Washington’s City Council heard the first reading of an ordinance authorizing the issuing of $2,200,000 in general obligation bonds to furnish funds for upcoming city projects. INDOT will open bids on the eastern section of the Old US 50, and the city anticipates using some of the funds to complete the project. Other designated uses for the funds are City Street projects, the City Commons Project, and the potential replacement of outdated city equipment. The Council will hear the second reading of the proposed ordinance at its next meeting.
The Council also heard the introduction of the city’s annual ordinance, which sets the city’s budget and tax rate. The ordinance containing the added debt service section will be heard at the next meeting. Prior to the meeting, the council held a previously advertised public hearing on the city tax rate and budget. No members of the public had any questions or comments, and after a few minutes, Mayor Rhoads closed the public hearing.
In other business, the Council heard the introduction of an ordinance rezoning a 1/2 acre at the corner of Hillside Drive and National Highway from Residential-1 to Commercial-2. The Council also introduced an ordinance appropriating $6,881 in funds received from the state’s Opiod Settlement funds. Both the City of Washington and Daviess County are providing the restricted funds to IRACS, which operates out of the Security Center.
At the end of the meeting, the council heard from Linda Cornelius, who told them about the upcoming Veterans Day program and parade. Mayor Rhoads had this to say about the upcoming program.
The next City Council meeting will be held at the Council Chambers at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, October 23. Following the council meeting, the Board of Public Works and Safety met and approved closing Main Street at 4 p.m. on November 5 for the Veterans Day Parade. Linda Cornelius said the parade will feature a “box float” contest for kids and a golf cart contest for adults. The parade will start at the library, march east on Main Street to East 7th, and finish at Washington High School. The Board also approved the interlocal agreement with Daviess County concerning county animals being brought to the Animal Shelter. One change in the agreement allows the City Animal Shelter to refuse to take unwanted litter from animal breeders if the animal shelter is at capacity. In other business, the Board approved an engagement letter with Robert W. Baird & Co. to arrange the sale of the proposed general obligation bonds.
