Concerns about Richmond residents being taxed by both the county and city for their vehicles stopped Wayne County Council from enacting local option highway user taxes Aug. 20, while indicating it’s a temporary delay of the inevitable. Council voted 4-3 in favor of enacting an excise tax surcharge on passenger vehicles, small trucks, motorcycles, mopeds […]
Author Archives: Mike Emery
Mike Emery is a reporter and layout editor for the Western Wayne News.
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County council leaves library bond request in limbo
Wayne County Council members heard how important Morrisson-Reeves Library is to its community, but that hasn’t yet convinced them to approve an $18 million, property tax-based bond that would help fund a library construction project. More than 200 people overflowed the Wayne County Administration Building chambers, spilling into the hallway outside the door, during the […]
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Probation programs evolve as chief moves on
Kory George reported to work Monday, Aug. 18, with the same enthusiasm to help people he’s displayed the past 30 years. But, for the first time since he was a college senior, George did not report to the Wayne County Probation Department; instead, he entered a new role as executive director of Tippecanoe County Community […]
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BZA grants variance for day care facility
A mom who’s passionate about helping children’s development now has the opportunity to open a day care. Sarah and Edison Perdomo purchased the house at 528 S. 14th St. in Richmond specifically for the day care, and during an Aug. 13 meeting, the Richmond Board of Zoning Appeals granted the Perdomos a variance of use […]
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Make My Move could continue attracting workers to county
Wayne County’s Make My Move initiative has reached its goal of attracting 30 movers to Wayne County, and there might be more in the future. Valerie Shaffer, president of the Economic Development Corp. of Wayne County, spoke about Make My Move as she provided Wayne County’s commissioners a monthly EDC update during their Aug. 6 […]
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Industrial park growth fuels proposed sewer rate hikes
In 2029, Richmond Sanitary District’s residential customers could pay sewer rates nearly 23% higher than today’s, costing a 4,000-gallon-a-month user about $150 extra for the year. Pat Smoker, the sanitary district’s supervisor, presented Richmond Common Council during its Aug. 4 meeting with an ordinance that would raise sewer rates and the storm water rate. Council […]
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Safety training ‘crucial’ for RP&L
Richmond Power & Light’s workforce is younger and less experienced following recent retirements, making safety training “crucial,” according to General Manager Tony Foster. Foster highlighted the utility’s safety training efforts during the RP&L board’s Aug. 4 meeting. RP&L has adopted the American Public Power Association’s safety manual as its safety guide, and as a member […]
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City accepts dismissal of RPD major’s lawsuit
The city of Richmond is not pursuing further legal action after a special judge dismissed Richmond Police Department Major Adam Blanton’s lawsuit against Wayne County Prosecutor Mike Shipman. Mayor Ron Oler issued a news release Aug. 7 standing behind the lawsuit Blanton filed, which the city then joined, after Shipman placed Blanton on the county’s […]
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Residents oppose state ‘bullying’ over road funds
A handful of Wayne County residents stressed two points during Wayne County Council’s Aug. 6 public hearing about local option highway user taxes: Don’t be bullied by the state legislature, and don’t enact new taxes. The state legislature has changed the way counties and municipalities will receive highway and bridge funding by reducing the amount […]
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State makes new local taxes seem inevitable
Indiana’s legislature is forcing the question of how much government is too much government on communities across the state, and Wayne County residents could soon pay new local income taxes as a result. The Republican-controlled Indiana General Assembly implemented property tax reform this year, limiting how much property tax revenue cities and counties can expect […]