City’s council votes support for WCTV

Richmond Common Council members expressed their support for Whitewater Community Television during their June 2 meeting.

An 8-0 vote passed a two-pronged motion to use WCTV for live-streaming city meetings and storing the meeting videos and to increase its financial contributions to WCTV. Council member Jerry Purcell stressed “how important it is that we have a neutral party reporting on our meetings, etc., in my mind, and WCTV serves the whole county, and I think it’s very important that we participate in a way that helps us continue with the transparency for the county and county government.”

WCTV, which broadcasts three access channels, recently learned that Indiana University East had terminated its contract. Its board has pursued options to continue, and as of June 1, employees were placed under the WCTV umbrella rather than working for IU East.

Beginning July 1, a new state law will require government bodies to live-stream their meetings and provide access to the stored video. WCTV has broadcast and provided on-demand coverage of meetings for city, county and other government entities.

The city and county governments receive quarterly franchise fee payments from Comcast. Dating to a 2015 contract, the city has contributed 40% of the franchise fees it receives to WCTV, and the county has contributed a flat payment — $25,000 this year — to WCTV. Purcell’s motion raised the contribution to 65% retroactive to Jan. 1.

During 2024, the city received $368,125.24 in franchise fees and contributed $147,250.96 to WCTV. With an increase to 65%, WCTV would have received an additional $92,030.45. The city advanced WCTV $30,000 for its first-quarter 2025 franchise fees, and is paying an additional $4,789.36 after receiving $86,973.47 from Comcast. The retroactive increase to a 65% payout would add an additional $21,743.40 for WCTV.

Council’s vote established its support for Purcell’s two prongs through the end of 2025. City contracts are held by the Board of Public Works and Safety, so the agreement with WCTV will next appear before that body for approval.

Revitalize Richmond

Council approved 8-0 two ordinances related to the Revitalize Richmond program that’s in partner with Earlham College, which received $25 million from the Lilly Endowment through its College and Community Collaboration program.

One ordinance authorized the acceptance of $3,279,000 for four projects: $2,500,000 million for Whitewater Gorge activation, $2,120,000 for a multi-modal trail from downtown to Earlham’s campus, $805,000 for a transit rebrand plus purchase and operation of a trolley, and $354,000 for a special projects manager.

Dakota Collins, Earlham’s director of community relations, said that with projects such as the 6Main apartments and the recently announced restoration of five downtown buildings now on track, attention is turning to the next stage in the program’s evolution. Asked about the trolley, Collins said a bus would be purchased and retrofitted to look and feel like a trolley. It would run through downtown and the Depot District and to Earlham’s campus.

Collins said Earlham students responding to a survey indicated they would visit downtown more often if there were things for them to do and they could get downtown safely. The trolley and the extension of the Loop trail to campus are both attempts to remove barriers for students trying to visit downtown or the Depot District.

The second ordinance amended the 2025 salary ordinance for the special projects manager. That position, which will have a salary range of $51,686 to $64,609, will oversee the projects associated with Revitalize Richmond. The Lilly grant would fund it through Dec. 31, 2028.

Homeless help

Oler informed council that the task force addressing unsheltered individuals has met to consider solutions for problems occurring at Jack Elstro Plaza and the downtown parking garage.

The city has saved money it has received from Indiana’s settlements with opioid manufacturers and distributors for an area of greatest need. Oler said it would likely be a couple of months before council is asked to appropriate funds.

“I think we’re finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel for some of these most problematic unsheltered homeless that hang around the central corridor,” Oler said.

According to the Indiana Attorney General’s office, Richmond has received $892,003.84 in restricted and unrestricted funds through the 2022, 2023 and 2024 payments. The city is estimated to receive another $173,173.40 this year of the total $3.090,422.32 payout through 2038. 

Other actions

• An ordinance authorizing Richmond Police Department to accept $69,000 in grant funding from the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute’s Comprehensive Hoosier Highway Injury Reduction Program passed 8-0. The program would target impaired driving, speeding, distracted driving, young drivers and unrestrained drivers to reduce crashes and their injuries and deaths while increasing compliance with the law.
• The code enforcement department’s budget will be transferred from Richmond Sanitary District’s budget to the general fund as its own department after an 7-1 vote, with Purcell opposing. The approved ordinance transfers $561,400 for salaries and $223,002.06 for other expenses.
• The clerk’s office will transfer $1,450 from its travel line item to the computer equipment line item to purchase three laserjet printers. Council approved that ordinance 8-0.