Latest news with #MadisonCountyCouncil
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New Madison County Jail on schedule, within budget
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways ANDERSON — Construction on the new Madison County Jail in North Anderson is on schedule and within budget, the Madison County Commissioners learned Tuesday. Consultant Eric Weflen, representing the county on the project, said the budget's hard and soft costs are as anticipated. The total cost of the project to build a 525-bed facility in North Anderson is $105.5 million. Weflen said the jail is expected to open in September 2026. The commissioners previously reached an agreement with general contractor Garmong Construction for a guaranteed price of $97.5 million. Weflen said 80% to 90% of the site work has been completed despite difficult weather conditions. He said all the underground plumbing and electrical work has been completed and that the steel frame is being erected on the two portions of the jail that will house inmates. Weflen said the jail staff has selected the paint colors for the facility and work is underway on the keys for the facility. He said all the foundation work on the two portions of the jail for use as cell blocks would be completed this week. The first pods containing the future jail cells should begin arriving by July from the manufacturer located in Georgia. 'It's coming along quickly,' Commissioner John Richwine said. Richwine said the work to relocate a legal drain along the west and north edge of the property has not begun. He said the commissioners continue to talk with the court system and officials with the Madison County Community Corrections Complex on possibly adding cell blocks to the facility. That could add 200 beds to the project. 'It's possible we can refinance the project,' Richwine said. The county issued $79.7 million in bonds for the project last year. The county is financing a portion of the projected debt for the new jail through the correctional local option income tax, which was expected to generate more than $6.2 million in 2024. The Madison County Council approved using $7 million in American Rescue Plan funds for the project in November. The site for the new jail is on Broadway behind several commercial businesses including the Wendy's and Captain D's and north of the Anderson roller arena. The county purchased the property from Meijer at a cost of $795,000.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former state Rep. Jack Lutz dies at 79
ANDERSON — Former State Representative Jack Lutz passed away Friday at age 79 following an extended illness. Lutz served on the Madison County Council from 1983 through 1991 before being named in a Republican Party caucus to represent the 35th District at the Statehouse following the resignation of Pat Kiely. Lutz served in the Indiana House from 1991 through 2014, when he lost a bid for an 11th term to Democrat Melanie Wright. 'Jack Lutz was a true representative of those who had elected him,' Russ Willis, former chairman of the Madison County Republican Party, said Monday. 'He didn't have personal agendas or try to build himself up using his position of elected leadership.' Willis said Lutz was always friendly, personable and approachable. 'He was down to earth in his consideration of legislation that affected the people of his district,' he said. Former county councilman Dan Dykes was elected by the caucus to replace Lutz on the county council in 1991. 'When I first got active in the party, Jack was on the council,' Dykes said. 'I always looked up to him and he was always nice to me.' He said when Lutz took Kiely's seat in the Indiana House, he completed the term on the county council. 'He always had time for me,' Dykes said. Dykes said Lutz was named freshman legislator the year after moving to the Statehouse and took his service to the county seriously. 'We stayed friends,' he said. 'I always valued his friendship and I always respected him.' For his efforts and lifelong service to the community, Lutz received numerous awards, including Anderson's Man of the Year (1989), National Freshman Legislator of the Year (1992) and the Small Business Champion by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce (1999), among others.
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
28-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
More questions than answers at town hall meeting on sewer problems
ALEXANDRIA — If residents of Monroe Township were looking for answers to their sewer problem, they were left with more questions Thursday night. Madison County Councilwoman Bethany Keller held a town hall meeting at the Monroe Township Trustee's office. The Madison County Council last month tabled a resolution previously adopted by the county commissioners to begin the process of establishing a regional utility district. 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. One resident said raw sewage is flowing into Pipe Creek. 'I started asking questions, calling people and not getting answers,' Keller said. 'This is a lengthy process that will take about a year.' Keller said she has not received a copy of a study that was done using American Rescue Plan funds for stormwater issues in Madison County. She said during the process, there will be an official public meeting that will be advertised with proper notice. Keller said she wanted to know if there were other options available to the 171 households in the Phillip's and Scott's additions. John Widner said the process started in 2022, and if the regional utility district is approved, residents and businesses would be charged a monthly fee. 'This is a multi-million-dollar project,' he said. 'It's possible to tap into the Alexandria system without being annexed into the city.' Alexandria Mayor Todd Naselroad said there have been discussions between the city and county about extending sewer lines. Naselroad said the Alexandria sewage treatment plant would be able to accept the flow from the two additions. Keller said residences within 300 feet of a sewer line could be required to connect to the system. 'There would be a board that establishes policies,' she said. 'It would decide if there would be exceptions from the hook-up requirement.' On the topic of forming a regional utility district, Keller said it's hoped that would be the least expensive undertaking because grant funding could be available. She said in the future, the regional utility district could cover all of Monroe Township. State Sen. Mike Gaskill, a former member of the Madison County Council, said it was the responsibility of the commissioners to present information to the council. 'We need to slow this process down,' he said. 'Residents should hear all the possible solutions and the potential costs. We need to come up with the best solution for residents.'
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Meeting planned to discuss sewage problem in Monroe Township
ANDERSON — Madison County Councilwoman Bethany Keller is conducting a town hall meeting to discuss the sewage problem in Monroe Township. The county council last week tabled a request by county engineer Jessica Bastin to approve a letter of support to create a regional utility district. The meeting is set for 6 p.m. at the office of the Monroe Township Trustee, 204 E. Berry St., Alexandria. Keller said Monday that trustee George McFerran would attend. She said other council members, including Jodi Norrick, Scott Green and Kristi Grabowski, were planning to attend, along with county surveyor Ken Kocinski. In 2023, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management fined Madison County $1,700 after raw sewage was discovered 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,' an inspection report reads. 'The pipe was traced to an unnamed tributary where it discharged from a concrete outfall.' Bastin said that the project has been in the planning stages for three years. She said the council had previously approved American Rescue Plan funds for master planning of infrastructure in unincorporated areas of the county. Bastin said the study identified where there are sewage problems in the county. She said an IDEM survey found raw sewage from the Scott's Addition was flowing into groundwater. Bastin said IDEM wants the county to correct the problem. She said it was the recommendation of the state agency and consultants to form a regional utility district, which would allow access to state grant funds. Keller raised concerns about the process, including if property owners would be required to tap into a sewer line, and the makeup of the proposed board. The board will consist of five members, with the commissioners, Madison County Council, Alexandria mayor, the Madison County Health Department and Monroe Township trustee each making an appointment. 'We're appointing people that aren't elected,' Keller said. 'We need to protect property rights.'
