A Henry County man received approval to expand his shed-building business to a Hagerstown-area property. During its June 11 meeting, the Wayne County Board of Zoning Appeals unanimously approved Amos Esh’s request for a variance of use to construct storage sheds and small home shells on a 34-acre property at Indiana 1 and Fagan Road. […]
Author Archives: Mike Emery
Mike Emery is a reporter and layout editor for the Western Wayne News.
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Commissioners stick with current health insurance provider
Wayne County will continue with its current employee health insurance provider for another year. The county’s commissioners voted 3-0 on June 10 to renew its plan with One80. Cathy Dunn of Dunn & Associates, the county’s Columbus-based third-party administrator, had presented commissioners May 27 with their options after the current plan expires June 30. Commissioners […]
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City contracts with Wetzel for 2 police vehicles
Wetzel Ford submitted the only proposal to provide Richmond Police Department with two Ford Explorer Interceptor vehicles. The city’s Board of Public Works and Safety approved a $98,618 contract with Wetzel during its June 11 meeting. Money for the two vehicles is coming from the city’s opioid settlement money. Each year, the city receives a […]
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$5.45M price tag for gorge’s next phases
Richmond Parks and Recreation Department knows which company it wants to lead the next two phases of the Whitewater Gorge Park Activation project. And it knows the cost. Four prospective companies were interviewed about their proposals using the newly permitted build-operate-transfer model. The parks department selected GM Development of Springport as the developer, working with […]
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20-year RPD officer becomes assistant chief
Nearly 20 years into his Richmond Police Department career, Major Austin Lipps now serves as an assistant chief. Lipps, who joined the department in November 2006, was appointed to assume the duties formerly performed by Adam Blanton, who resigned from the department. He will lead the department’s day-to-day operations. “Throughout his career, Major Lipps has […]
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BZA permits duplex’s conversion to 3 units
A North West 18th Street building used as a duplex now could house a third residential unit after two decisions June 10 by the Richmond Board of Zoning Appeals. After Kevin Crawford of Crawford’s Home Improvement bought the duplex at 301 NW 18th St., he discovered that a staircase and chimney create problems with the […]
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Water safety practices save lives
Summer’s heat will draw children to cooling water, with them joyfully splashing about in pools and lakes. However, there’s also danger. Two-thirds of drownings occur between May and August, and drowning is the leading cause of death among children ages 1 through 4. Using information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Indiana Board […]
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Company chosen to design Loop’s westside extension
A Fishers company will design and engineer the Loop multi-modal path extension along West Main Street. During its June 4 meeting, Richmond’s Board of Public Works and Safety approved a $380,000 contract with DCCM in Fishers. DCCM has 40 offices in seven states. The extension from South West First Street is part of the Revitalize […]
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Health department will return to E. Main St.
The Wayne County Health Department will move back home soon. Early in 2020, the department left 203 E. Main St. when the public health department separated from the health clinic that became Well Care. The county ended its lease with Well Care on May 31, and the clinic has moved to a new building on […]
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County council looks for budget help
With millions of dollars to allocate, hundreds of accounts to track, strict state reporting requirements and 2027 budget time quickly approaching, Wayne County Council needs more help administering the county’s budgeting process. Originally, council was looking to contract for assistance properly recording and reporting budget requests and changes, but it has since pivoted, something council […]