Wayne County Commissioner Brad Dwenger voted against appropriating $2 million in consolidated Economic Development Income Tax funds for Richmond’s 6Main apartment development, and during a Feb. 26 meeting, he voted against providing Richmond the money. Commissioners Aaron Roberts and Jeff Plasterer, however, voted in favor of paying the city’s invoice with the committed funds. The […]
Author Archives: Mike Emery
Mike Emery is a reporter and layout editor for the Western Wayne News.
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No prosecutor misconduct found
A grievance against Wayne County’s prosecutor had no merit, according to the Indiana Supreme Court’s disciplinary commission. Prosecutor Mike Shipman received a letter dated Feb. 14 from Adrienne Meiring, executive director of the disciplinary commission. It said the grievance filed by Richmond Police Department Major Adam Blanton was dismissed “as not raising a substantial question […]
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Planning process builds on county’s momentum
Wayne County Council members and the county commissioners took their opportunity to set priorities for the county’s future during the Feb. 19 workshop. HWC Engineering and Forward Wayne County visited to conduct an input session as part of a countywide planning process. The planning builds on momentum created during the Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program and […]
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Steps continue to alter county recycling plan
Wayne County is navigating the necessary steps to dissolve Wayne Union Recycling after withdrawing last year from Wayne Union Recycling Solid Waste Management District. Commissioner Jeff Plasterer presented commissioners with a list of WUR assets during the commissioners’ Feb. 19 meeting. The assets included two laptops and a Ricoh printer with a five-year maintenance contract […]
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Need, desire drive new houses
A local developer received primary plat approval to create a nine-lot subdivision along U.S. 27. Scott Pierce, a Fountain City native, plans for the Deer Trace subdivision to cover 24 acres on the northwest corner of U.S. 27 and Union Pike. The subdivision will be north of Webster Road, which runs into the angled Union […]
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Recycling changes coming
The answer to that recurring question, “can we recycle this?” will soon be changing in Richmond. Richmond Sanitary District will purchase a compactor and a new baler with grant funding it has received, according to Pat Smoker, the district’s superintendent. Smoker updated Richmond Common Council members about his department during council’s Feb. 18 meeting. Using […]
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9 ditch assessments will increase
Maintaining Wayne County’s legal drains comes with more and more costs. Projects are necessary to keep water flowing smoothly, but excavation costs have skyrocketed when work is needed. With that in mind, Gordon Moore, the county surveyor, proposed raising drainage assessments for nine watersheds. Wayne County’s commissioners approved the 25% increases during their Feb. 12 […]
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Health department finalizes agreements with partners
The Wayne County Health Department has finalized agreements with two community partners to provide key Health First Indiana services. The Wayne County Board of Health approved agreements with Centerstone of Indiana and with Reid Health during its Feb. 11 meeting, and Wayne County’s commissioners provided their approval Feb. 12. Both agreements use the health department’s […]
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Fireworks business fizzles with BZA ruling
Esteb Road residents enjoy their quiet neighborhood and its pastoral landscapes. Those speaking Feb. 13 before the Wayne County Board of Zoning Appeals said that does not include shipping containers storing fireworks and tractor-trailer delivery trucks rumbling up their road. And the BZA protected their lifestyle. BZA members voted 4-0 to deny a variance of […]
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Step to save Starr neighborhood history
Fifty years ago, Richmond’s Starr neighborhood was considered one of the best-preserved areas of Victorian-era neighborhoods in the Midwest. Since then, it’s deteriorated to the point it’s been a repeat entry on Indiana Landmarks’ 10 Most Endangered list. Bill Bunch, the executive director of the Wayne County Historical Museum, visited the Jan. 10 Historic Preservation […]