Consultant contracted to assist auditor’s office An Indiana State Board of Accounts audit identified issues that Wayne County is scrambling to correct. Auditor Mark Hoelscher received the necessary approvals from Wayne County Council and commissioners March 1 to hire Hartman and Williams, a Bloomfield-based governmental accounting consultant. Hoelscher told commissioners Hartman and Williams would have […]
Author Archives: Mike Emery
Mike Emery is a reporter and layout editor for the Western Wayne News.
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$411,000 opioid settlement money addresses missing element
Commissioners support programs that will provide transitional housing Wayne County lacks transitional housing for those recovering from addiction. The county’s $411,000 initial share of a national opioid settlement presented an opportunity to help fill that void. It’s an opportunity the county commissioners took. “The seven organizations that were awarded opioid settlement money are addressing an […]
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Collaboration, support key to historic preservation efforts
Valuable housing stock deteriorates despite 3 groups’ efforts Historic homes stand out. They can be beautiful, even if they’re in disrepair, have boarded up windows, or are inhabited by people with nowhere else to go. These buildings represent the past, but their futures are in question. “Historic preservation is very important to a city like […]
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More recycling participation could extend landfill’s life span
Only 41% of Richmond Sanitary District customers have recycling container The Richmond Sanitary District recently opened a new cell at the New Paris Pike Landfill to help collect the 85,000 tons of waste deposited there annually. But city leaders would like to make the landfill last longer through an increase in recycling. Mayor Dave Snow […]
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HELP group begins hearing residents’ ideas
Meetings remain for input into how ARPA dollars spent Sidewalks, streetlights and playgrounds. Residents have requested those amenities during the first three of seven public input meetings for Wayne County’s Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program participation. HELP assists with planning for projects that spend American Rescue Plan Act dollars. Each participating Wayne County community has a […]
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County will charge RCS food provider food-permit fees
Board of Health passes policy requiring third-party vendors pay Richmond Community Schools’ food vendor will be charged permit fees. The Wayne County Board of Health on Feb. 16 approved a policy that does not charge nonprofits or schools for their food-service permits; however, for-profit third-party companies that contract with schools will be charged. That would […]
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7 programs selected for opioid settlement funding
Commissioners ask for financial, budget information before finalizing commitments Wayne County’s commissioners are asking for a little more information from local agencies before finalizing awards from its 2022 opioid settlement money. Commissioners divvied up $411,000 among seven organizations from the county’s share of a national settlement with opioid manufacturer Johnson & Johnson and distributors Cardinal […]
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Parks department plans to polish hidden gem
Whitewater Gorge Park Activation Plan to feature river On a recent Wednesday the Bayly family walked the Whitewater Gorge Trail, taking advantage of sunshine and unseasonably warm weather. “We love this trail,” said Josh Bayly, who was with his wife Brandi and daughter Charlotte. On most warm days, the Baylys use the trail or Cope […]
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County increases 2023 assessments on 4 legal drains
Funds pay for ditch maintenance Landowners in four Wayne County watersheds will have their legal drain assessments increase 25% this year. At first glance that seems a large increase, however many landowners will see little or no change to the drain assessments on their property tax bills. Individual assessments for small, residential parcels are often […]
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Commissioners plan to award opioid settlement money this month
Applicant projects were prioritized through scoring system Twenty-three applicants should know this month whether they’ll receive a share of Wayne County’s 2022 opioid settlement disbursement. On Feb. 8, the county commissioners set their commitment goal to help interested agencies apply for $25 million the state has made available in additional grants. Local matches are required […]