Last post for September 2020

 The Rensselaer City Council met for its last September meeting on Monday evening. They began by approving the 2021 budget and then approved the electric tracker for the fourth quarter, which will be an increase of $8.75 per thousand kilowatt hours from the third quarter rate. They then discussed a return-to-work policy, which defines the procedure by which a City employee who has COVID or has tested positive for COVID returns to work. The employee will need a note from a medical provider. The policy will be in effect as long as either the State of Indiana or CDC maintains the state of emergency. The policy passed after brief discussion.

At the last meeting the Council opened bids for financing a new aerial truck for the Fire Department. At this meeting they approved accepting the bid of 1.625 for ten years. They also gave the Mayor authority to sign a purchase agreement for a new fire truck. There was some discussion about the purchase contract because the company seems to have sent two conflicting bits of information. It has given the City a 30 day quote but also has said that prices will increase after October 3.

The Council agreed to have a golf-cart ordinance prepared and will vote on it at its next meeting. The Police Chief wanted to spread the word that it is still illegal to operate a golf cart on City streets; no ordinance has been passed yet.

The City's project manager, Jerry Lockridge, was selected as the City Employee of the Year by the Readers' Choice poll that the Rensselaer Republican ran. He was given a certificate. Lockridge then asked the Council to approve a contract with First Group Engineering to work a Community Crossings Grant if the City is awarded a grant this year. The contract was approved.

George Cover noted that the City's insurance costs are lower this year than expected and moved to use the savings to increase employee compensation by an extra 1%, bumping the increase to 2%, His motion passed. Someone noted that the Cullen Street railroad crossing has been fixed.

The City is replacing the culvert over the Maxwell Ditch on Vine Street this week, so that part of Vine Street is closed. On Tuesday morning I stopped by and the old culvert was gone and a new culvert was waiting to be installed.

When I returned about two hours later, the new culvert was in place and the workers were starting to pour stone around the new culvert to fill the hole in the street.

On my way to the Council meeting, I noticed a bright rainbow but I could not get a good picture. During the meeting there was a brief shower and more rainbows. 

Fenwick Farms Brewing is raising funds to expand its brewing capacity. Currently it sells all the beer it brews at its restaurant. They plan a small building across the alley. Last week they hosted a question and answer event.

For more, check their website. The financing instrument is a revenue sharing deal.

A few leaves are starting the change color. I suspect more would be if there were ash trees left–they were among the earliest trees to change. A few that are still standing in Weston Cemetery are now being cut down. They have been killed by the ash borer.

The weather has turned cooler and harvest has begun.