Parent seeks new crosswalk after car strikes child

Centerville’s town council heard about several safety topics, including a request for a crosswalk after a vehicle struck a child, a suggested parking restriction and upcoming sidewalk repairs.

Discussions at the Oct. 14 meeting included:

• Crosswalk: A parent asked council to look into enhancing visibility for pedestrians near Maplewood Park after a boy was struck Oct. 12 by a vehicle while crossing from Plum Street to the park. The boy wasn’t injured, just scared.

The speaker suggested adding a crosswalk at Plum and Morton Avenue, or Water Street north of Crown Creek Boulevard, for kids trying to access the park from the west. Council President Dan Wandersee said they’d study it.

• Sidewalks/roads: An ordinance was introduced to restrict parking on Water Street from Ash to Spruce because of the road’s width. Road edges are breaking off, and semis can’t get through, Town Manager Kevin Slick said. A first reading will be conducted at council’s 7 p.m. Oct. 28 work session in town hall, 220 E. Main St. It’s open to the public.
• Council approved the lone bid of $10,475 from Bray Concrete for an 80-foot sidewalk repair in the first block of South Morton.
• Council committed to match $31,900 if the application for Indiana’s Community Crossings paving funds is successful.
• Communication: Barry Ritter presented an interlocal agreement for consideration. Ritter is a Wayne County councilor and private consultant helping the county install new radio towers and equipment to eliminate nearly all communication coverage gaps plaguing first responders for decades.

The county allocated American Rescue Plan Act funds and leveraged additional Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program dollars for the project.

If council agrees, Centerville would receive about $85,000 in mobile and portable radios and pagers for fire/rescue volunteers, but needs to maintain them.

Fire/Rescue Chief Andy Aughe has been part of countywide planning to ensure the equipment can be used in schools, large metal buildings and other challenging locations. Town Attorney Ed Martin will review the agreement before the work session.

In other business

• Slick was pleased with turnout for an Oct. 8 open house to gain feedback for the comprehensive plan draft that will guide the town’s future priorities. Results likely will be received within the month. Council will hear suggestions at a future meeting.
• Building Commissioner Gerald Millsaps responded to nine code enforcement cases in September. Enforcement was needed for three.
• Council paid $469,947.36 toward water project work. It also hired the town’s current financial advisory firm, Baker Tilly, for a report on bonding related to the project’s loan from Indiana’s State Revolving Fund.
• CF/R will spend $9,400 in donations to replace aging heating/air conditioning in a portion of Station No. 1.
• Council lowered the price of a west-side easement for sanitary service to $1,000 in hopes of securing an offer from the previously interested party.
• Work on the town’s electric system upgrade could start Nov. 3. Service interruptions aren’t expected until the final changeover much later.
• Trick or treat is 5-7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31. Some homes near Rose Hamilton Elementary, 1281 S. Round Barn Road, Richmond, might follow Richmond’s 6-8 p.m. hours.