Life saving acts, road closures, and a $68M utility water project
Director of Public Works and Utilities Dustin Sailor requested permission from the Goshen Board of Public Works Thursday to submit a loan application on behalf of the Goshen Water Utility company to the State Revolving Loan Fund.
The proposed project as described in the memorandum written by Sailor, is for an upgrade in water supply and treatment infrastructure for the city. In the proposal, it is said that the growth forecasts as well as the infrastructure is indicating the need for additional treatment to avoid the Indiana Department of Environmental Management connection ban. If the ban were to happen, it would prevent any new customers.
Sailor wrote in the proposal that the main goal for the project would consist of new construction of a new south water treatment plan to meet increasing system water demands as well as the replacement of the existing Hilltop Booster Station to meet pressure requirements.
The application will be submitted for the proposed loan request of $68 million and the city will begin the process of improving water supply, distribution, and water treatment.
LIFE-SAVING AWARDS
Three life saving awards presented to Goshen police officers
Patrol Division Chief Ryan Adams presented three Life Saving awards, recognizing the work of Capt. Austin Everage on Oct. 10, 2024.
On that day officers were notified of a person suffering a possible fentanyl overdose. Capt. Everage arrived at the scene and assisted the individual who had the signs of an overdose with Narcan. When there was no immediate response to the Narcan, Everage began to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Goshen paramedics arrived and took over and transported the person to the hospital. Adams said that Everage then later spoke to medical staff and was informed that the person was recovering and later discharged.
The second award Adams presented was to Lt. Mark Clere and officer Kyle Priem for their quick work in finding an individual who was in a mental crisis and suffering from an injury. The person was in a location where he may not have been found without the efforts put in by the officers, according to Adams.
Officer Priem had located the individual by tracking the ankle monitor and guided officers to the location of the person. In efforts to save the life of the person in crisis and their injury,
Clere applied a tourniquet to the severe injury while checking for other injuries while leading the other officers, Adams said. Without the work of both officers, the serious injury and crisis could have been fatal.
PROMOTIONS
The Goshen Fire Department promoted the following members:
• EMS Lt. Winston Lechlitner to the rank of EMS captain
• Fire Sgt. Colton Cox to the rank of fire lieutenant
• James 'Mike' White to the rank of EMS lieutenant
• Firefighter Daniel Kurtz to the rank of fire sergeant
Goshen Fire Department and Goshen Police Department retirements and resignations include:
• Resignation and retirement of EMS Capt. Kit Castetter
• Retirement of Police Officer Michael Johnson and his K-9 'Jetta'
• Retirement of Police Officer Keith A. Miller
LEGAL REQUESTS
The following legal requests were approved:
• Transit Services Agreement with the Michiana Area Council of Governments and for the city to contribute $62,000 in 2025 as local matching funds for transit program.
• Elkhart County Health Department awarding the city $125,000 for the Mobile Integrated Health program.
• An easement at 200 Westwood Road from Goshen Hospital Association Inc.
• Awarding the $22,900 contract for the demolition of the unsafe building at 304 W. Oakridge Ave. and the sealing and restoration of the connection between the building and the garage at 306 W. Oakridge Ave. to B & E Excavating, LLC
• The terms and conditions to ratify the mayor's execution of the Legal Services Agreement with Baron & Budd, P.C., Cossich, Sumich, Parsiola & Taylor, LLC, Cohen & Malad LLP, and Scott Yonover, P.C. in connection with PFAS litigation
ENGINEERING REQUESTS
The following engineering requests were approved by the board:
• Road closure of bridge deck overlay on Third Street and Ind. 15 bridge between U.S. 33 and Mill Street. Lane closures will take place on Ind. 15 and one lane traffic is to be expected beginning as early as Tuesday and to continue until mid-November. In the later phase, residents can expect closures on Middlebury St. onto Ind. 15. Road closure on Reliance Road, between the south entrance to the courthouse and Peddlers Village Road intersection, for the roadway and storm construction work from Tuesday thru July 15, 2025
• Road closure of East Lincoln Avenue, from Rock Run Creek to just east of Olive Street, and Olive Street between Lincoln Avenue and Vinson Court, from April 7 until Aug. 8.
• Road closure of Reynolds Street, from the railroad tracks to the west side of the intersection of 10th Street, Tuesday to April 25.
• A temporary removal of the 'No Truck' designation on Blackport Drive, starting April 7 until no later than Nov. 21.
• Agreement Amendment No. 1 with DLZ Indiana LLC for Wilden Avenue Reconstruction project's consultant services in the amount of $77,980, making the full Agreement amount $602,480.
• Accepted bid by Davey Resource Group, Inc. for $98,990 for the Wellington Ditch Logjam Removal project.
• Construction Standard Details for Streets and Utilities as presented.
• Agreement with Arco-Murray and Lag Realty LLC for the completion of the Hyundai dealership at 3202 Elkhart Road.
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