Plans for I-69 underway at city

By Nate Smith Washington Times-Herald

WASHINGTON — In the near future when I-69 is built, ownership of Business 50 and SR 257 may go to the city of Washington. The Daviess County Economic Development Foundation wants to continue Business 50 to serve proposed developments. That was some of the conclusions reached by a feasibility study conducted by the DCEDF and presented to the City Council on Monday. “We’re looking at improvements around $17 to $20 million,” Arnold said. The study, for review only, was also given to the Daviess County Commissioners earlier Monday evening. Among some of the conclusions were the city or county would take ownership of Business 50 and parts of SR 257. The study would build an alternate access road to land already purposed as an industrial park where I-69 would exit into Washington. The county, according to the study, is looking at 180 acres near the interchange for industrial and commercial purposes. Arnold told the council that about $7 million in construction costs is needed for the new road. “What will happen if we decide to do nothing,” Arnold said. “(Business 50) is in terrible shape now and I don’t think we will see anything built that we want to see.” Arnold said the state Department of Transportation has plans to renovate Business 50, but to keep it viable for 10 years complete with new curbs and sidewalks. Part of the plan, according to the study, would be to move part of Business 50 west of the proposed I-69 route, creating a totally new road to the park. To do that, Arnold said the city and county would have to work together to get funding. “If the project moves forward, it’s going to take the city of Washington and Daviess County to work together on this,” Arnold said. Also, Arnold said the project is ambitious. “What if we don’t attempt this and you get that development out of town, you have all that nice development and a bad road leading into town,” Arnold said. “It is a game changer for the city of Washington.” Mayor Larry Haag agreed. He said I-69 will be the new entrance into the city and the city will need to show its best for incoming business. “There’s a lot of stimulus money out there,” Haag said. “We met (stimulus criteria) with a shovel-ready project and (the government) gave us $9 million. “Seventeen million is a lot of money but it is a starting point,” Haag said. The council will discuss the study and its options at its Aug. 9 meeting. In other business: EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT VEHICLE The council, and later Board of Public Works and Safety, heard a resolution transferring an emergency management vehicle from the city to Crawford County. County Emergency Management Director Paul Goss said the vehicle was purchased many years ago via a donation and a FEMA trailer will take its place. The vehicle was declared surplus and Crawford County does not have a vehicle. Both boards passed the resolution. Crawford County has to pass a similar resolution for the transfer to take place. ORDINANCES The council passed two ordinances and introduced a third ordinance. The first two, bookkeeping measures and the creation of a change fund at the Waterworld of Washington, were passed. The third ordinance was to amend this year’s pay ordinance to make a part-time associate to full-time at the city hall utility office for collections. Utility Office Manager Anita Ash said the work has increased due to more collections at the office and has generated more revenue to the city’s utility. The added city employee will be voted on at the council’s next meeting. ADDRESSES Michelle Carrico with the Southern Indiana Development Commission and Haag read off a list of addresses of homes that will be renovated as part of the Neighborhood Stabilization Project. The list had to be read to see if there was any public comment on any historical value to the homes. No one objected to any of the addresses. SIDC is handling the grant administration for the project. UNKEPT PROPERTY Towards the end of the meeting, Haag asked the council for direction on what to do with unkept properties the city has continued to clean up. Haag said nothing has been collected from property owners. “We’ve made great strides. We continue to go back and back to these properties,” Haag said. “We continue to have the same half-dozen violators.” Council members asked about fines, which was written into the city’s ordinance last year. “Why did we write these fines if they are not getting done?” Councilman Art Biddinger asked. Haag asked council members to “be prepared” to discuss the issue at the next council meting. “We just don’t have the time to babysit these properties without some form of compensation,” Haag said. ANIMAL CONTROL Haag informed the council that he asked, and received, a letter of resignation from Animal Control Manager Mike Babrick. “That’s all I’m prepared to say about it,” Haag said. After the meeting, Haag said the position would be replaced. SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL Public Works approved a $60,000 contract with Bernardin, Lochmueller and Associates for consulting services with the Safe Routes to School grant at North Elementary. The project will construct new sidewalks leading to the school. Board member John Gray was absent.

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