Dublin became the latest community to approve Wayne County’s Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program strategic investment plan. Commissioner Jeff Plasterer shared during the Oct. 11 commissioners meeting that Dublin was the final participating town to vote its approval, doing so during an Oct. 10 meeting. That leaves only Richmond among the eight participants — also including […]
Author Archives: Mike Emery
Mike Emery is a reporter and layout editor for the Western Wayne News.
Posted inNews
Tire recycling event collects nearly 23 tons
Wayne Union Recycle collected about 23 tons of used tires during a recycling program Sept. 30 at six sites. During an Oct. 11 WUR board meeting, volunteers described turning away dozens of vehicles because the receptacles were filled. Union County’s site turned away 41 vehicles because the receptacle, which was delivered by Best Way, was […]
Posted inNews
Coal reliance for local electricity diminishes during past decade
More of the electricity Richmond Power & Light purchases comes from renewables and nuclear generation. The Indiana Municipal Power Agency, which supplies 61 communities with municipally owned utilities, has reduced its reliance on coal during the past decade. RP&L General Manager shared with his board of directors Oct. 2 parts of a presentation IMPA President […]
Posted inNews
County receives help with HELP projects
Two Wayne County groups will take over management of Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program projects after Oct. 4 decisions by the county’s commissioners, including one described as “irresponsible governing.” The three commissioners unanimously agreed that the Economic Development Corporation of Wayne County would organize and operate blight elimination within Wayne County. The EDC’s Sarah Mitchell previously […]
Posted inNews
Residents provide feedback on I-70 plan
The Indiana Department of Transportation has included 5-foot-wide sidewalks along U.S. 40 at the Interstate 70 interchange in its reconstruction plans. Barry Cramer, an avid bicyclist, doesn’t think that’s enough, however; he advocated for wider multiuse lanes rather than the sidewalks during a Revive I-70 public hearing Oct. 4 at Ivy Tech Community College Richmond. […]
Posted inNews
County council plans 2024 employee raises
Wayne County Council plans to again improve employee salaries during 2024. Consultant Waggoner, Irwin, Scheele and Associates of Muncie is comparing county salaries with comparable positions in other counties and the private sector. It then provides a midpoint for each position. During its Oct. 4 meeting, council addressed employee raises for 2024. Council members propose […]
Posted inNews
3 council members oppose funded, unbalanced budget
Richmond Common Council passed a $60 million budget for 2024, but three council members voted against it. Ron Oler, Jeff Cappa and Larry Parker said last year that they would not vote for another budget that does not have its expenditures matching the city’s income, and all three lived up to their words during the […]
Posted inNews
Commission supports zoning for self-storage facility
A zoning change that would allow a self-storage facility on Industries Road returns to Richmond Common Council with a recommendation for approval from the city’s plan commission. The Richmond Advisory Plan Commission voted 6-0 during its Sept. 27 meeting to recommend the outdoor commercial zoning for a 6.25-acre lot on the southeast corner of Industries […]
Posted inNews
River flows freely as Weir Dam demolished
About two years after Richmond received funding, demolition began on Weir Dam. The Whitewater River already flowed Sept. 27 through a gap in the 10-foot-tall, low-head dam as three excavators, two with breaker hammers, broke apart the concrete. The noisy hammers sometimes harmonized as they cut into the dam, creating pieces moved by an excavator’s […]
Posted inNews
READI funding offer highlights economic development priorities
Wayne County’s regional partnership is developing its vision to apply for READI 2.0 state money. The East Central Indiana Regional Partnership received $15 million in December 2021 from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation’s original Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative. With the application due during February, the nine counties could receive up to $75 million […]