When it was recently informed about a water dispute, Richmond Common Council delayed its decision about Uranus Fudge Factory and General Store’s request to rezone adjacent land, preferring to receive more information.
What council members heard June 15 convinced just enough of them to approve the ordinance changing the parcel at 6412 National Road E. from institutional to general commercial. Council members Doug Goss, Bill Engle, Larry Parker, Anne Taylor and Gary Turner voted for the rezoning, while Lucinda Wright, Jane Bumbalough, Jerry Purcell and Justin Burkhardt opposed. Uranus owner Louie Keen plans to expand his fudge enterprise onto a second parcel that was formerly New Creations.
A.J. Sickmann, the city attorney, told council that a zoning decision would not change the dispute that has resulted in federal litigation.
During its June 1 meeting, council heard from Ryan Toms, who operates Camp Mahanaim on another former New Creations parcel, about the water dispute and fire hydrants not being connected to water. On June 8, Toms filed suit against Keen in Wayne Superior Court 2, but the action has since been transferred to the U.S. District Court for Southern Indiana.
Toms’ filing indicates that New Creations installed a private water line to serve its four parcels, which are now the rezoned land, the Uranus location, the camp and an Indiana Municipal Power Agency solar park. Toms accuses Keen of stopping the camp’s water access by shutting off the line’s valve that’s on the Uranus parcel.
According to Toms’ filing, the Indiana State Fire Marshal and Indiana Department of Homeland Security intervened June 4 because of fire-safety concerns; however, it accuses Keen of again depriving the camp of water within five hours of the intervention.
Toms requests the court order Camp Mahanaim’s water supply restored and prohibit Keen from interfering with the summer camp’s water supply. Case records indicate Toms must contact the district court magistrate about requesting emergency action.
In a June 20 statement posted on social media, a Uranus representative wrote “we are fully compliant with the law, and we are confident the court [will] rule in our favor.”
Richmond Fire Department Chief Jeff Kinder told council that Deputy Chief Doug Gardner had inspected fire hydrants at three parcels and water was connected to them. Gardner could not inspect the solar park’s hydrant because it’s within the park’s fencing.
Zoning tabled
Lauck Properties requested council table its request to rezone 19 acres at 3430 Backmeyer Road from institutional to multi-family residential. Lauck intends to build condominiums.
Council delayed its vote June 1 because of concerns access to the condos would be from the heavily traveled Backmeyer Road. Lauck requested the second delay to develop a written commitment that Lauck would contract for a traffic study and incorporate those findings into its primary plat request to the Richmond Advisory Plan Commission.
Burkhardt, who is council’s president this year, appreciated Lauck listening to and taking seriously council’s concerns. He then held the zoning ordinance.
Police travel
A resolution appropriating $10,000 for Richmond Police Department travel passed 7-2, with Burkhardt and Purcell opposing.
Controller Tracy McGinnis explained that purchase orders would be required for each charge to the city’s US Bank credit card. McGinnis confirmed to Purcell that any of the appropriated money could be transferred to another 3000-level budget line item without council action.
During council’s finance committee meeting, which preceded the regular meeting, Purcell said he was opposed to providing a blanket appropriation, preferring to hear specifics. Turner said the appropriation was routine and noted that if expenditures were broken down, they individually would not meet the $5,000 threshold for council action.
Gorge activation
Council unanimously approved executing a build-operate-transfer agreement with GM Development of Springport for the Whitewater Gorge Park Activation project.
The agreement, first reported in the June 17 WWN, establishes a maximum cost of $5.45 million for the activation’s second and third phases. The second phase includes a trailhead with observation area and kayak launch site at the former Weir Dam location. The third phase in the Starr-Gennett area includes concepts for a nature playground, bouldering garden and riverwalk.
GM Development will oversee the projects constructed by LP Turner Corp. of Zionsville, which worked on the activation’s first phase at the Test Road Trailhead.
Land bank board
Turner volunteered to serve as council’s appointment to the Wayne County Land Bank. Council approved the appointment 9-0.
A version of this article appeared in the June 24 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.
