Two blocks of Richmond’s East Main Street will close for two hours March 28 for a pro-democracy march.
During its March 5 meeting, Richmond’s Board of Public Works and Safety approved the closing from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. March 28.
A group plans to meet at Elstro Plaza, walk to Fifth Street then return along East Main Street to Elstro Plaza, said Richmond Police Department Officer Aaron Stevens. The Wayne County Indivisible organization has announced a march that day focused on protesting government actions that limit personal freedom or undermine the democratic process. Stevens has required the group to contact East Main Street businesses that are normally open on Saturdays to advise them the road will be closed.
Stevens also relayed Reid Health’s request for two temporary stop signs March 18-21 on Salisbury Road at the crosswalk to the Wayne County Fairgrounds. Stopping Salisbury Road traffic will help pedestrians safely cross during preparations and the Kaleidoscope event. Reid expects up to 1,000 people to attend.
The board approved the stop signs.
Three bids to be the city’s impound and storage lot were opened and taken under advisement. Countryside Auto bid $21,600, Englewood Truck Towing and Recovery bid $21,000 and Pardo’s Towing and Recovery bid $15,001.
The board approved three contracts.
The first is a five-year agreement with Toshiba America Business Solutions to purchase seven new printers for $18,210.47. Four of the printers are for the Richmond Municipal Building, two for the parks department and one for the street department, and the price includes a maintenance agreement.
RPD received approval of a contract with Testing for Public Safety to conduct a hiring process and a promotion process for sergeant. The expected cost is $12,000, but could vary depending on the number of applicants.
The board approved a $5,000 contract with Rooney & Co. to provide the 2025 Indiana Medicaid Freestanding Governmental Ambulance Provider Cost Report for Richmond Fire Department.
Deputy Chief Nick Arbogast said the report enables RFD to seek supplemental payments to make up the difference between Medicaid reimbursements and actual cost of service. Arbogast said RFD received $158,000 in supplemental payments in 2025 and $163,000 in 2024.
The board also approved a resolution permitting RPD to lease four vehicles from Richmond Community Schools for $1 each. RCS’ police department, which has dissolved, had used the vehicles. RPD now supplies school resource officers for RCS, and these officers will use the vehicles, said Major James Doll.
This reporting is made possible in part by Whitewater Community Television.
A version of this article appeared in the March 11 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.