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 […]
Author Archives: Mike Emery
Mike Emery is a reporter and layout editor for the Western Wayne News.
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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 […]
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Firefighter to receive half his OT request
A Richmond Fire Department firefighter will receive overtime payment for half of the hours he spends in a paramedicine course after his grievance was partially supported by the city’s Board of Public Works and Safety. The board voted 3-0 after an hour-and-a-half discussion July 17 to award Michael Stolzfus half of the estimated $15,840 of […]
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Council reluctantly considers new taxes
State lawmakers are essentially blackmailing local lawmakers in to imposing new taxes on residents who drive. That’s according to Wayne County Council members who reluctantly voted July 16 to consider requiring residents pay a new annual fee when registering their vehicles. The local option highway user taxes include a wheel tax of up to $80 […]
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Cuts coming as county considers 2026 budget
When you need more money than you have, what do you do? Wayne County Council began trying to answer that question for the 2026 budgeting process in earnest on July 16, spending about 5 1/2 hours listening to departmental budget proposals. A lot of work and many difficult decisions remain prior to budget adoption late […]
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Garage demolition receives Historic Preservation OK
Renowned architect John Hasecoster designed the Free Classic-style home at 1907 E. Main St. in Richmond late in the 19th century, but the garage currently behind the historic home wasn’t built until after Hasecoster sold the property. Now, that deteriorated garage, which is about 95 years old, will be demolished. Property owner Jack Cruse received […]
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Welding, fabrication business receives OK
An Economy man’s second attempt before the Wayne County Board of Zoning Appeals turned out in his favor July 10. Abner King received a variance of use to operate a welding and fabricating business to repair agricultural equipment from a detached garage at his Manning Road residence. King previously requested the variance during March’s BZA […]
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RP&L studies its costs and rates
When Richmond Power & Light left the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission in 2022, the utility’s board retained the new requirement that RP&L conduct a cost of service and rate study every five years. The 2020 study resulted in rate increases phased across three years, and to meet the five-year requirement, a new study is underway […]
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Wawa receives approval for pylon sign
The Wawa gas station and convenience store under construction along Williamsburg Pike received Richmond Board of Zoning Appeals variances for a pylon sign July 9. The 3-0 vote permits Wawa’s sign to be 27 feet tall and 330.75 square feet, exceeding the maximums of 10 feet and 200 square feet in the industrial commercial zoning […]
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New branding reflects city’s arts, industry
Richmond Common Council members saw a new visual identity for the city during their July 7 meeting. A new Richmond logo developed through a branding process features an arched “Richmond” reminiscent of a vintage iron bridge and a mark that suggests the arts, roses and historic architecture, according to a presentation by Erica Deutsch, director […]