Huntingburg Wastewater Department Provides 1 st Street Update

In an update on the 1 st Street roadway, Wastewater Superintendent Brad Coomer said that the overall goal is to improve the street from its original condition. Although the original contract called for asphalt, the department is soliciting a price for concrete. Efforts are being made to reduce the dust, and citizen input at the meeting reinforced that this is a concern for residents. Division A concrete pours are in progress, with a lot of concrete truck traffic through town. The department is working on some sinkholes in town, and the board approved the purchase of a used two-ton truck. For Division B, a certificate of substantial completion was accepted based on engineers’ recommendation. 

Street Superintendent Jason Stamm said that multiple Community Crossings projects are in progress, and crews have started on 19 th Street. Concrete and new curbs are in, as are the storm sewers. On Jackson and Walnut, concrete work will begin on Monday. 2 nd Street is progressing, although it is taking longer than anticipated. Multiple roads are almost ready to be milled and paved, which will happen at the same time. The department was awarded a Railroad Crossing Grant, which will allow for a 100% funded project to place road markings and all new signs at crossings.

The department has to submit a PASER rating on city roads to be used by INDOT and submit it along with an asset management plan. This Pavement Surface Evaluation and Rating inspection is a critical element in Community Crossings grant applications. A representative from Vialytics, a company that uses AI to rate roads, to present their PASER data collection system. The board recognized multiple advantages with Vialytics and expressed a desire to continue pursuing that option. 

Police Chief Brad Kramer said that the K-9 project is progressing and a quote was approved. The board accepted the voluntary resignation of officer Cole Meyer and approved a conditional offer of employment to Logan Brown. 

Fire Chief Don Heim advised that the details for the pending partnership with Jasper’s fire department are being worked out, but that mutual aid agreements with other cities will still exist. The department’s 2 nd annual Family Day was last month and had over 600 attendees. The event had a CPR station, a bicycle rodeo to promote bicycle safety, and various other public education opportunities. Several Huntingburg Elementary students were also rewarded for their growth and behavior with a special ride to school. Other activities will be coming up, and HFD will be partnering with HPD for next month’s Kids Camp. 

The Huntingburg Church of Christ will be hosting their third Walk4Water at the Hunter’s Crossing Subdivision. This is the only Walk4Water in Southern Indiana, and individuals or teams are encouraged to sign up on the website. 

 - By Drew Hasselbring