The Washington City Council met Monday evening and took care of some year-end financial moves. Prior to the meeting, public hearings were held on three proposed ordinances appropriating city funds for Waste Water Department projects and lining up city funds for the Old US 50 project.
The Council then approved a resolution shifting $15,000 in the Animal Shelter accounts to pay for repairs to the building’s air conditioner. The Council then approved an ordinance appropriating funds left over from the waste water phosphorous removal project for other sewer-related projects.
The Council then approved two ordinances appropriating funds from the Street Department and the TIF districts for the Highway 50 Center Project. Mayor Rhoads told the Council that INDOT had awarded the project to Grade X, who submitted the low bid of $23,199,000. The project will rebuild the roadbed and replace water, sewer, and electric lines in the right way. The project, extending from SE Second Street to the State Street Fork, is projected to begin in January and will last through most of 2025. Mayor Rhoads said the city will hold meetings with home owners and businesses affected by the construction.
In other business, the Council passed an ordinance amending language in the most recent bond ordinance, appropriated funds received from ARP, and heard the introduction of an ordinance rezoning a lot on the northeast corner of Hillside Drive and E. National Highway from residential to commercial. The Council also set vacation days for city employees to mirror those recently adopted by the Daviess County Commissioners. Following the meeting, Mayor Rhoads urged everyone to take part in Christmas in the Park.
The mayor also reminded everyone that the last City Council meeting of 2023 will be held on December 11.
The Board of Works and Safety had a short agenda, approving a contract for an upgrade to software for the Utility Department and a request from a city employee to transfer from one department to another. The last Board of Works meeting of the year for approval of claims will be held at 9 a.m. on Dec. 26.
