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This is the WFHB Local News for Wednesday, January 24th, 2024.
Later in the program, WFHB Producer Abe Shapiro provides a rundown of news surrounding the disability community in today’s edition of Disabulletin. More in today’s feature report.
Also coming up in the next half hour, we have Better Beware – your weekly consumer-watchdog segment on the WFHB Local News.
But first, your local headlines:
West 2nd Street Modernization Public Input Meeting
On Tuesday, local residents were invited to a public input session to modernize and make safety improvements to West Second Street between the B-Line Trail and South Walker Street. The public meeting happened at the First Church of the Nazarene, and it addressed several city projects, including a two-way bike lane, a replacement of traffic signals and storm and drainage improvements. Project Engineer Kendall Knoke provided background on the project.
He talked about other ongoing projects that would impact the various improvements proposed by the city in the area, including the Hopewell neighborhood and the Building Trades Park project.
Knocke walked through the existing conditions of the roadway – particularly on 2nd Street. He then listed the goals of the reconstruction.
Neighborhood resident Sarah Ryterband asked how the city is maintaining traffic signals, streetlights and sidewalks in the area.
Knocke addressed the concerns that Ryderband outlined.
Local resident David Huber, an Indiana University graduate who lives in the Prospect Hill neighborhood, said he wants to see walking and bicycling concerns as a top priority in the project.
McDoel Gardens resident Sam Dixon shared that he wants to see a focus on pedestrian safety in the modernization and safety improvements project.
Neighborhood Representative for the Hopewell project Richard Lewis asked about the coordination of ongoing, adjacent projects, such as Hopewell and the Building Trades Park.
The city estimates that it will begin construction in 2025. If you want to provide feedback or ask questions about the project, you can visit this form.
Ellettsville Town Council
The Ellettsville Town Council met on January 22nd to discuss a new initiative, Ordinance 2024-02, a plan for implementing a new e-commerce utilities platform to pay bills and transfer funds online.
Council member William Ellis asked if the platform would allow residents to pay their utility bills online with their bank information. Deputy clerk Noelle Conyer responded affirmatively, saying that the platform would make it easier for customers to set up and track payments. The town is already paying for most of the services required for the platform.
The council ultimately decided to table Ordinance 2024-02 until their next meeting.
Next, the council discussed approving the hiring of two new employees for the Department of Public Works.
The first position, called Labor 1, is an existing position that needs to be filled. The second, Labor 2, is a new position without currently authorized funds budgeted towards its salary. Town Manager Mike Farmer clarified that the first-year salary for Labor 2 was planned to be covered by the current DNR Next Level Trails grant.
Farmer further explained that after the grant runs out, the recent increase in water rates is supposed to cover the salary for Labor 2 in the future.
Farmer requested that the funds for Labor 2 be authorized by the clerk’s office to proceed with the hiring process. The council approved the hire of Labor 1 and approved permission to hire Labor 2 while salary funding is pending authorization.
The next Ellettsville Town Council meeting will be held on February 5.
Feature Report:
Up next, WFHB Producer Abe Shapiro provides a rundown of news surrounding the disability community in today’s edition of Disabulletin. We turn to Shapiro for more.
Up next, we have Better Beware – your weekly consumer-watchdog segment on the WFHB Local News. We turn to host and producer Richard Fish for more.
Credits:
You’ve been listening to the WFHB Local News,
Today’s headlines were written by Kade Young, Elyse Perry and Noelle Herhusky-Schneider, in partnership with Cats – Community Access Television Services.
Our feature was produced by Abe Shapiro.
Better Beware is produced by Richard Fish.
Our theme music is provided by Mark Bingham and the Social Climbers.
Engineer and Executive producer is Kade Young.
