90-minute meeting were Council members Hammer, Aguirre, Stacie Langdon, David Masten, Katherine Asbell and Tina Nicholson and City Attorney Laurie Hardwick. Councilman Darrel Thomas was absent.

The Greencastle City Council will next meet in regular session at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 14 at City Hall.