Wayne County’s commissioners plan to ask county council members to allocate $500,000 from American Rescue Plan Act dollars for the replacement of in-ground fuel tanks. Mike Sharp, the highway department’s superintendent, asked commissioners Nov. 8 to accept the $513,225 bid from Allied-Ott Petroleum Equipment. Commissioners unanimously did so. The highway department has two 12,000-gallon in-ground […]
Author Archives: Mike Emery
Mike Emery is a reporter and layout editor for the Western Wayne News.
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Council OKs county budget at just under $50 million
Wayne County’s 2024 budget falls just short of $50 million. Council unanimously approved the budget and the 2024 salary ordinance Nov. 1. That was the final day budgets could be approved, according to the state’s Department of Local Government Finance regulations. The budget includes $36,114,079.99 in the general fund and another $13,818,155 in other funds, […]
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2023 uncertified election results
9:15 p.m. – Ron Oler defeats Dave Snow for Richmond Mayor Although Richmond will have a new mayor, he won’t be a new face to area voters. Ron Oler, who has served on Richmond Common Council for 12 years, defeated two-term Richmond Mayor Dave Snow on Tuesday. In unofficial results, Oler, a Republican, received 51.23 […]
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Neighbors appeal BZA decisions allowing auction facility
An appeal filed in circuit court accuses Wayne County’s Board of Zoning Appeals members of hastily making a decision that would allow a U.S. 27 auction facility without fully considering neighbors’ concerns. John and Tammy Tackett, who live south of the proposed livestock, equipment and general merchandise auction facility, are appealing two BZA decisions made […]
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Costumes, candy and Halloween fun
Safety Village of Wayne County welcomed hundreds of costumed trick-or-treaters Oct. 23. Lines wound through the village as representatives of community organizations and businesses passed out candy. The line extended across the Richmond State Hospital grounds with nice weather for the annual event. It was one of the many available Halloween events in addition to […]
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The $5 million question: How to spend ARPA, opioid money?
Wayne County’s commissioners asked the county’s elected officials and department heads for their ideas about possible uses of more than $5.23 million in available American Rescue Plan Act and opioid settlement dollars. Those two areas of funding were addressed during an Oct. 25 meeting designed to discuss and receive feedback on multiple topics. The county […]
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Richmond council approves $18M in investments
Richmond became the final participant to approve Wayne County’s Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program strategic investment plan during the Oct. 16 Common Council meeting. Council members heard a comprehensive presentation about the nine projects anticipated to result in $18,809,776 of investment. Four projects, with an expected investment of $5,075,000, are shared with Wayne County, while another […]
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Down to the wire with county’s 2024 budget
Wayne County Council planned to adopt the county’s 2024 budget during its Oct. 18 workshop; however, that did not occur. Instead, adoption was delayed until council’s next scheduled meeting on Nov. 1, which is the approval deadline established by the Department of Local Government Finance. Previously, council voted to raise employee salaries to job-specific midpoints […]
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Flood of liquor store opposition keeps Chester Boulevard corner dry
The first six speakers opposing a proposed liquor store on the southeast corner of Chester Boulevard and Sylvan Nook Drive received rousing applause during an Oct. 17 Spring Grove Board of Zoning Appeals meeting. At that point, about a half-hour into the meeting, Harvinder Singh and Gurpreet Singh turned to the nearly 50 people attending […]
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Preparations continue ahead of South G Street bridge project
Wayne County continues preparing for the 2024 renovation of the South G Street bridge in Richmond. During their Oct. 18 meeting, the three county commissioners unanimously passed a memorandum of understanding with the city of Richmond that allows access through city property for the bridge project. The county will return the property to its existing […]