Eastern Avenue Project discussed at Sunman mtg.
Cathy May - Contributing Writer

"The Eastern Avenue Project is on the Indiana Department of Transportation's schedule for 2008," reported engineer John Graf of Howard Barth and Associates to the Sunman Town Council at their July 21 meeting. This is a joint project affecting Ripley and Dearborn counties and the town of Sunman.

This project has been in the planning stages for several years. It affects new storm sewers, sanitary sewers and maybe even water lines. It is
about a mile in length. Graf said the town needs to incorporate their storm drain plans into the Barth plans, so Eastern can be part of the state grant. There must be a money commitment by the town of Sunman before Barth can proceed.

The drainage work has begun at Raintree Terrace. Larry Weiler, manager of Raintree Terrace, said a large tree and stump had blown over behind Raintree. He asked if Gunter Contractors, who are putting in the storm sewer lines, would haul it away. Council agreed and said that it would have to be removed to accommodate the ongoing drainage project.

The sanitary sewer lines are actively being televised by Tri-State Liquid. They are finding quite a few collapsed lines and leaking joints. These will cause trouble if not fixed in the next few years. The televising of the lines will document the lines for future grant possibilities.

Enhanced Telecom, the owners of the former sawmill property located at the west end of West Washington Street, is interested in developing the site and is looking for input from council. The area is designated industrial per the comprehensive plan. Enhanced Telecom would be open to discussion on the matter. There is about ten acres involved.

David Dryer had completed his initial work of setting up the Sunman Museum. It is located in the vestibule area of Sunman Town Hall and is open Monday through Friday during business hours. Dryer said he was pleased to have a home for his collection.

Town employee George Hartman reports that an establishment in town is still not complying with the grease trap ordinance and the grease is blocking the sewers. A compliance letter will be sent from council with a deadline of September 30.

In other business: Council approved the 2006 Inter-Local Agreement with the Ripley County Eco
nomic Development Corporation for $1,936 of the EDIT tax.

Buchanan Street will be closed on August 5 to accommodate family night at the Sunman Community Church.

Quality Repair will service the blower at the Waste Water Treatment Plant for $3,942.

Darlene Vicars will chair the Sesquicentennial celebration for September 1 and 2 of 2006.

Family Connections will be added to the 2006 budget in the amount of $500. They serve 45 people in Sunman.

No trespassing signs will be put up on Raintree Terrace's newly expanded parking lot to keep kids from riding their bikes and causing an accident.

There will be a regional sewer district meeting at the Sunman Town Hall August 12, at 5:00 p.m. The district has been mapped out and the application needs to be sent to IDEM.

The Ripley County Community Foundation will hold a grant-writing workshop at the Sunman Town Hall on August 4.

The meeting ended with a short film on water supply protection shown by Mike McFadden from Rural Water Alliance.

All three board members attended the meeting: Wayne Jenner, John Campbell and Mike Wolffe. Also present to advise the board were town Attorney Jack Kellerman and Clerk-Treasurer Kris Schneider. The next meeting of the Sunman Town Board will be August 18 at 6:30 p.m. at the new Sunman Town Hall.