In withdrawing from Wayne Union Recycling, Wayne County government is replacing the dissolved WUR with a partnership that funds a shared educator’s position through the Wayne County Soil and Water Conservation District. Wayne County’s commissioners and council members reviewed a draft interlocal agreement for 2026 funding Sept. 3. The interlocal includes Wayne County, Richmond Sanitary […]
Author Archives: Mike Emery
Mike Emery is a reporter and layout editor for the Western Wayne News.
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Batteries boost solar power
Solar batteries from China are currently in a Georgia transit port, but work at a Richmond solar park prepares for their arrival in the city. The Indiana Municipal Power Agency, to which Richmond Power & Light belongs, selected the Richmond 6 solar park at South 23rd Street and Wernle Road for its initial foray into […]
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Council scrutinizes budget, raises it $85K
Wayne County Council spent more than two hours Sept. 3 poring over the county’s 2026 general fund budget, planning to trim departmental requests. Instead, council members spent some of their 2025 contingency money and added nearly $85,000 to the 2026 budget. That leaves the published budget at $44,215,326, although that figure is padded to ensure […]
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Sewer rate showdown: Funding options explored
Putting taxpayer dollars into industrial infrastructure is supposed to attract jobs and community growth that eventually pays us back. But when it comes to expanding sewer capacity at the Midwest and Northwest industrial parks, some residents are saying they don’t want to be a part of that plan. Richmond Common Council members have listened to […]
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Council trims budget, but more work remains
Wayne County Council spent more than three hours Aug. 25 scouring departmental budget requests for possible cuts. Their efforts removed $440,094 from the published general fund budget, but there’s more to do before the budget’s final approval in October. The published budget began at $44,625,627 and the special meeting ended with it at $44,185,533. Council […]
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Animal contract was doggone expensive
Richmond spent $1,961.90 per animal last year to shelter 21 animals at the Henry County Humane Society. Since 2022, the city has contracted with the New Castle shelter after local shelters could not accept the volume of animals the city housed. The renewable annual contract has cost $41,200 for up to 400 animals, with each […]
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Riders using Whitewater Valley service
With four months remaining in 2025, Wayne County ridership on Whitewater Valley Regional Transit exceeded the 2024 total. Trisha Dearth-Adkins, the executive director of the Union County Council on Aging and Aged, provided Wayne County commissioners with an update Aug. 27. Through Aug. 22, 4,308 rides were provided Wayne County residents, closing in on 2024’s […]
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Hire the best person for the job, or the cheapest?
Whitewater Gorge activation work has begun at the Test Road trail head, but two more phases remain in the complicated and expensive project. To help with the upcoming phases, Richmond Parks and Recreation Department asked Richmond Common Council on Aug. 18 to consider an alternative method to engage a contractor. The ordinance would enable all […]
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Couple tries to stop parking problem
A Williamsburg couple will take its request for Wayne County to vacate an alley to the county commissioners. During its Aug. 21 meeting, the Wayne County Advisory Plan Commission approved a resolution providing a positive recommendation for the alley vacation. Daryll and Lilah Webb brought their request before the commission in June. They asked that […]
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County will help animal shelter’s kennel project
Wayne County commissioners plan to provide $30,000 for a HELP the Animals Inc. project. Commissioners saw a draft memorandum of understanding between the organizations during their Aug. 20 meeting. Funds are available in the 2025 budget’s animal welfare line item. The county contracts with HELP to accept animals from the county’s animal control officer. HELP’s […]