With its first phase of water improvements nearly finished and the second underway, Cambridge City’s council will pursue a nearly $8.4 million water tower.

Wessler Engineering’s Adam Sitka is optimistic that Phase 1A will finish under its nearly $3.1 million budget, potentially funding additional water main improvements in town.

Phase 1B, which began in January, is focused on Gateway Industrial Park. A new well has been drilled and a driveway has been installed, but big projects — rehabbing the water treatment plant and installing a new computerized control/data system — remain. Sitka isn’t optimistic crews will meet the November deadline. Council approved the first payment of $254,692.80.

Phase 2 would cover a 1-million-gallon tower and transmission main/loop exclusively for the park. Sitka and Economic Development Corp. of Wayne County will discuss potential funding sources. He’ll bring an agreement to council’s Aug. 14 meeting for the survey, design and bid phase.

Blight

Ken Risch, public works superintendent, will notify 502 E. Main’s owner that tree trimming is positive, but debris must be removed to comply with town guidelines.

No determination has been made if 411 and 415 W. Front St. are unsafe.

Cambridge City officials received a complaint about tall weeds behind a home in the first block of East Main. Residents can complete a short form at town hall to list concerns about a property. Employees will determine if town ordinances are being violated, and if so, seek a resolution. Photo by Millie Emery

New complaints were received for 22 E. Main St., 115 Myers Ave. and 501 and 513 E. Church St.  

Police Chief Richard Roberts said he will investigate an alleged junk car and truck at 501 E. Church, where an old mattress is on top of the car.  

Trash piles were reported in the alley behind 513 E. Church.  

For years, the East Main property has allegedly had weeds covering the back of the house and a red truck in the weeds on the back lot. The Myers property reportedly has front weeds above window level.  

Forms to report concerns are available at town hall.

In other business

  • Council approved a new contract for Cambridge City Police Department to serve Dublin for $15,000 in 2023 and $16,500 each for 2024 and 2025.
  • It also renewed CCPD’s agreement with Western Wayne Schools to provide two school resource officers for three years; pay will increase 3%. Council also transferred $1,000 toward K-9 expenses from its opioid unrestricted fund.  
  • Thirty-four portable toilets and four hand-washing stations are reserved for April 2024 eclipse visitors.
  • Capitol Hill Cemetery’s tombstone restorer has been paid $10,400 for work to date, about half of what was raised after vandalism. Approximately $6,000 more must be raised to fully complete the work.
  • Cambridge City Main Street reported no issues with the crowd of 150-plus during June’s free outdoor concert behind the fire station. The July 29 concert features Motown music by national act Touch, and Main Street won’t request an alcohol permit.
  • Indiana Department of Health offers flu and COVID vaccines at town hall from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday, July 20.
  • The town successfully applied for $15,000 to inventory lead and copper in the ground, and is now eligible for future grants.
  • Two areas of Foote Street will be closed Aug. 12 for Junk in the Trunk sales downtown. Golay Community Center’s Oct. 14 Monster Mash 5k also was approved. 
Share this:

A version of this article appeared in the July 19 2023 print edition of the Western Wayne News.

Millicent Martin Emery is a reporter and editor for the Western Wayne News.