The city of Richmond and Wayne County government are using leftover Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program dollars to spay and neuter dogs and cats.
A spay and neuter clinic for dogs is scheduled for Nov. 18 at Animal Care Alliance, followed by clinics for cats on Nov. 19 and 20. Mayor Ron Oler said during the Nov. 4 Richmond Common Council meeting that those interested should follow the city’s Facebook page for updates.
The city and county are also planning two “catch, spay/neuter, and release” events — one in Hagerstown and one at a mobile home park — to control feral cat colony populations. Oler did not provide more location details, hoping to prevent pet cats from being dropped off, spayed or neutered, then collected again after they’re returned to the colony location.
Oler said the effort will help reduce the number of cats taken to shelters. Healthy cats will be returned following the spaying/neutering to live their lives. Future efforts to control feral cat populations would require identifying a funding source.
Council member Bill Engle complimented the city and county on addressing the feral cat issue he said “is pretty much out of control.”
Oler said there also will be a low-cost vaccination clinic, likely at HELP the Animals, and again suggested watching the city’s Facebook page for more information.
The city and county each contributed $50,000 in American Rescue Program Act dollars toward animal welfare as part of the HELP effort. That money paid for an analysis by national consultant Sara Pizano, and is now paying for local veterinarian Dr. Stacy Kostiuk to oversee implementation of some of Pizano’s suggestions. The leftover money is funding the vaccination and spay/neuter programs.
Elder-Beerman demolition
Before council’s meeting, fencing had been erected around the former Elder-Beerman building in preparation for its demolition.
Oler said interior work had already begun. O’Rourke Wrecking Company would have full crews on site and begin demolition Nov. 18 with the skywalk. That work would require seven days with street closures.
O’Rourke will recycle the building’s concrete, grinding it on site. The city is allowing O’Rourke to work from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and some on Saturdays.
After contract delays, the demolition deadline has been extended into early 2025, although work could conclude before the end of the year.
Parking fees double
Residents have already begun requesting 2025 passes for reserved parking spaces in city lots. Those spaces will now mostly cost double after council approved new parking prices.
A monthly pass for reserved spaces will increase from $15 to $30 for 2025. At the downtown parking garage, covered spaces will cost $30, but uncovered spaces will cost $20 per month.
Clerk Karen Chasteen said the monthly charge had not increased since 2002, and an increase was needed to cover higher costs for maintenance and utilities.
Resident David Carpenter opposed the rate increases. He questioned doubling the cost during a time of inflation, suggesting incremental price increases instead.
Council also approved allowing a resident to hire an arborist to prune an ash tree in the city’s tree right of way near a home along North 13th Street. The resident also would pay to treat the tree for the emerald ash borer.
Finance committee
Three ordinances were referred for review by council’s finance committee, including two related to fees associated with planning and development.
One ordinance involves building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits, inspections, licenses and certificates of occupancy from the department of infrastructure and development. Those fees have not been updated since 2005.
The second ordinance updates fees for planning and zoning concerns that have not been updated in 44 years.
Dustin Purvis, the city’s director of planning, said the changes bring the city’s fees in line with similar Indiana communities and allow the city to recoup costs of employee time.
The third ordinance involves appropriating $62,500 to purchase two loads of aviation fuel for Richmond Municipal Airport. Rodney Mayse, the airport manager, said fuel sales have been better than normal.
The airport also awaits delivery and installation of equipment to enable pilots to self-fuel their aircraft.
Decoy RPD car
Council member Lucinda Wright asked Richmond Police Department Chief Kyle Weatherly about an empty police car that’s been sitting around town.
Weatherly said the department places the empty car to help slow traffic in areas identified for target enforcement. The department selects different locations weekly.
A laughing Wright said the car definitely slows traffic.
A version of this article appeared in the November 13 2024 print edition of the Western Wayne News.