Apprenticeship Completion Certificate Presented to Ryan Grunden

The Huntingburg Board of Public Works and Safety met on Thursday morning with a full agenda that included the Fall Clean Up, construction updates, and an apprenticeship certificate presentation. 

Street Superintendent Jason Stamm told the board that the 2024 Fall Clean Up hours will be Thursday, October 10 and Friday, October 11 from 1pm to 7 pm and Saturday, October 12 from 8 to 4. The Limb Yard will be closed from Thursday through Monday morning. Regular hours will resume on Monday. Rates will not increase, and no electronics will be accepted. More information nis available on the City of Huntingburg Facebook page. 

In his project updates, Stamm said that the Street Department has been repairing sink holes that emerged over the summer. The 8 th street project is almost done, and permanent signs will go up in the next day or two. 17 th street is open from 231 to Chestnut Street, and will remain open until it’s time to pave the road. This is estimated to be the middle or end of October. Paving is also anticipated for some areas of the Northside Park, which will require closing the main entrance for a short time. Alternate entry will be available, and the park will remain open. 

Wastewater Superintendent Brad Coomer advised the board that sludge hauling has been rescheduled for next week as a result of the rainy conditions, and that several timelines were affected by the weather. Mayor Elkins noted that a map has been updated for projected road closures during construction. Contractors are personally contacting homes that will be impacted by scheduling changes, and public updates will be sent out on social media. 

Kelly Gardner, Apprenticeship Coordinator for the Alliance of Indiana Rural Water, presented a Completion Certificate from the Office of the Department of Labor to Wastewater Department member Ryan Grunden. Grunden completed 4000 hours of on-the-job training and 288 hours of related technical instruction. This program allows for specialized training that might not be available in a smaller market and was described by Mayor Elkins as a valuable asset for the department. 

Police Chief Brad Kramer received the board’s approval to appoint Logan Brown as a Reserve Police Officer. The also approved a Police K-9 Compensation Agreement, which can also be utilized for a second K-9 in the future. The Shooting Range Apron quote was approved. The concrete pad’s total estimated cost will be $14,654, which is all funded by grants that have been secured. The board also authorized accepting the low quote for radios to replace the old ones that are being decommissioned. These radios are designed for law enforcement and first responders and will feature Wi-Fi connection that allows better connectivity options for schools and larger buildings.  

Fire Chief Don Heim said that September was an especially busy month for the department, with almost double the average amount of calls. The hose testing project is almost complete, with just a few hundred feet to go. There are currently three openings in the department, and Heim received permission to fill those open positions. 

In some upcoming holiday planning, Trick or Treat hours were confirmed for 6-8 pm. The Huntingburg Merchants Association also received permission to set down 2 blocks of 4 th street for the 39 th annual Christmas Stroll from Thursday, November 7 until Tuesday, November 12. 

For more information on these and other updates, visit www.huntingburg-in.gov 

 - By Drew Hasselbring