First frost and other items of interest

Rensselaer got the first frost of the year on Monday morning, October 5, 2020. It has been later some years and earlier in others. Searching my blog, I found in 2012 the first frost was on September 24 and in 2013 on October 22.

The Commissioners met Monday morning for their October meeting. They began with a public hearing for a speed limit of 35 mph on a mile of CR 1000 N. There are two large subdivisions along this stretch of road and it is heavily traveled. There were no public comments and the proposed speed limit was passed. There was then a new proposal for another speed limit, this for a stretch of 1100 N. A list of residents who live along the road and who support the speed limit was given to the Commissioners. There will be a public hearing on this proposal at next month's meeting.

Next, Community Corrections had two bids to seal coat and paint its parking lots. The Commissioners approved the low bid of $24,050. They also approved filling a vacancy and a quote for fixing the storage building behind the Community Corrections building. They proposed actions for problems with the parking lot lighting and the fire alarm system.  (The fire alarm system works but if it fails, it cannot be repaired.) 

The Commissioners approved a near-final agreement to have DeMotte extend sewer and water to the I-65 interchange with SR 10. There will be no annexation, DeMotte will issue the bonds, Jasper County cedes the area to DeMotte for the provision of sewer and water, and there will be a TIF district established to help pay off the bonds. Near the end of the meeting, the Commissioners scheduled a meeting of the Jasper County Sewer and Water Board so it can also approve the near-final agreement. It will meet on Oct 9 at 9:00 for what should be a very short meeting.

The County Health nurse reported that there had been a third County resident who had died of COVID. The Director of Emergency Management gave the Commissioners a list of proposed expenditures that should be eligible for COVID reimbursement. With a couple of exceptions, the Commissioners approved the list. The County is eligible to be reimbursed for up to $1,082,000 of COVID related expenditures.

Adam Alson gave a brief report on what Appleseed Childhood Education did with school supplies left in the former Youth Center. The supplies and equipment were accepted by 29 different Jasper County organizations that serve young children.

The County Highway Department has completed a self evaluation of their ADA compliance, finding areas where they are not compliant and either proposing a solution or explaining why the violation is not correctable. The Commissioners accepted it as an update to the Title 6 Plan. This was needed to make the County Highway Department eligible for State grants because the State Department of Transportation gets Federal dollars. In particular, the County Highway Department needs State money to repair or replace bridge 1002 in Remington, which is Kentucky Street over Carpenter Creek. The Commissioners approved an engineering consultant contract that should be funded with 80% State dollars and 20% County dollars.

There is a water leak in the Court House and so far no one has been able to figure out where the water is entering the building. 

The Sheriff received permission to hire three part-time dispatchers. They will reduce expenses in the overtime budget. A chain-link fence has been installed around the new solar panels at the jail and the panels should begin to supply electricity in the middle of the month.

The Commissioners noted that the County Offices had been closed to the public for seven months. During the summer, County offices could meet with citizens outside the building but this will become impractical in the winters. Also, despite the closure, in the past month two or three people working in the Court House have tested positive for or been sick with COVID. The courts cannot collect fines because the Clerk's office is not open to the public. As a result, the Commissioners decided to begin a gradual reopening of County offices beginning October 19. In the next week or so they will work out the protocols for the re-opening, specifying how many members of the public will be allowed inside any office at one time.

After discussing some other items that are not of great public interest, the Commissioners continued the meeting until October 19 at 8:30 am (if necessary).

Work on the Fenwick Farms Brew house has begun.

Additional entries are appearing on the Scare Crow Trail.  Below is the entry from City of Rensselaer utilities.

Here is IBEC's contribution.

I posted a picture of Claussen Equipment's crow earlier. Here is a closer look at its tail.

Jenkins Realty announced the sale of the former Robert's Auto buildings. A check of the County GIS site says the property transferred on October 1 and the new owner is Crosspoint Plaza LLC. I cannot find any information about the company.

On its Facebook page Rensselaer Parks reported that the Parks for People Campaign approved a phase 3 that will include:

6 covered soccer benches for the soccer fields at Foundation Park

New 9 Hole Disc Golf Course with beginner and advance tees to wrap all around Brookside Park

2 more exercise stations at Foundation Park

Renovated basketball court at Brookside to include new basketball goals and new asphalt playing surface

Trailhead #3 at Brookside to make connection between Potawatomi and Foundation Park

Commemorative Park sign for donors at Foundation Park

Additions to Blacker Fields: player benches, fan bleachers, outfield wind screens, portable pitching mounds, flag pole, top dressing for infields, sponsors/field signs and renovations to existing north restrooms.