Latest news with #JessicaBastin
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
County council gets information on regional utility district
ANDERSON — The Madison County Council met in executive session to gather information on a proposal to create a regional utility district to resolve a pollution issue in Monroe Township. Last month the council tabled a resolution in support of creating a regional utility district to resolve an issue in the Scott's Addition in Monroe Township. The Madison County commissioners have already approved the resolution; the council is expected to consider it again at its Tuesday meeting. In 2023, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management fined Madison County $1,700 over raw sewage flowing into Pipe Creek. The county entered into an agreement order with the state agency to remedy the problem in the Scott's Addition. The agreed order states that IDEM did an inspection on Sept. 21, 2022, and staff observed a broken concrete storm sewer pipe. 'The water flowing in the pipe was black and septic with an odor of raw sewage,' according to an inspection report. 'The pipe was traced to an unnamed tributary where it discharged from a concrete outfall.' Madison County Engineer Jessica Bastin said the commissioners and council have already approved $3.5 million in American Rescue Plan funds to resolve the issue. She said American Rescue Plan funds were used to develop an infrastructure master plan for the county, with water and wastewater high on the list. Bastin said residents in the subdivision are unable to replace existing septic systems, which were installed in the 1950s. Alexandria Mayor Todd Naselroad said the city is willing to allow the connection of a sewer line to the city's wastewater treatment plant and has the capacity to treat the water. Bastin said Commonwealth Engineering has completed a draft of the study, which was discussed with council members during the executive session. She said work was already started to resolve the pollution problem in the subdivision to the east of Ind. 9 several years ago. Bastin said if the letter of support is approved by the county council, it will be submitted to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. She said IDEM will conduct a public hearing and notices will be sent to property owners and advertised 30 days before the hearing takes place. Bastin said county officials will also conduct a public hearing to share information with property owners, and a review of the plan will be submitted to IDEM. That will trigger a 180-day period for public comment, and a second public hearing will take place in Madison County. 'IDEM would have to approve any project,' Bastin said. Councilwoman Bethany Keller raised concerns about the process at the March council meeting, asking if property owners would be required to tap into a sewer line and inquiring about the makeup of the proposed board. The board will consist of five members, with the commissioners, Madison County Council, Alexandria mayor, the county health department and Monroe Township trustee each making appointments.
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Bastin wears many hats as county engineer
ANDERSON — Although her official title is county engineer, Jessica Bastin wears many different hats when it comes to county government. She is currently the director of the newly created Madison County Parks and Recreation Department. She was instrumental in the distribution of the county's American Rescue Plan funds, and was active with the county's Bicentennial Committee. A native of Pennsylvania, Bastin came to Indiana to attend Rose Hulman Institute of Technology to get her engineering degree and stayed in the Hoosier State. Bastin, 45, came to go to school and fell in love with Indiana. She was appointed to the Pendleton Town Council and lost a bid for re-election. Bastin started as Madison County engineer in 2021. 'I was at Anderson University at the time,' she said of applying for the county position. 'It was during COVID-19. I was not actively looking, but looking for another position. 'A mutual acquaintance showed me the opportunity,' Bastin said. The responsibilities that came with the job were 'not what I expected at that time,' she said. 'But that was in a good way, because I wanted to be involved more than I thought I would. It has been a lot of fun because I get to do so many different things.' Bastin said the opportunity with the American Rescue Plan funds was not on her radar. When the funding was announced, she expected to play a more ancillary role on potential projects. 'It gave me a more active role in that,' she said. 'I got to meet a lot of people and the needs of the community.' Bastin said the experience gave her a wider view of the Madison County community and how her position is involved in other projects. 'My background is infrastructure,' she said. 'Looking at where we want to be and what needs to be done to get there in the areas of transportation, drinking water, waste water and stormwater.' Bastin said she loves being involved in different areas of the community. 'I've had a lot of different mentors over the years,' she said. 'I've been fortunate to have a lot of good people in my life both personally and professionally. It's important to have someone to just talk to at times.' Bastin said her family likes to camp, kayak and hike during her time away from work. The family has a beekeeping business in Henry County.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
County gets $4 million in state funds for roads
ANDERSON — Local units of government have received more than $4 million in state Community Crossings matching funds for roadway paving and repair. The City of Anderson and Madison County have both received the maximum amount of $1.5 million. Jessica Bastin, Madison County Engineer, said the county will use the funds as part of a $3 million paving program this year. Anderson Mayor Thomas Broderick Jr said funds received by the city will be used as part of a planned $5 million paving program in 2025. Broderick noted that Anderson has received $10 million since the program was implemented by the state in 2016. 'This is great news for Anderson,' he said. 'This early grant notification will allow us to hit the ground running this spring and summer.' The City of Elwood was awarded $731,746, the Town of Frankton was granted $400,788, and $29,224 was approved for Country Club Heights. Elwood Mayor Todd Jones said his city has streets marked for a repaving program developed by Cody Landrum, street commissioner, and consulting firm HWC Engineering. Larry Shively, president of Frankton Town Council, said the Community Crossings funds will be used to pave the streets on the west side of town where a new water line was installed. 'Roads and bridges are essential to transportation within our local communities,' Sen. Mike Gaskill, R-Pendleton, said in a press release. 'The Community Crossings Grant Program allows our towns to improve infrastructure for Hoosiers and those traveling through our great state. I look forward to seeing communities utilize this funding to make our roadways safer and more efficient.'
