Wayne County Council will join the county’s commissioners in opening its meetings with prayer. During its Nov. 4 meeting, which began with the Pledge of Allegiance, council approved 6-0 adopting the legislative prayer policy commissioners approved 2-1 on Oct. 28. Council President Max Smith said council would begin with prayer during the Nov. 18 combined […]
Author Archives: Mike Emery
Mike Emery is a reporter and layout editor for the Western Wayne News.
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Final answer on sewer rates due Nov. 16
After more than a year’s delay, Richmond Common Council members will decide Nov. 16 whether residents see four years of sewer and storm water rate increases. Council tabled on Sept. 2, 2025, the ordinance proposing the hikes to fund sewer expansion for the Midwest Industrial Park; however, Pat Smoker, director of Richmond Sanitary District, brought […]
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2 Richmond-owned properties for sale in Irish Hills subdivision
Richmond will accept bids for two city-owned parcels in the south-side Irish Hills subdivision. During its Oct. 29 meeting, the city’s Board of Public Works and Safety authorized a Dec. 4 deadline to receive bids to purchase both parcels together or each individually. Both properties are vacant. According to county property records, the value of […]
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Richmond claims immunity from plastics fire liability
Richmond continues trying to convince a federal judge the city is immune from liability claims following an April 2023 plastics fire. The city’s attorneys requested Judge Tanya Walton Pratt rule it immune after a jury found the city 40% liable during a five-day September trial in the U.S. District Court for Southern Indiana. Pratt, however, […]
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Wayne County 2026 General Election results
Wayne County voters selected who will represent them in offices that span school boards, township leadership, county council and state legislative offices. Unofficial results show 16,514 ballots cast across absentee votes, early votes and Election Day vote centers. While state and national counts are still waiting on other counties to report, Western Wayne News is […]
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Commissioners OK prayer at meetings
Prayers may now follow the Pledge of Allegiance at meetings of the Wayne County commissioners. Though participation is optional, one official raised concerns. Commissioners passed 2-1 a legislative prayer policy during their Oct. 28 meeting. President Jeff Plasterer voted against the policy. “While I support prayer, I also believe that in this case government and […]
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City awaits legislature’s budget impact
Richmond completed the second step in a three-year quest to balance its budget, but it now waits to see if state legislators help or hinder that effort. “The concern now will be with the long session at the statehouse coming up in January,” Mayor Ron Oler said Oct. 19 after Richmond Common Council unanimously approved […]
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County sends $44.3M budget to state
Wayne County will submit a nearly $44.3 million 2027 general fund budget for the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance’s review. The budget received OKs from consultant Ben Roeger of C.L. Coonrod and Company plus all three county commissioners before county council members unanimously approved it during the Oct. 21 council and commissioners workshop. Council […]
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Redevelopment TIF funds to help pave 6 Richmond roads
The Richmond Redevelopment Commission is contributing $485,605.95 to pave six city roads. The money from the Johns Manville tax increment finance allocation area’s collections will match the state Community Crossings Matching Grant’s contribution to the $971,211.95 project. Beth Fields, the city’s director of strategic initiatives, told the commission during its Oct. 20 meeting that the […]
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Tax decision balances revenue, resident burden
Wayne County’s second Municipal Unit Strategic Taskforce meeting took a different tone when discussing local income tax changes. During a Sept. 16 meeting, municipalities requested they receive maximum tax revenue; however, during the Oct. 21 meeting, they focused on at least maintaining the property and income tax revenue they currently receive. Wayne County Council representative […]